OREM, Utah – Utah Valley evened the series with Stephen F. Austin after a 3-1 win on Saturday afternoon at UCCU Ballpark.
Ethan Fowlks recorded a season-high eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings in his first start of the season for UVU (24-21, 10-11) to quiet the SFA (21-24, 12-14) bats.
"It was a staff effort on the mound. All three guys who pitched were incredible today, and we were able to keep enough pressure on them offensively to score enough runs to win the game," said UVU head coach
Eddie Smith.
Utah Valley threatened in the first inning but was unable to get a run across after walks to
Matthew Schwarz and
Burke Camper. A pitch then hit
Calyn Halvorson. A ground out ended the inning.
The Wolverines built on the threat in the second inning when
Luke Iverson and
Garrett Broussard walked. UVU loaded the bases after a throwing error by the SFA second baseman pulled the shortstop off second base. Dickinson put UVU up 1-0 with his 27 RBI of the year on a single.
Cole Jordan gave UVU a 2-0 lead on a sacrifice fly.
The Lumberjacks scored a run in the fourth and looked to tie the game on a single from Nolan Brown. A UVU error allowed the runs to advance, but the relay from Jordan, Dickinson, and Camper ended the threat. The UVU senior Fowlks got in a groove and struck out four of the last six hitters he faced on the day to earn his third victory of the year.
Halvorson provided an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth with his second homer of the year to put UVU in front 3-1.
Nick Sims followed up Fowlks' strong outing with 3.0 innings allowing one hit on three strikeouts.
Mitch Mueller came in to strikeout the final hitter and gave the Wolverines the 3-1 victory.
Dickinson, Jordan, and Halvorson led the offensive charge with two hits in the game.
Utah Valley and Stephen F. Austin will wrap up the series tomorrow with a 12:05 p.m. MT start. UVU does not have a mid-week game this week but will return home for the final weekend series of the season with New Mexico State. The series starts on May 12 and marks the last WAC series between the two foes as NMSU will head to Conference USA next year.
