OREM, Utah ­– Utah Valley University lost to Grand Canyon, 9-3 in ten innings at UCCU Ballpark on Friday night. Garrett Broussard finished 3 for 4 for UVU (28-26, 18-7), who held a 3-2 lead heading into the ninth inning after Braden Boisvert limited GCU (33-21, 22-7) to two runs over the seventh innings while striking out six.
 
"Both starting pitchers were phenomenal tonight. Grand Canyon did a great job of coming up with some big hits in the clutch. That's what competition among a few of the top teams in the conference looks like and I am excited to get back after it tomorrow," said UVU head coach Eddie Smith.
 
Boisvert worked around trouble in the second inning after allowing a two-out double before giving up a walk but ended the inning with his third strikeout to keep the game scoreless.
 
The Lopes broke through in the third after a single from the nine-hole hitter Emilio Barreras. Tyler Wilson hit a two-run shot to left field to take an early 2-0 lead. The UVU senior bounced right back, getting the next three hitters to end the inning. The Wolverines cut the lead in half with a solo home run from Broussard to make it 2-1 GCU. The rally continued with a two-out single from Daniel Dickinson, but the threat ended there.
 
In the fourth inning, the UVU infield stepped up after the leadoff hitter reached on a walk. It was Matthew Schwarz, Dickinson, and Halvorson who worked together to turn a double play to quickly end the threat.
 
The Wolverines bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth after Luke Iverson reached with a single to third base. Broussard followed suit, and each advanced on an error by the GCU outfielder. Dickinson came up with a clutch double down the left-field line to score both runners and make it a 3-2 UVU lead.
 
Boisvert pitched with a lead for the first time in the sixth inning and had a clean sixth inning. He retired the last seven hitters he faced in his outing. The Wolverines looked to capitalize offensively when Jayden Smith was hit by a pitch, and Broussard singled with two outs in the inning, but UVU could not get a run across the inning.
 
Ethan Fowlks pitched the eighth inning with a three-up and three-down effort to keep the game in UVU's favor at 3-2. The Lopes started the ninth inning against Fowlks with three consecutive hits to tie the game up at 3-3. Utah Valley looked to win the game in the ninth, starting with a double from Schwarz before Dickinson was intentionally walked. Hunter Watkins, who came in the seventh inning, struck out Camper with the winning run in the scoring position.
 
Grand Canyon scored six runs in the top of the 10^th inning to take a 9-3 lead and secured the game in the bottom half.
 
The Wolverines and Lopes will wrap up the series tomorrow at 11:35 a.m. MT at UCCU Ballpark. About 10 minutes after the game, UVU will honor 18 seniors in an on-field ceremony. Then, UVU will turn its attention to the University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament. The bracket is expected to be announced on Sunday.