OREM, Utah – Utah Valley baseball dropped the series finale to California Baptist, 9-7, on Sunday afternoon at UCCU Ballpark. Jayden Smith and CJ Colyer each notched three hits for UVU (27-18, 12-6), but CBU (23-21, 6-9) rallied late behind two home runs from WAC Preseason Player of the Year, Nick Dumesnil, including one in the ninth inning to push the Lancers over the top.
 
CBU led 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning when the UVU bats got going. They started with a walk by Nate Bach before three consecutive singles by Jimmy De Anda, Colyer, and DJ Massey made it 3-1. The Wolverines pushed a second run across on a grounder from Luke Iverson and tied the game up on a single from Jayden Smith. Landon Frei had three RBIs in the game, with two of them coming in the fourth inning on a double to put Utah Valley up 5-3.
 
The Wolverines answered the Lancers' run with a run of their own. Colyer hit a solo shot to right field, his sixth of the season and fourth in WAC play.
 
Jacob Heppner made the start for the Wolverines on the mound and finished with five innings, allowing seven hits and five strikeouts. Carston Herman came in from the bullpen, and after allowing a leadoff single in the sixth, he quickly erased the leadoff man with a double play before ending the inning with a strikeout.
 
The Wolverines extended their lead with a run in the sixth inning after Smith reached when a pitch hit him and then later stole second base, moving to third on a throwing error. He scored on a sac fly from Frei.
 
The Wolverines had runners in scoring position in the seventh inning and a base runner in the eighth, but the CBU bullpen held them scoreless. Dumesnil's second homer came in the ninth inning to go up 8-7 before tacking on one more run on a solo shot to take a 9-7 advantage.
 
Utah Valley remains tied for first place in the WAC with Grand Canyon. Both teams have six conference games remaining. The Wolverines are headed to UTA and hosting Sacramento State. The Lopes will host Sacramento State next weekend before heading to Tarleton State.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley will travel to Arlington this week for a three-game series against UT Arlington at Clay Gould Ballpark. The series starts on Friday, May 3, at 6:00 p.m. CT / 5:00 p.m. MT and will air on ESPN+.