PROVO, Utah – Utah Valley dropped the first game of the two-game season series to Brigham Young University. UVU (24-13) was led by Dominic Longo II, who finished 2-for-5 in the game. George Albrecht and Carter Krosky pitched an inning of scoreless relief against BYU (18-16).
 
The Wolverines struck first in the top of the second inning after Landon Frei reached on a one-out single before Nate Bach hit a skyscraper to the warning track of the outfield, but Tate Gambill lost it in the evening sun to allow Frei to score, and Bach to get to third. Utah Valley looked to add to their lead after a walk to Joseph Barnhardt, but BYU was able to record a pair of strikeouts to keep it at 1-0.
 
The Cougars looked to immediately tie it up in the bottom half of the inning with Keoni Painter running at second; leadoff hitter Crew McChesney hit a sinking liner to center field, but Nate Bach made a diving catch to end the inning and kept the Wolverines in front, 1-0.
 
Utah Valley managed base runners in the fourth inning after Mason Strong was hit by a pitch, but he was quickly erased on a double play. In the fifth inning, Utah Valley's DJ Massey doubled to left field to get into scoring position, but UVU could not get the run home.
 
Strong reached in the sixth inning after a single through the right side. The Cougars went up 6-1 after scoring four runs in the fifth inning and one run in the sixth.
 
Albrecht came in to relieve Rice in the fifth inning and quickly recorded a groundout before he struck out Parker Goff and Painter to end the inning.
 
Utah Valley's offense broke through in the eighth inning when Iverson was hit by a pitch for the third time. It is the second time in his career that he has been hit by three pitches in a game. UVU had two runners on base after a walk to De Anda that set the table for Longo II's RBI double to left field to make it 9-2. The Wolverines pushed a run across following a pitching change on a sac fly from Landon Frei to make it 9-3.
 
Krosky entered in the bottom of the eighth inning and worked through the heart of the BYU lineup without giving up a run.
 
Utah Valley tied the program record for most stolen bases in a season and now has 75. They will try to break the record against Tarleton State later this weekend.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley hosts WAC foe Tarleton State in a three-game series starting on Thursday, Apr. 17 at 6:05 p.m. MT from UCCU Ballpark. The Cougars will make a return trip on Monday, Apr. 21, before hosting Utah on Tuesday, Apr. 22.