Utah Valley University defeated Colorado Mesa 6-4 on March 11 at UCCU Ballpark, marking the Wolverines’ fourth consecutive victory. Six different Utah Valley players drove in runs during the game, while the pitching staff limited Colorado Mesa, ranked No. 4 in Division II, to just four runs.
The game began with Colorado Mesa taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning after an RBI double by Coby Felix. Utah Valley responded in the fourth inning, tying the score without recording a hit as Kaden Carpenter and Brody Block were hit by pitches and Hunter Katschke drew a walk to load the bases. Wil Applegate then worked a bases-loaded walk to even the score.
Starting pitcher Jacob Heppner pitched four innings for Utah Valley, allowing two hits and striking out four batters in his first appearance since facing Nevada. Maddax Peck relieved Heppner and threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts to keep the game tied at one run each.
Hunter Katschke gave Utah Valley its first lead of the day with a solo home run in the sixth inning, his sixth of the season. The Wolverines added more runs in the seventh inning through contributions from DJ Massey, Luke Iverson, Carpenter, Mason Strong, and Block. This extended their lead to 6-1 before Colorado Mesa narrowed it to 6-3 in the eighth inning.
In the ninth inning, Jacob Beltran recorded back-to-back strikeouts with tying runs on base to secure Utah Valley’s win. The team will next host Cincinnati for a two-game series starting Monday evening at UCCU Ballpark.
