OREM, Utah – Utah Valley baseball won the fourth game of its five-game series on Monday with a 5–1 victory over Northern Colorado. Utah Valley (9-7) picked up its second series win of the season behind two-run singles from Kaden Carpenter and Mason Strong. Cooper Littledike tossed 2 2/3 innings to earn his first win of the season as UNC (2-17) did not record a hit after the sixth inning.
 
Ray Hernandez made his second start of the season for the Wolverines and tossed three shutout innings. The senior was matched by his counterpart, Lucas Stone, who finished with four innings and allowed two hits. Both pitchers set the tone early, as it looked like runs would be at a premium on Monday.
 
The Bears scored first in the top of the fourth inning as they pushed across a run with runners on the corners on a ground ball to second baseman Chipper Beck. Beck moved from third to first for the play, then fired across the diamond to try to get the lead runner, but the throw from third to home bounced past Strong to make it 1-0.
 
The Wolverines recorded their first hit of the game in the third inning when DJ Massey singled to left field with two outs, but he was caught stealing to end the inning. The Bears threatened again in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases against Trey Jacobsen. Jacobsen came up with the needed out when he got a popout to shallow centerfield and got Zeke Minic to lineout to centerfield to end the threat and strand the bases loaded. 
 
UVU escaped further damage in the top of the sixth when Northern Colorado had two runners on with one out and later loaded the bases. The Wolverines turned to Stopper of the Year watchlist nominee Cooper Littledike, who struck out Ethan Fillinger before a flyout ended the inning to leave the bases loaded. 
 
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Hunter Katschke led off with a double to right field to put the tying run in scoring position. Brody Block followed with a high, shallow fly ball that fell in front of the UNC center fielder to put runners on first and third with no outs.
 
With two outs and the bases loaded, Carpenter singled home two runs to put UVU in front 2-1. He now has six multi-RBI games this season, with three of them coming this weekend against Northern Colorado.
 
The Wolverines were not done in the sixth inning, extending their lead to 3-1 when Massey hustled home on a pitch that bounced in front of home plate and away from the UNC catcher. Strong then singled home two more runs during the five-run sixth inning to push UVU past the Bears.
 
Chance Wallace and Aaron Rice combined to pitch the ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts, as Wallace faced the leadoff hitter before Rice came in to retire the final two batters.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley is set to host Colorado Mesa on Wednesday, March 11, at 1:05 p.m. MT at UCCU Ballpark. The Wolverines will then have the weekend off before hosting Cincinnati of the Big 12 in a two-game series that begins Monday, March 16, at 5:35 p.m. MT.