GREELEY, Colo. – Utah Valley baseball won the opening game of a five-game series at Northern Colorado, 5-2, on Friday afternoon at Jackson Field. On a cold day in the Rocky Mountains, the UVU (5-8) pitching staff combined for a season-high 16 strikeouts, led by starter Corbin Kirk, who set a career-high with seven of his own against UNC (5-8).
 
"Good to start the weekend off with a win for the first time this season. Our pitching was phenomenal from start to finish.  Corbin Kirk really set the tone," said UVU head coach Nate Rasmussen.
 
The game was a pitcher's duel to start with both starting pitchers limiting the damage. The Wolverines were able to get runners on base early but could not get the runners home. They got their first hit in the fourth inning when Mason Strong singled to left field before advancing to second on a fielding error. UNC starting pitcher Murphy Gienger only allowed three hits on the day while recording 14 strikeouts.
 
Kirk was equally tough on hitters, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing four hits, two runs, and eight strikeouts. He retired the first seven hitters he faced, including four of the first six via strikeouts. The Bears scored first with a single down the left field line by Kai Wagner and added to their lead in the sixth inning with an RBI single from James Wright.
 
Utah Valley chased Gienger in the seventh inning when Colorado native, Nate Bach, singled and advanced to second when Dominic Longo II reached on a fielding error. They loaded the bases with a single from Joseph Barnhardt. The inning ended with an inning-ending double play.
 
UVU reliever Alan Huerta did precisely what was needed in the seventh inning with a three-up and three-down inning to keep them in reach. He finished the day with an impressive line of 2 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and six strikeouts.
 
Luke Iverson singled to start the eighth inning and was on base when Landon Frei homered to tie the game up at 2-2. It was Frei's third long ball of the season, which is tied for the team lead, and his 11th RBI. UVU's bats stayed hot on the cold day in Greeley with a single from Brody Block before Bach's double gave them a 3-2 lead. The Wolverines weren't done yet, scoring another run on a single by Longo II, and then Barnhardt added a run-scoring single of his own to go up 5-2.
 
The Bears kept it interesting in the late innings, bringing the tying run to the plate in the eighth, but Huerta pitched through the jam, recording the final two outs. They put two runners on base in the ninth against closer Cooper Littledike, but a strikeout would end the threat and give the Wolverines the win on the series opener.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears and Wolverines will play a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 8, starting at 11:00 a.m. MT. The games can be seen on Midco Sports Plus via a subscription.