OREM, Utah – Utah Valley's Senior Day comeback fell just short on Saturday afternoon at UCCU Ballpark.
Mason Strong hit a three-run homer to make it 11-10 in the ninth inning, but it wasn't enough to complete the sweep against UT Arlington. UVU (18-36, 4-14) saw
Brody Block record three RBIs and three hits, tying a season high for the senior.
Utah Valley hit four home runs as a team, tying a season high. The Wolverines also hit four homers against Utah on Mar. 31 and California Baptist on May 1.
UTA threatened in the top of the first inning against senior right-hander
Colton Kennedy, but the UVU defense turned a double play to end the threat. In his final start for the Wolverines, Kennedy finished with 4 1/3 innings pitched and two strikeouts on 88 pitches. He leaves the UVU program ranked in the top five in career strikeouts.
Utah Valley scored first in the bottom of the second inning on a solo home run from senior
Mason Hamlin, his fifth of the year, to give UVU a 1-0 lead.
The Mavericks jumped in front in the top of the third on a three-run homer from Xander McAfee before the Wolverines answered in the bottom half.
Jimmy De Anda doubled to open the inning and advanced to third on a fly ball before scoring on a single from Block to make it 3-2. UVU later loaded the bases after
Kaden Carpenter was hit by a pitch and
Chipper Beck walked. The Wolverines tied the game on a walk to Strong before regaining the lead on
Trenton Rowan's sacrifice fly that scored Carpenter.
After UTA tied the game in the top of the fourth, the Wolverines answered with their second three-run inning of the afternoon. The rally started with a walk to De Anda before Block launched his fourth home run of the season to put Utah Valley back in front. Carpenter followed with a solo home run on a 2-0 pitch to extend the lead to 7-4. He finished the season with home runs in four straight games.
UTA rallied by scoring in five consecutive innings, including a four-run fifth inning to take the lead. Preston Knott later homered to extend the Mavericks' advantage to 10-7 in the late innings.
George Albrecht tossed two innings of relief for UVU and allowed two runs while giving Utah Valley a chance at a late comeback.
After the late-game heroics from Hamlin in Friday night's series-clinching win, the Wolverines looked for another comeback victory. Block led off the ninth with a walk before Carpenter singled to put two runners on base. Strong then homered in his final collegiate at-bat with a three-run shot to right-center field to make it 11-10.
The comeback fell short in the finale, marking the final game UVU will compete in as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. Following the game, the Wolverines honored 18 seniors who suited up for the green and white. During the 2023-26 span, the Wolverines made two WAC Championship appearances, advanced to the program's second NCAA Tournament, and earned the first postseason victory in program history.
Utah Valley will begin the 2027 season in February and will compete in its first year as a member of Big West Conference.
