OREM, Utah — Utah Valley University scored early and often in sweeping both ends of a doubleheader, 13-4 and 14-2, over NYIT on Friday night at Brent Brown Ballpark. UVU has won five straight overall, while taking the first three of the four-game Great West Conference series. The finale is slated for Saturday at 1 p.m.
Willie Pratt homered in both games Saturday and has hit home runs in the first three games of the series. Taylor Berg had six hits in the twin bill, going 3-for-3 in the opener and 3-for-4 in the nightcap. The Wolverines belted four home runs in the two games and had 26 hits combined — 12 in game one and 14 in game two, which ended in seven innings due to the 10-run rule.
“We really swung the bat well throughout the day with a lot of good contact. The way we attacked it on the offensive side was great. And we got good starts on the mound and that was big for us as well,” UVU head coach Eric Madsen said.
In game one, Greyson Bogden followed up his first career four-hit night on Thursday with his first career home run along with four RBIs, and Mark Krueger also homered for the second straight game. Bogden’s round-tripper came in the first inning, and Krueger’s came three hitters after Pratt’s solo shot and gave Utah Valley a 6-2 lead in the second.
Dan Lacker homered for the second consecutive day for NYIT, giving the Bears (9-41, 7-16) an early lead in the first that was short-lived.
The Wolverines answered one NYIT run in the third with a three-run inning, two scoring on a single by Pratt.
UVU would add two more in both the fifth and sixth; Bogden doubled home a run in the fifth and had a sac-fly in the sixth to drive in his fourth run.
Pratt was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Andrew Freter (3-3) picked up the win after throwing six innings and striking out three.
In game two, Utah Valley had its first eight hitters reach in the bottom of the first, scoring seven times in the inning. Pratt led off with a home run to score the first run. Five other players drove in runs in the inning including a two-run double from Colby Croft.
After sending 11 men to the plate in the first, the Wolverines had 10 hitters bat in the second, scoring five more runs to lead 12-0 after two. Three bases loaded walks brought home three of the runs in the inning. Berg also had an RBI single in the second.
Utah Valley added two more in the third, and Danny Beddes pitched five solid innings, allowing only two fourth-inning runs to pick up his second win. Krueger equaled Berg’s three-hit game with a 3-for-3 night. Croft finished 1-for-1 with three batted in, while Jordy Hart also had two RBIs.
The two wins, coupled with Northern Colorado’s win over Texas-Pan American, puts UVU in first place in the Great West entering play on Saturday. The Wolverines travel to UTPA — 14-6 in the GWC — for the final series of the year next weekend. UNC, which is currently in third place at 13-7 in the league, travels to NYIT next weekend.
In between games, UVU honored outgoing Director of Athletics Mike Jacobsen. Jacobsen is retiring in June after 29 years directing the Utah Valley athletic department. He and his wife Alice were honored and five of their grandchildren participated in throwing out the first pitch.
Clint Burgi is the assistant athletic director for sports information at Utah Valley University. For more information on Wolverine athletics, visit WolverineGreen.com.