Box Score STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State University defeated Utah Valley University, 8-2, on Saturday afternoon at the Tarleton Baseball Complex. Hunter Katschke finished 2-for-4 with a walk in the game for the Wolverines (15-26, 1-7), with Kaden Carpenter and Mason Hamlin recording RBIs. Brady Englett finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs to lead the Texans (27-15, 7-4).
 
The Wolverines looked to answer a three-run Texan second inning in the top of the third inning when they had two runners in scoring position after Hunter Katschke singled and Chipper Beck reached on a throwing error after laying down a bunt. Carpenter lined a ball hard into shallow right, but the Texans had shifted in perfect position for Slade McCloud to catch the liner.
 
Jacob Heppner got the start for the Wolverines and worked five innings with three strikeouts and allowed two earned runs. Colton Kennedy went three innings and had at least five strikeouts for the sixth time this season.
 
Utah Valley, in the top of the sixth, had a chance to cut into the Texan deficit when Beck reached for the second time in the game on an error and advanced to second on a single by Mason Strong. Tarleton State went to the bullpen and brought in lefty Karsen Davis, who faced three consecutive right-handed hitters and got the first one out before walking Derek Houston to load the bases, then got Cooper Brass to fly out to left field.
 
UVU broke through in the top of the seventh inning with a two-out rally featuring three consecutive singles, starting with Katschke and Beck, before Carpenter drove in the first run of the game to make it 4-1. Primed to add more runs, Anthony Treto ended the threat when Strong checked his swing but made contact to pop out.
 
After the Texans scored in a four-run seventh inning to go up 8-1, the Wolverines got some offense going, with Houston lining an 0-2 fastball into center field before Brass walked and Hamlin hit a deep fly ball off the center field wall to make it 8-2.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley and Tarleton State will wrap up the series tomorrow with an 11:05 a.m. MT start from Stephenville. The Wolverines return home next weekend to face California Baptist at UCCU Ballpark.