The Utah Valley University men’s baseball team (7-4) split their Saturday doubleheader against the University of Portland Pilots (6-4) 1-1 at Joe Etzel Field in Portland, Oregon.
The Wolverines lost to the Pilots 6-2 in game one and then defeated the Pilots 1-0 in game two.
The Pilots started the first game sizzling hot, scoring five unanswered runs in the first two innings to take a 5-0 lead early. The Wolverines were able to score one run in the fourth inning and eighth inning to cut the deficit to 5-2. However, the Pilots responded in the bottom of the eighth inning with an insurance run and held on to win 6-2.
The second game was a lot more defensive, with both teams going scoreless until the fifth inning where a home run by Garrett Broussard put the Wolverines up 1-0. UVU was then able to stave off the Pilots to win 1-0 in the seven-inning game.
During gamer one, the Wolverines batted at a .188 hitting percentage, hitting the ball six times and batting in two runners while two batters were walked. The Wolverines were struck out 11 times by the Pilots’ pitching staff and five runners were stranded on base.
Cole Jordan led the way for UVU, going 2-for-3 from the plate, including a home run. Daniel Dickinson also clocked two hits, including an RBI, while also stealing a base. Patrick Mills and Luke Iverson also registered a hit in the game.
Mitch Mueller (1-2) started for the Wolverines, pitching 2.1 innings while allowing five earned runs, eight hits, and two walks. However, he was also able to force two strikeouts, three flyouts, and one ground out.
Nick Sims pitched the next 3.2 innings, allowing no hits, runs, or walks and forcing four strikeouts, one flyout, and six groundouts.
Drew Woody pitched the seventh inning for the Wolverines, also giving a solid inning with one strikeout and two groundouts despite allowing two walks and hitting a player with a wild pitch to load up the bases.
Josh Brown came in relief for Woody to start the eighth inning, allowing one earned run, two hits, and one walk but he also forced three flyouts.
The Wolverines batted at a .192 hitting percentage in the second game, hitting five times and having one batter walk.
Broussard led the Wolverines with his game-winning home run in the fifth inning. Four other Wolverines also registered a hit in the game.
Pitching was the storyline for the Wolverines in this game as the pitching staff combined to strike the Pilots 12 times and strand 10 PU runners on base.
Casey Anderson gave a strong start for UVU, allowing only three hits and two walks with no runs in the four innings that he pitched. He forced eight strikeouts, two flyouts, and two groundouts in his dominant performance as well.
Reece Rodabaugh picked up his first win of the season for the Wolverines in relief for Anderson, allowing one hit while forcing two strikeouts and one flyout in his sole inning pitched.
Closing pitcher Spencer Davis picked up his first save of the season after pitching the last two innings of the game. Davis only surrendered two hits while picking up two strikeouts, two groundouts, and one fly out.
The Pilots weren’t slow to start game one as Evan Scavotto batted home Nich Klemp at the bottom of the first inning to put PU up 1-0 early. Spencer Scott followed two plays later with a sacrifice fly out to right field which scored Scavotto to give the Pilots a 2-0 edge.
After no response from the Wolverines, the Pilots continued to roll in the second inning as Jake Holcroft sliced a double down the infield line to score Zach Toglia and Christian Cooney, making the Pilots’ lead 4-0. A few at-bats later, Scavotto singled up the middle to score Holcroft and extend the Pilots’ advantage 5-0.
The Wolverines were able to put runners in scoring position in the top of the third inning as Jordan and Trey Cutchen reached third and second base, respectively. However, Pilots’ pitcher Brock Gillis ended the Wolverines’ inning by forcing a quick flyout.
UVU got on the board in the top of the fourth inning after Dickinson singled up the middle to score Mills and cut the deficit down to 5-1.
The Wolverines scored once again in the top of the eighth inning with a one-out home run by Jordan to make the score 5-2.
However, Klemp was able to help the Pilots respond at the bottom of the eighth, scoring Ethan Loveless with an RBI single to give PU an insurance run with a 6-2 lead.
The Pilots then held off the Wolverines in the ninth inning to win 6-2 and even the series 1-1 after the Wolverines won game one 4-1 on Friday afternoon.
The second game was much more defensive, and Anderson pitched brilliantly for the Wolverines. He kept the Pilots scoreless in all four innings that he pitched, including escaping a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the third inning with a strikeout to end the inning and two runners on base situation in the bottom of the fourth inning by forcing a pop out to close that inning as well.
Broussard got the Wolverines on the board in the top of the fifth inning with a towering home run blast out to left field to put UVU up 1-0.
The Pilots attempted to respond at the bottom of the frame by getting the bases loaded but Rodabaugh, like Anderson, escaped the jam with a strikeout.
The remaining two went scoreless and the Wolverines picked up their second shutout win of the season while also retaking a series lead of 2-1 over PU.
The Wolverines next play in the series finale against the Pilots on Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m. MT.
Be sure to tune into UVUReview.com for updates on the game.
