OREM, Utah – Utah Valley baseball dropped the opening game of their weekend series against Utah Tech University, 7-4. The Wolverines (15-22, 1-3) were led by former Trailblazer Hunter Katschke, who finished 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs, with Chipper Beck going 2-for-4. Utah Tech (24-14) got homers from Finnegan Stewart and Ty Johnsen.
 
The Wolverines struck first in the home half of the first inning after Kaden Carpenter walked and Katschke hit a towering homer that snuck over the wall for a two-run shot for his 13^th long ball of the season. The Trailblazers answered back with a line-drive homer in the top of the second from Pleasant Grove High School alum Ty Johnsen to cut the lead to 2-1.
 
Utah Tech tied the game after Mays Madsen walked and advanced to third on a stolen base and a throwing error. He came into score on a single from Petey Soto Jr. The Trailblazers jumped in front at the top of the third inning on a homer from Finnegan Stewart to make it 5-2.
 
The Wolverines hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the fourth when Carpenter hit his ninth of the year, and Katschke homered for the second time in the game for his team-high 14^th of the season. The two homers cut the lead to 6-4.
 
Utah Tech starting pitcher Tyler Ray finished with 5 2/3 innings with five hits, four runs and had seven strikeouts to earn his fourth victory of the season.
 
UVU's George Albrecht added another solid outing to his season total, going 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits, with four strikeouts. He gave up a walk to Ryan Kroepel and a double to Miller Durham but settled in to strike out three hitters in the sixth inning, and ended the seventh with a strikeout of Hudson Manwaring.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley and Utah Tech will play the second game of the series on Saturday with a 6:05 p.m. MT start. The Old Hammer Rivalry will conclude on Sunday with a 1:05 p.m. MT first pitch from Orem.