Hernandez started quickly on the mound by striking out four of the first six hitters he faced to help set an early tone for the Wolverines. The offense picked right back up where it left off Saturday as it tagged UCR for an eight-run second inning that started when it loaded the bases for Jayden Smith, whose single knocked home two runs to put UVU up 2-0. Iverson singled home a run before Mason Hamlin’s double to left field added one run to make it 4-0 and force a Highlander pitching change.

Kaden Carpenter was intentionally walked twice in the game, with the first coming against Joshua Torres, the first hitter the new UCR hurler faced. Mason Strong extended the lead to 5-0 with a sacrifice fly before Chipper Beck made it 7-0 with a two-run single to center field. During this stretch, the Wolverines took advantage of two fielding errors that allowed runners to advance, including one on Katschke’s RBI single in the second to cap the scoring at 8-0.

Hernandez was sharp in his first start of the 2026 season and only got into trouble in the third when UCR scored its lone run on a double hit directly down the left-field line by Esteban Sepulveda. The UVU senior earned his first win of the season, going four innings and allowing three hits. His day ended with a three-up, three-down inning and a strikeout.

Iverson hit his third homer of the season on a solo shot in the sixth inning for the 26th of his career. He is now tied for sixth all time in UVU’s Division I history with Nate Bach (2022-25). UVU’s Division I record is 34, hit by Dan Bulow.

Katschke homered in the sixth inning for his third big fly of the season. It was his first hit at home and his first since his two-homer game at Pacific on opening night. Later in the inning, Smith was hit by a pitch and DJ Massey singled to put two runners on base before Hamlin delivered a single to left field that scored a run on a misplayed ball by the UCR left fielder. Leading 12-2, Carpenter doubled to left-center to make it 13-2.

The UVU bullpen pitched well, with Chance Wallace throwing one inning and allowing one hit while striking out two. Freshman Josh Mawhinney made his home debut, going one inning and allowing one hit but no runs, and Jacob Beltran pitched the seventh and held UCR scoreless.

Utah Valley returns to UCCU Ballpark next weekend for a five-game series against Northern Colorado. UVU swept the Bears in a five-game matchup last season in Greeley, Colorado.

Utah Valley softball wraps up Beehive Classic play

 Megan Sterzer extended her hitting streak to nine games as Utah Valley (12-7) finished play at the Beehive Classic on Sunday, falling to the Utah Utes (17-5), 7-0.

The Utes hit three home runs that plated six of their seven runs, two of which came during a five-run first inning.

Sterzer went 1-for-3 with a double and Ry Binne went 2-for-2 with a double, but the Wolverines were unable to manufacture anything with runners on, going a combined 0-for-11.

Lily Riley pitched the final 6.1 innings for the Wolverines, allowing two ER on eight hits. Riley pitched in all four games this weekend, going 15 innings with nine strikeouts and three ER allowed.

The Utes struck first in a flash, with a leadoff walk and a two-run homer. An error prolonged the Utah rally, with Danika Wilson hitting her first of two home runs to make it 5-0 with two down. Wilson homered again in the third to make it 6-0.

Utah Valley got its first hit of the day in the third when Binne legged out a bunt single, but she was immediately doubled off after Britney Moreno hit a low liner to third that was caught.

Sterzer led off the fifth with her double, but was stranded at third after the Utes retired the next three.

Utah tacked on another in the sixth to make it 7-0 via a pinch-hit triple and a single up the middle.

Payge Armendariz picked up a two-out, pinch-hit single in the seventh, but the Wolverines were not able to capitalize.

Utah Valley will be off until Saturday when the Wolverines head to Stockton, Calif., to begin a five-game road trip against former UVU associate head coach Sam Kukuk and the Pacific Tigers. First pitch of Saturday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m. MT, and all three games that weekend will air on ESPN+.