SAN FRANCISCO – Mick Madsen went 4-for-5 in the nightcap with three runs scored while Copper Hansen had a four-RBI game to help lead Utah Valley University baseball to a doubleheader split on Saturday against the University of San Francisco at Benedetti Diamond in San Francisco. 
 
After dropping the first game of the day by a score of 4-1, the UVU offense erupted with a season-high 20 hits en route to recording a 12-5 victory in game two. The Wolverines improve 2-5 on the season and will look for a series split on Sunday, while USF falls to 4-3 on the year.
 
"Offensively we were relentless the entire day. We continued to hit balls hard and even some of the balls that weren't hit hard found holes. It was a great job by Copper Hansen all game, especially behind the plate and great to see Nick Sims come in and slam the door," head UVU coach Eddie Smith said.
 
GAME TWO
Utah Valley jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in game two thanks to scoring pair of second inning runs. Following a single from Madsen and a double from Mitch Moralez, Hansen drove home the first run of the game with an RBI single. Cole Jordan then followed with an RBI single of his own to knock home Moralez to make it 2-0 UVU.
 
With UVU holding to a 2-1 lead, the Wolverines took control by scoring five runs in the fourth. Hansen and Brandon Luna started the big inning with singles and Garrett Broussard lined a base hit to score Hansen for the first run of the frame. Paul Vossen then drove home Luna with a ball hit through the right side. Later in the inning, Madsen and Moralez provided RBI singles and Kayler Yates added a sacrifice fly to give UVU a 7-1 advantage. 
 
After USF scored a pair of runs in the last of the fourth, UVU responded with a run in the fifth and another in the sixth to make it 9-5 Wolverines. Trey Cutchen doubled down the rightfield line to drive in Jordan in the fifth and Hansen added a sac fly to bring home Madsen in the sixth.
 
The Wolverines added a three-run seventh inning to put the game away. Moralez provided a bunt single with the bases loaded before a two-run single by Hansen plated Madsen and Yates to extend UVU's advantage to 12-5.
 
Mason Gray started on the mound for UVU in game two and surrendered just three runs on four hits while striking out three over four-plus innings. Blake Zeleny (1-0) then came on and was awarded the win in relief after allowing a pair of runs on three hits over 2.0 innings of work. Nick Sims recorded a three-inning save as he struck out four over three scoreless innings of work for his second save of the young season. Jesse Barron (0-1) was tagged with the loss for USF after allowing six runs on 10 hits over 3.1 innings. 
 
All nine starters recorded at least one hit for UVU in the contest and Madsen, Cutchen, Moralez, Hansen, Vossen and Jordan all had multi-hit performances. Brandon Greim paced the Dons by going 2-for-3 a double and a run scored.
 
GAME ONE
The Wolverines put runners on base in the opening frame with a two-out single from Broussard, and USF starter Weston Lombard hit Drew Sims. The threat would end with an inning-ending strikeout, however, as the game remained scoreless in the early stages.
 
The Dons pushed across two runs in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Harris Williams III hit into a fielder's choice that scored Mario Demera before a throwing error on the Wolverines allowed Luke Keaschall to score for the second run.
 
The Wolverines cut into the USF lead in the second, when Moralez reached base and later stole second. After a walk to Kyle Coburn, Cutchen would drive home Moralez with a base hit center to make it 2-1.
 
The Dons added to the one-run lead in the third with a lead-off double from Demera before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Keaschall to make it 3-1 Dons. The next batter Jordan Vujovich hit a home run to right to extend the lead out to 4-1 USF.
 
UVU got runners into scoring position in both the fifth and sixth frames but were stranded each time, as USF held on to the 4-1 victory. 
 
Lombard improved a 2-0 with the win for San Francisco after giving up just one run on five hits while striking out five over 5.0 innings. Coop Rust took the loss in his first start in a UVU uniform after surrendering just two earned runs (four total) on five hits over 4.0 innings. Luke McCullough then came on and did a nice job from the bullpen by tossing four scoreless and hitless innings of relief as he helped keep the game in reach.
 
ON DECK UVU
Utah Valley and San Francisco will play the final game of the series on Sunday, Feb 27, at 1:30 p.m. MT/12:30 p.m. PT. The Wolverines will open WAC play next weekend at Dixie State starting Friday, March 4 with a 6:00 p.m. MT first pitch. The home opener is scheduled for March 11 at 6:05 p.m. MT against California Baptist.