OREM, Utah – Utah Valley walked it off in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night, using a squeeze bunt from
Mason Hamlin to secure a 10-9 victory over UT Arlington at UCCU Ballpark.
Jimmy De Anda finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while
Brody Block drove in three runs to help UVU (18-36, 4-13) earn its first series win since early April at Cal State Bakersfield. Xavier Melendez finished 4-for-6 with three RBIs for UTA (18-30, 7-10).
The Wolverines battled back from an early 2-0 deficit and tied the game in the bottom of the second inning.
Chipper Beck and
Derek Houston delivered singles to put runners on the corners with one out before Block brought home UVU's first run on a groundout. A UT Arlington fielding error extended the inning, and De Anda beat out an infield chopper to even the score at 2-2.
Utah Valley's offense stayed hot in the third inning, scoring four runs with two outs.
Mason Strong and Houston recorded back-to-back hits before Block tripled to left-center field to give UVU its first lead at 4-2. Hamlin followed with an RBI single, and De Anda added another RBI knock to extend the lead to 6-2.
Jacob Heppner started on the mound for the Wolverines and pitched four innings. After allowing two runs in the opening inning, he settled in and kept UT Arlington off the scoreboard the rest of his outing, giving the UVU offense time to build its lead.
The Wolverines continued to apply pressure in the fifth and sixth innings with situational hitting. Strong and
Hunter Katschke each recorded sacrifice flies to push the lead to 8-3.
After the Mavericks cut the deficit to 8-5,
Kaden Carpenter responded with a solo home run to center field in the seventh inning. The blast was Carpenter's third consecutive game with a homer and his 16th of the season, giving UVU a 9-5 advantage.
UT Arlington rallied to tie the game at 9-9 entering the bottom of the eighth inning.
Trenton Rowan sparked the Wolverines with a pinch-hit infield single, beating out the throw with a headfirst dive into first base. Rowan then stole second, and Carpenter drew a walk to put the go-ahead run in scoring position, but UTA closer Hayes Melville escaped the jam to keep the game tied.
In the top of the ninth, UVU senior
Cooper Littledike struck out the first batter he faced before the Mavericks put the go-ahead run in scoring position with two outs. Xander McPhee then hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Rowan, who made a diving stop and threw to first in time to preserve the tie.
Houston reached base after being hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the ninth and quickly advanced to third after a stolen base and a wild pitch. After Block lined out to shallow left field, Hamlin dropped down a bunt back to the mound. The throw sailed down the first-base line, allowing Houston to score the winning run.
Utah Valley stole six bases in the win, one shy of the program record of seven set against New York Institute of Technology on May 12, 2012.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley and UT Arlington will wrap up the series on May 16 with a 12:05 p.m. MT first pitch at UCCU Ballpark. The game will serve as the Wolverines' season finale, and UVU will honor 18 seniors following the game.
