OREM, Utah – Utah Valley fell 13-8 on Tuesday evening to the University of Utah at UCCU Ballpark. Utah (20-8) rallied early from a 5-1 deficit to clinch the season series against UVU (13-17).
Daniel Dickinson finished 3-for-4 in the game with a first-pitch home run in the bottom of the first inning.
The Wolverines offense backed starter
Aaron Rice, who worked out of an early jam, retiring two Utes with a runner at third base and less than two outs. Utah Valley's bats jumped on Utah's starter Bransen Kuehl with three hits on the first three pitches they saw. Dickinson got UVU on the board with a solo home run for his tenth of the season.
The inning continued with a single from
Jayden Smith before
Calyn Halvorson doubled to put two runners in scoring position. The Wolverines went up 4-0 after
Nate Bach hit a home run for his tenth of the year.
The Utes threatened again in the second against UVU reliever
Nick Sims. They had runners on the corners with two outs before the UVU senior struck out New Mexico State transfer Hunter Antillon to end the inning.
Utah scored a run in the third to make it 4-1, but the Wolverines quickly answered. Halvorson drew a four-pitch walk to start the inning for UVU. He moved to third after a failed pickoff attempt caused by a throwing error.
Cole Jordan singled on a bunt with two outs in the third inning to make it 5-1.
In the middle innings, Utah's bats came alive. They scored one in the fourth before taking the lead with a five-run fifth inning and adding three more in the sixth inning. Utah Valley looked to rally in the bottom half of the sixth as
Isaac Lovings and Dickinson singled. Halvorson drove in his second run after a fielder's choice moved a runner from second to third. After a Ute pitching change, a double play ended the inning before more damage could be done.
Trailing 11-6 in the bottom of the eighth, Broussard singled before Lovings homered to right field, but Utah held on late for the 13-8 win.
Bach finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, the third time this season he has driven in three runs in a game. Four Wolverines had multi-hit games in the loss. Rice, Sims, and
Reece Rodabaugh pitched scoreless innings in the contest.
The Wolverines will host Utah Tech this weekend in the Old Hammer Rivalry. Due to impending weather in Utah County, the schedule has been altered. The series will now begin on Thursday, Apr. 5 at 6:05 p.m. MT at UCCU Ballpark. They will continue the series on Friday, Apr. 6, at 2:05 p.m. MT and conclude the set on Saturday, Apr. 7, at 12:05 p.m. MT. Watch GoUVU.com and UVU Baseball's social media for further weekend scheduling updates.
