MESA, Ariz. – Utah Valley baseball dropped two games on Saturday to Sam Houston to close out their run at the 2023 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament. The Bearkats (36-24) used a steady offensive attack to get past UVU (34-24). It marked the first time the Wolverines had played for the WAC title since 2016.
 
"You have to tip your cap to Sam Houston State. They are a very good team that played great baseball the last two days. Great season by our team. This group made a giant leap in getting this program back where we want it to be," said UVU head coach Eddie Smith.
 
GAME ONE
 
The Wolverines jumped out to an early 7-0 in the top of the first. Calyn Halvorson, Garrett Broussard, and Daniel Dickinson all had two-run hits in the inning to apply pressure on Sam Houston starter Steven Beard. The Bearkats responded with five runs in the home half of the first inning to make it 7-5 Wolverines.
 
UVU extended their lead to 8-5 after a solo homer from Halvorson. The Bearkats quickly responded with five runs between the second and third innings to go up 10-8. The Wolverines cut the lead down to 10-9 in the fourth inning after Patrick Mills singled and advanced on a passed ball and a wild pitch. He scored on a groundout by Halvorson.
 
The Bearkats added two runs in the fifth to take a 12-9 lead. In the seventh, UVU put a run on the board after Cole Jordan singled to short, and Burke Camper doubled to put runners at second and third. Halvorson then drove home a run on a groundout to make it 12-10.
 
Halvorson finished 3-for-6 with a homer, double, and five RBIs. Dickinson, Mills, and Broussard each finished with two hits in the game. Reece Rodabaugh pitched the final 3.0 innings without allowing a hit and added a strikeout.
 
GAME TWO
Sam Houston scored 11 runs in the second inning to take control as starter Coltin Atkinson held the Wolverines hitless until the fourth when Dickinson singled through the left side. UVU broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning after a single from Broussard to put a runner on base. He scored on a single from Luna.
 
Dickinson and Broussard each had two hits in the game. Arizona native Stryder Salas pitched two innings, allowing one hit and recording two strikeouts.
 
Logan Gerling, Dickinson, Halvorson, and Jordan were named to the All-Tournament Team. The losses end the regular season for UVU, a season which saw them finish with 34 victories, which places them in a tie for fourth place in the D1 era.