UVU Records 15 Hits in Win
Kyle McDonald, Sports Writer, @kylesportsbias
In the second game of a double header against the Saint Mary’s Gaels, the Utah Valley University Wolverines were looking to build off the offensive momentum they had built to end the first game. They achieved that goal.
The UVU offense was aggressive from start to finish as they had 15 hits and scored 10 runs in the 10-6 victory to break a four-game losing streak. “I was pleased with guys being a little more aggressive,” Head Coach Eric Madsen said.
UVU scored three runs in the first inning to take a 3-1 lead and after giving up five runs in the top of the 5th inning and falling behind 6-4, they would open up the game for good by scoring three runs in the 4th and 6th innings.
UVU first basemen Seth Gothberg drove in the first run of the game in the first inning with a single to right field that drove in Kade Andrus and Seth Rhineer. Freshman designated hitter Tate Harding reached base on a fielder’s choice to second base which scored Mark Krueger to give the Wolverine the early 3-1 lead. They would tack on another run in the 2nd inning on a Krueger sacrifice fly to center that scored second baseman Zac Fuller.
SMC first baseman Collin Ferguson hammered a 2-1 pitch from Kaden Schmitt over the right center field fence in the top of the 4th driving in three runs and putting the Gaels back in the lead 6-4.
After that it was all Wolverines. In the 4th, Harding hit a bases clearing double down the left field line that scored Gothberg, Rhineer, and Andrus. In the 6th Gothberg hit a double down the right field line that scored Krueger and was followed by a Harding single that scored Gothberg from second. Left fielder Andy Perkins drove in Harding with a double down the left field line and UVU had a 10-6 lead. “I thought our guys did a good job offensively today,” Madsen said.
UVU relief pitcher Logan Hold came on in the 3rd inning and after giving up two early runs really shut the door on the Gael offense over the next four innings. He only allowed two hits and four walks but he struck out five hitters and kept Saint Mary’s off the scoreboard and allowed the Wolverines to regain the lead. “That hold for that long to take the lead was giant for us,” Madsen said.
Kyle Valgardson would put the finishing touches on an impressive win for the Wolverines, pitching two innings and only giving up a solo home run in the top of the 9th inning to Ferguson, his second of the day.
The finale to the four game series will be Sunday at noon MT and the Wolverines will follow that up with a mid-week matchup against BYU on Tuesday night 6 pm MT at Brent Brown Ballpark.
