ARLINGTON, Texas – Utah Valley defeated UT Arlington in the first game of a three-game weekend series at Clay Gould Ballpark. UVU (30-21, 15-11) scored ten runs in the opening frame to set the tone as UTA (25-26, 15-13) could not rally.
Calyn Halvorson and
Matthew Schwarz finished 3-for-5 in the game to help UVU to the 30
th win. It marks the first time UVU has won 30 games since 2016 and the fifth most wins in a season in the D1 era.
"That was a great effort by the entire team tonight. We were able to come out and attack, then really played the rest of the game well after a unique delay," said UVU head coach
Eddie Smith.
Daniel Dickinson and
Cole Jordan started the game with singles before a walk to
Patrick Mills loaded the bases. UVU then cashed in with a single by Halvorson to make it 1-0.
Luke Iverson was hit by a pitch before a single from
Garrett Broussard made it 3-0 Wolverines. Schwarz singled two runs in a single before
Brandon Luna singled to load the bases.
The Wolverines started the second time through the order with only one out. Dickinson and Mills doubled home two runs to make it 10-0. UVU made it 11-1 after an RBI double from
Burke Camper in the top of the third inning.
The Mavericks scored a run in the first and third innings against UVU starter
Ethan Fowlks who finished going 4.0 innings on three hits, two walks, and two strikeouts. At the end of the fourth inning, multiple panels of lights went out, and the game was delayed for close to an hour.
After the delay,
Colton Kennedy (3-0) came in relief and went 3.0 innings on four hits, one run, and four strikeouts. He earned his third win of the season in the outing. UVU used the strong outing to push across a pair of runs in the eighth.
Nate Bach led off and was hit by a pitch before Camper drew a walk. The runners advanced on a wild pitch before scoring on a single from Halvorson to make it 13-3.
Josh Brown came in to throw the eighth and allowed a hit but did not allow a run to score. Dickinson, Mills, and Broussard all finished with two hits in the game. UVU has now won three of its last five games by the run rule.
The Wolverines and Mavericks will play the second game of the weekend at noon MT tomorrow before finishing up the series on Saturday at 11:05 a.m. MT.
