MESA, Ariz. – Utah Valley baseball won their opening game at the 2024 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament on Wednesday afternoon with a 12-6 win over UT Rio Grande Valley. Nate Bach drove in six of UVU's (29-27) 12 runs on the day, and Mitch Mueller went 6 1/3 innings out of the bullpen to hold off UTRGV (28-24).
 
"It was great to see Mueller come out and set the tone for us in that first inning. We were able to get some relentless at-bats from the lineup and score double-digit runs yet again, which makes it a lot easier to win baseball games," said UVU head coach Eddie Smith.
 
Mueller had a brilliant outing for the Wolverines, retiring the first nine hitters he faced after coming in to relieve Chase Hennessey with a 2-0 deficit. He struck out the first two hitters he faced and didn't allow a base runner until the fourth inning when Steven Lancia tripled to right field.
 
Matthew Schwarz started the bottom of the third inning with a walk before Daniel Dickinson singled to center field to put two runners on base, and UVU cashed in after the Vaqueros made a pitching change due to injury. Utah Valley loaded the bases and scored their first run on a walk to Cole Jordan before Nate Bach tripled off the batter's eye and cleared the bases to make it 4-2. Later, he scored a single by Jayden Smith before Smith stole home to make it 6-2.
 
After UTRGV had scored a run in the fourth and fifth innings, Jordan started the bottom half with a double to right field before Bach homered off the tent in the UVU bullpen to make it 8-4 after five.
 
The backend of the UVU bullpen did not allow a hit in the final 2 2/3 innings. Ethan Fowlks tossed 1 2/3 with a strikeout and only allowed one hitter to reach base with a walk in the eighth inning before returning with a strikeout and a pair of flyouts.
 
The Wolverines added some insurance runs in the eighth inning with a double to right field off Schwarz, and Dickinson singled through the left side to put runners on the corners. He quickly moved into scoring position with a stolen base before moving to third base on a passed ball, while Schwarz scored from third to make it 9-6. The big hit in the inning came on a triple by Calyn Halvorson to score both runners and make it 11-6 before a sac fly from Bach made it 12-6.
 
Robby Butenschoen struck out UTRGV slugger Martin Vazquez before allowing a walk, but the UVU defense quickly turned two to end the threat and the ballgame.
 
Burke Camper was hit by a pitch for the 36^th time in his career to become UVU's all-time career leader, while Garrett Broussard finished 3 for 4 in his 222nd career game, which breaks UVU's all-time career record.

The Wolverines will advance to play on May 23 at 10:00 a.m. MT against No. 2 seed Abilene Christian. A win over the Wildcats would push UVU into Friday's semifinals, but a loss will put Utah Valley in an elimination game later Thursday.