Utah Valley University lost to Nevada 5-3 in a 10-inning baseball game at Don Weir Field at Peccole Park on Sunday. Luke Iverson led Utah Valley with two hits, including his first home run of the season, and drove in three runs. Chipper Beck added two doubles for the Wolverines, who now hold a 2-5 record.
Beck’s double in the third inning was followed by Iverson’s home run, giving Utah Valley an early 2-0 lead. The home run was the 24th of Iverson’s career, tying him for seventh place on Utah Valley’s all-time list with Cole Jordan.
Utah Valley threatened again in the third inning by loading the bases after singles from Mason Hamlin and Mason Strong and a walk to Kaden Carpenter, but Nevada avoided further runs.
Starting pitcher Landon Zaborowski held Nevada scoreless through four innings and allowed just one hit before Nevada tied the game in the fifth inning. The Wolf Pack loaded the bases and scored on a walk and a wild pitch. Zaborowski finished with four strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings while allowing three hits. Garrett Miller relieved Zaborowski and got a groundout to keep the game tied.
Beck opened the seventh inning with another double—his first collegiate game with two doubles—but Nevada reliever Jordan Giacomini retired three consecutive batters to end Utah Valley’s chance at scoring.
Miller continued pitching effectively out of relief, setting a career high with 3 1/3 innings pitched. He worked around a single by Jackson Waller in the seventh as Utah Valley made two key defensive plays: Hamlin stopped a ball near third base for an out, and Carpenter made a diving catch in right field to end the inning.
Utah Valley took back the lead in the ninth when Brody Block scored on an RBI single by Iverson, marking Iverson’s 30th career multi-RBI game.
Trey Jacobsen entered to close out the ninth for Utah Valley. After Nevada doubled to start their half of the inning, strong relay throws from Block to Hamlin to Strong cut down what would have been a tying run at home plate. However, Jack Metcho hit an infield roller that allowed Nevada to tie it later that inning.
Sean Yamaguchi won it for Nevada with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the tenth.
Utah Valley will begin its home schedule against UC Riverside on Friday, February 27 at 4:05 p.m., starting a four-game series that opens up a twelve-game homestand.
