LAS VEGAS – Utah Valley dropped the first game of their two-game series with UNLV on Monday evening at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. UNLV (17-15) rallied with seven runs in the eighth inning to defeat UVU (21-11). Nate Bach finished 2-for-4 with a home run for the 23^rd of his career to tie him with Chris Benson for seventh all-time.
 
The Wolverines struck first, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning after Luke Iverson was hit by a pitch for the fifth consecutive game and advanced to third on a throwing error that allowed Jimmy De Anda to reach safely. UVU took a 1-0 lead when Dominic Longo II lifted a ball to left field to bring home Iverson. They later took advantage of the second Rebel error of the inning, with De Anda swiping second base and going to third on a throwing error.
 
Landon Frei made it 2-0 in the first inning with a double to center field to plate De Anda and later scored on a single from Bach.
 
Wayland Crane made his first start since Mar. 2 and pitched the first inning, retiring UNLV in order on a flyout and a strikeout of Isaac Rodriguez before recording the final out of the inning on a groundout.
 
Utah Valley answered UNLV's run in the second inning with a run of their own after Longo II reached on a fielding error; he advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt that went past the first baseman. Mason Strong drove in a run on UVU's second sac fly in three innings. Leading 4-1 in the home half, George Albrecht came in and quickly retired the Rebels in order, but in his second inning of work, two home runs tied the game up at four.
 
It did not take long for Utah Valley to regain the lead with two outs in the fifth inning. Strong singled to right field for his 17^th multi-hit game of the season, including his sixth in his last seven games. He scored on a single from Frei to keep runners on the corners. Leading 5-4, the Wolverines kept the pressure on when Frei stole second, and a pitch hit Bach to load the bases. Brody Block and CJ Colyer both singled to bring home runs to make it 8-4 before Colyer stole second, and Block was able to steal home as the throw went high and past the UNLV catcher to extend the UVU lead to 9-4.
 
Jacob Beltran came out of the UVU bullpen. Despite allowing a single and walk, he recovered to get a pair of flyouts to hold the lead at 9-4 to end the fifth. The Rebels broke through against him in the bottom of the sixth, scoring one run before they loaded the bases and brought home three more runs to make it 9-8. Garrett Miller came in and ended the inning with a fielder's choice.
 
Strong started the seventh inning, reaching on a UNLV error before being lifted for Cougar Cooke, who came in to run at first base. Bach extended the Wolverine lead to 11-8 in the seventh inning with his sixth of the season. Miller pitched through the seventh inning, picking up a pair of strikeouts to end the seventh.
 
The Rebels came back late, loading the bases after Cooper Littledike recorded the first out via strikeout. A couple of clutch singles and a pair of errors helped UNLV keep the inning alive with two outs as they took the lead and extended the lead to 15-11.
 
Utah Valley searched for the big inning in the ninth, with Longo II working a walk before Cooke, followed by a walk, but three strikeouts ended the rally.
 
The Wolverines and Rebels will wrap up the two-game series on Tuesday, Apr. 8, at 3:05 p.m. MT. Utah Valley returns to WAC play this weekend with a crucial three-game series at Grand Canyon.