OREM, Utah—Utah Valley baseball defeated Bushnell University 6-5 on Saturday at UCCU Ballpark. UVU (11-13) earned its second consecutive weekend series sweep. Four Wolverines recorded multi-hit games in the finale against Bushnell (16-12).
 
"It was a hard-fought battle with a Bushnell team that was so well coached and gritty. Our guys are learning how to win, and this was a great step forward for our team," said UVU head coach Eddie Smith.
 
The Wolverines trailed 2-0 after the Beacons pushed a pair of runs across against Jackson Thomas in the second. Utah Valley threatened for the first time in the second when they loaded the bases after a single from Nate Bach and a pair of walks to Luke Iverson and Cole Jordan. However, they were unable to get a run home.
 
Thomas settled in and sent Bushnell down in order, to get the UVU bats back up. He finished the day with 4.0 innings and only allowed two total runs in the second.  The Wolverines got on the scoreboard after Daniel Dickinson walked and stole second base. Later, he scored on an RBI double from Burke Camper to cut the lead to 2-1. Taiga Yamane came up with the inning's last out to strand runners on the corners and ended the UVU threat.
 
The two teams played scoreless middle innings, as both teams threatened but were not able to get across. Jackson Thomas pitched 4.0 innings for Utah Valley and only allowed one earned run in the second inning. Bushnell had a three-run seventh inning to take a 5-1 lead.
 
Down to their final nine outs, the UVU bats went into action. The scoring started with a solo home run from Camper that brought UVU back to three at 5-2. It was his seventh of the year and provided a much-needed offensive spark. Calyn Halvorson kept the inning going with a walk, and after he moved to second on a groundout, he scored on an RBI single from Luke Iverson.
 
UVU reliever Gray Bailey came up with big outs for UVU in the eighth, as a pitch hit Bushnell's Liam Kerr, and they looked to add a late insurance run. Bailey got the Beacon nine-hole hitter to roll into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat. It was one of two double plays turned by the UVU infield on the day.
 
Five consecutive hitters reached base in the home half of the eighth, which started with a single by Matthew Schwarz and a Dickinson double, putting runners on second and third. Garrett Broussard, who did not start but came in during the second inning, singled just past the shortstop into left field, allowing two runners to score and make it 5-5. A walk to Camper put runners on first and second before Halvorson doubled down the left field line to put UVU in front 6-5.
 
Junior college transfer Jacob Beltran came in from the bullpen and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to give Utah Valley the sweep. It was the first save for Beltran at UVU. Bailey (1-1) earned the win.
 
The Wolverines will travel to Provo on Monday, March 25, for a 6:00 p.m. MT game against BYU. They will then return to WAC play with a three-game series beginning Thursday, March 28, at Abilene Christian.