LAS VEGAS – Thanks to heads up baserunning and strong pitching down the stretch, Utah Valley University defeated UNLV 3-2 on Monday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas.
The Wolverines (4-8) took advantage of a late UNLV (6-6) defensive miscue that allowed the game-winning run to score in the eighth inning. UVU earns its first win over UNLV in program history after dropping the previous two meetings, most recently in 2017. The Rebels were picked to finish second in the Mountain West Conference this season.
"This was a huge win for our team. We played together and we played tough. There were so many great outings by our pitchers who found ways to make big pitches when they needed it," head UVU coach Eddie Smith said.
UNLV scored first in the home half of the first inning on an RBI double from Diego Alarcon to give the Rebels an early 1-0 lead.
The Wolverines tied the game in the top of the third. Drew Sims led off with a double down the left field line and scored on a base hit from Mitch Moralez. UVU stranded Moralez on second after he stole second base.
Utah Valley took advantage of a two-out rally taking a 2-1 lead in the fifth, starting with a Cole Jordan single to left, and Kyle Coburn pulled a base hit to left-center. Jordan and Coburn added a double steal to put both runners in scoring position. Jordan scored on a wild pitch that squirted away from the catcher later in the inning.
The Rebels loaded the bases in the fifth and tied the game at two after Jason Sharman was hit by a pitch.
UNLV had the bases loaded in the seventh, but Luke McCullough came through with a clutch two-out strikeout to strand the bases loaded and keep the game tied at two. McCullough went 2.2 innings allowing just one Rebel hit and three punchouts.
Jordan led off the eighth for UVU and dropped in a ball that got past a Rebel outfielder on a diving attempt, allowing Jordan to hustle to second. Coburn attempted to sacrifice Jordan to third, placed a bunt back to the pitcher, and the throw skipped away from first. Jordan quickly dashed home to give Utah Valley a 3-2 lead.
UVU looked to add an insurance run in the ninth after Kaylor Yates singled on the first pitch he saw with two outs in the ninth and proceeded to steal second base. Mick Madsen then had a clutch base hit to center field, but Yates was cut down at the plate on a close play to keep it a one-run contest.
Yates then moved from shortstop to the mound for UVU in the last of the ninth and UNLV put the tying and winning runners on base in the ninth. Yates responded, however, by closing the door on the Rebels recording a strikeout and a lineout to the final two outs to preserve the 3-2 win and record his first collegiate save.
Luke McCullough (1-1) earned the win for the Wolverines after tossing 2.2 strong innings of work. Hunter Tueller then pitched a scoreless eighth inning of relief late in the game for the Wolverines before Yates came on to record the save in the ninth. Jimmy Gamboa (0-1) was charged with the loss for UNLV. Andrew Hauck got the start for UVU and went 2.0 innings, allowing one run and one strikeout. Carson Brown added 2.1 innings with one strikeout while giving up just one run on three hits.
Jordan went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead UVU offensively, while Madsen added two hits for the Wolverines.
The Wolverines and Rebels will play the final game of the two-game series on Tuesday, March 8 with a 3:00 p.m. MT/ 2:00 p.m. PT start. UVU returns home on March 11 for the home opener against California Baptist. First pitch of the opener of the three-game WAC series is scheduled for a 6:05 p.m. start at UCCU Ballpark.
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