OREM, Utah – Utah Valley baseball secured the series win on Sunday afternoon over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a 19-1 victory. UVU (12-8) knocked out season-highs with 19 runs and 19 hits, led by Jayden Smith, who finished 3-for-4 in the game. Landon Frei drove in a season-high four runs, and Mason Strong added three.
 
Embry-Riddle scored a run in the first inning on a ground out by Connor Rosinski to make it 1-0, before UVU scored 19 unanswered runs that started in the first inning with four runs of their own that was started by a double from Smith before Dominic Longo II singled to put runners on the corners. The Wolverines put the game in motion and scored the game's first run when Longo II stole second, and the throw sailed into centerfield to allow Smith to score.
 
Utah Valley took advantage of two Eagle errors in the first and the second to put them in front 2-1 before Brody Block delivered a two-run single to make it 4-1 after the first.
 
The first three hitters for the Wolverines reached base in the third starting with a double to left by Longo II. He used his wheels on the base paths and stolen third base as part of a double steal that allowed Strong to get onto second. Frei launched his fifth home run of the year to tie him for the team lead and make it 7-1.
 
Utah Valley continued to add on in the fourth, starting with a single by Luke Iverson before he moved to third on a double to left field by Smith. The Wolverines wasted no time recording a hit off of reliever Kyle Riley when Strong singled home two runs to make it 9-1. Frei singled to put runners on the corners before Bach singled to give UVU a 10-1 advantage.
 
The game was blown open in the fifth inning when UVU scored five runs on one hit, loaded the bases after a walk to Jimmy De Anda, a single by Iverson, and a walk to Smith. They added runs when Longo II and Strong worked walks to go up 12-1. Three more runs were added when Frei worked a free pass, followed by Bach and Joe McBride being hit.
 
Rasmussen went to his bench in the later innings and they added four runs in the seventh inning starting with singles by Cougar Cooke and McBride before CJ Colyer singled to score one run. The next hitter, De Anda, drove in one run to make it 17-1 before he came around and scored on a double to left field by Kevin Parker Jr.  Colby scored in the seventh inning after reaching on a walk and before scoring a wild pitch.
 
The Wolverines have scored at least ten runs in five of their last eight ballgames and now have an eight-game winning streak.
 
The three combined pitchers in the game finished with 15 strikeouts. UVU starter Jacob Heppner finished with four innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven. Landon Zaborowski (2-2) earned the win after going four innings, allowing three hits, and adding seven K's to his linescore. Freshman Sawyer Wickstrom pitched a perfect ninth inning while recording a strikeout.
 
UP NEXT
The Wolverines and Eagles conclude the series on Monday, Mar. 17, at 12:05 p.m. MT at UCCU Ballpark. Utah Valley will be on the road next week when they open a three-game series on Friday, Mar. 21, against Seattle U. It will also mark the WAC opener for both clubs.