LYNNWOOD, Wash. – Utah Valley split a Saturday twin bill at Triton Field with Seattle University. The Wolverines (14-9, 1-1) won the first game by the mercy rule, 14-4, before the Redhawks (9-13, 1-1) won the nightcap 14-10. Nate Bach homered twice in the first game for UVU, and Mason Strong went 4-for-5 at the plate.
 
The Wolverines broke a 4-4 tie in the sixth inning with an offensive explosion that started with a single by Landon Frei, who moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. He came around to score and gave UVU a 5-4 lead on a pickoff throw that got past the first baseman. UVU extended the inning after a single from Brody Block before Jimmy De Anda hit his first home run of the year to push the lead out to 8-4.
 
Following a shutdown inning from Colton Kennedy, the Wolverine bats got Jayden Smith and Dominic Longo II aboard with singles before they moved into scoring position on a stolen base. Frei then delivered a two-run single to score both runners and make it 10-4. UVU wasn't done yet with a two-run homer from Bach; his second of this game put Utah Valley up 12-4. De Anda drove home Block on a single to make it 13-4, and then Smith singled home a run to make it 14-4.
 
Kennedy picked up the win in his return to his home state after going three innings without allowing a hit and adding four strikeouts. He came in and relieved yesterday's starter, Corbin Kirk, who tossed the first four yesterday.
 
GAME 2
The Redhawk bats came alive to start the second game as they scored four runs in the first and then added three in the second and two additional tallies in the third. Strong got UVU on the board in the first with an RBI double to plate Luke Iverson.
 
The Wolverines recorded doubles in the first two innings, with Bach adding one of his own in the second.
 
Seattle U staff was tough on the UVU hitters until the sixth inning, when they broke through with three consecutive singles to load the bases. They scored two runs on an error that allowed Strong and Longo II to score. After Utah Valley cut the lead to 10-3, the Redhawks extended the lead in the home half back out to 13-3.
 
Utah Valley responded with a seven-run seventh inning that started with a single by Smith before Ryan Morrison came in for the Redhawks to face Longo II, who reached on a single, and Strong doubled home a run for his second double of the game. They added two more runs to make it 13-6 on a single from Frei. The Wolverines benefited from the long ball as De Anda hit a three-run shot, and Kevin Parker Jr. added a solo shot to make it 13-10.
 
It's the first time a duo has gone back-to-back since Daniel Dickinson and Burke Camper did it last season against UT Arlington.
 
Seattle U held UVU off the board the rest of the way. The two teams will play the rubber match of the series on Sunday, Mar. 23, at 1:00 p.m. MT / 12:00 p.m. PT at Edmonds College. After the game, the Wolverines are scheduled to head south to Portland for a Monday, Mar. 24, contest against the Pilots.