ST. GEORGE, Utah – Brody Ponti had a home run and four RBIs while Mitch Moralez added a two-run homer for Utah Valley University in a 16-10 loss to Dixie State University on Friday night at Bruce Hurst Field in St. George. The Wolverines (2-7, 0-1 WAC) held an early lead at 5-0, but the Dixie State (5-4, 1-0 WAC) bats came alive for the come-from-behind win. 
 
Utah Valley scored five runs in the third inning, sending 10 hitters to the plate in the frame. Garrett Broussard hit a chopper over the head of the Dixie State third baseman to score Moralez before Connor Hall hit a sac-fly to center to make it 2-0 UVU. The critical hit came with the bases loaded when Ponti drilled a base hit to center that got past the DSU centerfielder to clear the bases and give the Wolverines an early 5-0 lead. 
 
Shane Taylor hit a two-run home run for Dixie State during a five-run third inning for the Trailblazers to tie the game at 5-5. 
 
The Wolverines regained the lead in the fourth on a Moralez two-run shot to right center to make it 7-5 Utah Valley. The Trailblazers took the lead back for good in the bottom of the fourth inning by scoring four runs and adding six runs in the fifth inning, including a three-run home run off the bat of Chase Rodriguez. 
 
UVU cut into a 15-7 deficit in the seventh inning. Hall got the offense started with a triple to left center. Kayler Yates scored Hall with a double down the left field line before Ponti added his first home run at UVU with a two-run homer to left. 
 
Dixie State added a late run to make it 16-10 and held on for the win. 
 
The Wolverines got multi-hit ballgames from five players in Ponti, Moralez, Trey Cutchen, Broussard, and Hall. Carson Brown went 1.2 innings, allowing one hit in relief. Alex Karns went 2.0 innings, allowing one earned run and two hits late in the contest. 
 
Blake Milne (1-0) picked up the win in relief for DSU, while Blake Zeleny (1-1) was given the loss. Ryan Hardman earned his second save of the year for the Trailblazers. 
 
The contest marked the WAC and series opener for the in-state foes. 
 
The Wolverines continue the series against Dixie State on March 5 with a 4:05 p.m MT start (it's been pushed back to a 4:05 p.m. start due to rain in St. George) before the March 6 finale with a 12:05 p.m. MT first pitch. The trip continues on March 7 with a 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. start at UNLV.