Utah Valley lost to the University of Utah 15-9 on Mar. 31 after the Utes scored six runs in the ninth inning. The game took place in Orem, with Utah improving its record to 16-10 and Utah Valley moving to 12-15.
The matchup was notable for its high-scoring nature and strong offensive performances from both teams. Four players from Utah Valley had multi-hit games, while Chipper Beck, Hunter Katschke, and Jayden Smith each hit home runs for the Wolverines.
Utah Valley started strong when Mason Strong singled in the first inning, setting up Beck’s second home run of the season that gave UVU a quick two-run lead. The Utes answered with a run in the second before Jake Long’s home run put them ahead in the third. Despite several threats by UVU—including a ground-rule double by Beck and aggressive baserunning—the Wolverines were unable to capitalize fully.
In the fifth inning, Katschke’s tenth home run of the season put UVU back on top at 5-4, extending his hitting streak to fourteen games and making him third in their conference to reach double-digit homers this year. Colton Kennedy pitched five innings for UVU but saw his team fall behind again after four Utah runs in the sixth inning.
Late-game drama unfolded as Derek Houston hit a solo homer and Will Applegate tripled before Smith tied it at nine with his first home run of the season. However, Utah’s offense surged again with six more runs in their final frame.
The teams are scheduled for two more meetings this season at Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark on April 21 and May 5. Next up for Utah Valley is a three-game series against Cal State Bakersfield beginning Thursday.
