ABILENE, Texas – Utah Valley baseball dropped a heartbreaker 5-4 to Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon. UVU (13-15, 5-4) tied the game late in the eighth on an RBI double by Daniel Dickinson and in the ninth on a two-run homer from Cole Jordan, but ACU (17-11, 8-4) scored on a walk-off single by Reece Borho.
 
The Wolverines had won the last six series against WAC schools from Texas, with the previous series loss coming to Tarleton State in 2021.
 
"Some good ball games by both teams. If we can play a little better and develop a few more alphas, we can win those types of series and games," said UVU head coach Eddie Smith.
 
Chase Hennessey got the start, struck out two of the first three hitters he faced, and held the Wildcats scoreless. He gave way to Jackson Thomas, who retired the first three hitters he faced on groundouts to end the second inning.
 
ACU broke up the pitchers' duel in the third inning with the game's first hit on a single before a Wildcat double put two runners in scoring position. They scored two runs to take a 2-0 lead after a pair of sacrifice hits.
 
The Wolverines recorded their first hit against reigning WAC Pitcher of the Week Brett Lanham on a double by Burke Camper that went down the left field line. They looked to get their first run after Calyn Halvorson drew a walk, but a flyout ended the threat.
 
Thomas stayed locked in and held ACU scoreless in the fourth and retired them in order in the fifth inning to keep it close. He finished the day going 4.2 innings and scattered three hits on the day. The Wolverines broke through in the sixth inning on a solo home run from Dickinson, his ninth of the year and 18th of his UVU career, to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
 
Utah Valley was down to its final four outs late in the game when Schwarz singled to right to extend the inning, and Dickinson gapped one to right center, which allowed Schwarz to hustle home and tie the game at 2-2. The inning and threat ended when Jayden Smith went down on strikes.
 
It wouldn't take ACU long to regain the lead as they loaded the bases and before a ball snuck past the UVU infield, allowing a pair of runs to score. The Wolverines were back in comeback mode, and down to their last out when Nate Bach singled to left field to keep the game alive before Jordan went deep for his sixth of the year to tie the game up at 4-4. The home run was the 19th of his UVU career, which puts him tied for eighth all-time with Craig Brinkerhoff.
 
The Wildcats got a lead-off double from Maddox Miese to put the winning run in scoring position. A couple of hitters later, Borho singled to score the runner from third base and give ACU the win. 
 
The Wolverines will now play two games with the University of Utah starting on Monday, Apr. 1 at 6:00 p.m. MT at Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake City. They will host Utah on Tuesday, Apr. 2, at 6:05 p.m. MT. The Old Hammer Rivalry will be renewed next weekend as Utah Tech heads north to Orem for three starting on Friday, Apr. 5, at 6:05 p.m. MT.