PULLMAN, Wash. – Paul Vossen and
Spencer Olsen both belted out home runs to help Utah Valley jump out to a 7-2 lead, but Washington State managed to score seven late runs to earn a 9-7 come-from-behind victory to clinch the non-conference series on Saturday afternoon at Bailey-Brayton Field in Pullman.
Cole Jordan had a first-inning two-run double for UVU (16-30) followed by a three-run homer from Vossen in the third to make it 5-1 Wolverines. Olsen then helped UVU make it 7-2 with a two-run shot in the fifth, but the Pac-12 Cougars (21-23) responded with three runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh to complete the comeback. Utah Valley will look to respond in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
The Wolverines got off to a strong start for the second straight day, as they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. With two outs and nobody on in the first, Olsen singled and Vossen reached on an error to put two runners aboard. Jordan then followed with a clutch two-out, two-run double to center to plate both runners and give UVU an early two-run advantage.
Following a 38-minute lightning delay, WSU then got a run back in the bottom of the first on a two-out RBI single from Jack Smith to make it 2-1.
The UVU offense added to its lead in the third, as
Mitch Moralez singled and Olsen later worked a one-out walk. Vossen followed by belting out a three-run dinger down the rightfield line to extend Utah Valley's advantage to 5-1.
Smith homered for the Cougars in the fourth to make it 5-2, but Olsen responded for UVU in the fifth with a booming two-run homer to deep left for his team-leading seventh to extend Utah Valley's lead to 7-2.
The Cougars then started their comeback with three runs in the sixth followed by four more in the seventh to overcome the five-run deficit and take a 9-7 advantage. WSU got back-to-back-to-back-to-back hits in the sixth to score three runs and make it 7-5. Washington State continued to rally in the seventh thanks to RBI hits from Kyle Russell, Elijah Hainline and a bases loaded walk from Kodie Kolden to take the lead. A UVU defensive miscue also brought another run home in the frame as three of the four runs in the frame were unearned.
The Wolverines then looked to have a chance to even the score in the eighth when Vossen singled and
Brandon Luna reached on an error and both runners later moved into scoring position on a wild pitch with two away.
Trey Cutchen then pinch hit for UVU and was called out on strikes to end the threat. The Wolverines then got a one-out walk from
Copper Hansen in the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate, but WSU closer Caden Kaelber drew a game-ending double play to end the contest.
Wolverine starter
Coop Rust pitched 5.0 solid innings for UVU in which he gave up just two runs on three hits while striking out three but suffered a no decision. WSU's Cam Liss picked up the win in relief to improve to 2-1, while Kaelber pitched the final inning-and-a-third to earn his fifth save. UVU reliver
Josh Brown was tagged with the loss to drop to 0-2.
Offensively a trio of Wolverines had two-hit days for UVU in Vossen, Olsen, and Moralez. Vossen led the way by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Olsen went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored and Moralez added a 2-for-5 outing with a run scored. WSU's Smith led the Cougars by going a perfect 4-for-4 on the afternoon with two RBIs and three runs scored.
Saturday's contest featured a 38-minute lightning delay in the first inning.
The Wolverines and Cougars will wrap the weekend series on Sunday at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT. Following the ballgame, UVU will continue a current nine-game trip with a Monday contest at Junior College foe Lower Columbia College at 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT from Story Field in Longview, Washington.
