Box Score SAN FRANCISCO – Utah Valley lost the opening game of their three-game series to the University of San Francisco, 8-3, on Wednesday afternoon at Benedetti Baseball Diamond. UVU (28-25) was led by career-high 4 2/3 innings from reliever Ray Hernandez, who gave the UVU offense a chance, but the USF (24-29) held firm to hold onto game one.
 
The Dons jumped out an early 4-0 lead after the first inning before the Wolverines cut into the deficit in the third inning after CJ Colyer lined a double off the scoreboard in left field, Luke Iverson took advantage of the short porch to right field with a two-run shot for his 16^th home run of the season. He now sits just two back of the UVU's single-season record of 18, which Goose Kallunki, Burke Camper, and Daniel Dickinson hold.
 
Utah Valley continued the inning with Jayden Smith's single, but a double play ended the threat for the Wolverines on a ball that Landon Frei struck right at the USF third baseman, and they went around the horn.
 
Ray Hernandez gave the Wolverines a career-high 3 2/3 innings of extended relief today and only allowed a pair of hits, with a single coming back in the fifth inning and a double off the bat of cleanup hitter Eddison Esquivel in the seventh inning.
 
Utah Valley scored a run in the sixth inning to make it 8-3 after Smith led off with a walk before moving to second with two outs after a balk. Brody Block lined a double off the wall in the right field that bounced back and past the San Francisco right fielder to allow Smith to score.
 
Carter Krosky pitched a scoreless eighth inning for his third straight scoreless appearance and tenth of the season.
 
Jimmy De Anda reached base for the 42^nd consecutive game with a single in the fifth inning. UVU managed eight hits in the contest from eight different hitters in the lineup.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley and USF will play the second game of their three-game series on Thursday, May 15, at 3:00 p.m. MT / 2:00 p.m. PT. The series and regular-season finale will be Friday, May 16, at 2:00 p.m. MT / 1:00 p.m. PT.