Trailing 3-0 in the contest, UVU (11-20, 4-10 WAC) reeled off four unanswered runs that was capped by a clutch two-out rally in the top of the eighth to take a 4-3 advantage. Both Paul Vossen and Spencer Olsen delivered the late RBI hits in the frame for Utah Valley. But Seattle (8-18, 6-8 WAC) responded with two runs of its own in the last of the eighth to even the series.

“It was good to see the fight in this team show up again and comeback to take a late lead after being down. If we can win just a few more pitches over the course of nine innings we will find ourselves on the winning end of these games,” head UVU coach Eddie Smith said.

The Redhawks struck first with a pair of first inning runs to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Shane Jamison drove in the first run of the game with an RBI double to left and he later scored on a wild pitch. SU then added an unearned run in the second to extend its early advantage to 3-0.

With Seattle starter Peter Chronowski pitching well into the fourth, Trey Cutchen got the Wolverine offense going with a solo home run to right to pull the Wolverines within 3-1. UVU looked for more in the frame, as Vossen singled and Olsen walked, but Chronowski pitched out of it by drawing an inning-ending fielder’s choice off the bat of Brody Ponti.

The Wolverines got back-to-back one-out singles from Cutchen and Mick Madsen in the sixth to put runners on the corners. Vossen then followed with an RBI fielder’s choice to the right side to bring in Cutchen and make it a one-run game at 3-2.

SU threatened in the bottom of the seventh by getting two runners aboard with just one away, but UVU reliever Blake Zeleny responded by retiring the next two batters he faced to keep it a one-run game.

The Wolverines then started a two-out rally going in the top of the eighth as Cutchen singled and Madsen walked to put the tying and go-ahead runs on the base paths. Vossen then continued to stay hot by delivering a game-tying RBI single to left to drive in Cutchen to tie the game. The very next batter Olsen then gave the Wolverines the lead with a clutch bloop RBI single to right to drive home Madsen and give UVU its first lead of the game at 4-3.

Seattle then got two men in scoring position in the last of the eighth on walk from Julian Kodoma and a ground-rule double from Aiden Welch. UVU closer Josh Brown then responded by striking out Kyle Sherick for the second out of the frame, but SU pinch-hitter Connor O’Brien gave the Redhawks the lead for good with a two-run single down the third-base line to make it 5-4 Seattle.

UVU then hoped for some ninth-inning magic, but Seattle’s Gabe Smith retired the Wolverines in order to preserve the win for the Redhawks.

Cutchen led UVU in the game by going 3-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored, while Vossen followed by going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Welch paced SU with a 2-for-4 outing with two doubles and two runs scored.

SU’s Smith earned the win in relief to improve to 1-1 on the year, while UVU’s Josh Brown was tagged with his first loss to drop to 0-1.

The rubber match of the weekend series is scheduled for a 3 p.m. MT/2 p.m. PT start on Saturday. With rain in the forecast check back at GoUVU.com or on the UVUbsb social media channels for any updates or changes. Following the conclusion of the series, UVU will cap the trip with a midweek game at Washington of the Pac-12 Conference on Monday at 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT.

Former UVU men’s soccer star Jojea Kwizera signs with CF Montreal

After becoming the first Utah Valley player to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft, Jojea Kwizera has officially signed a contract with CF Montréal. Kwizera was selected as the 15th overall pick in the first round by the club in January’s draft.

Kwizera will forgo his final season of college eligibility but will leave UVU with a degree in criminal justice after this semester.

“Getting this opportunity really is a dream come true. I’m so blessed to be able to pursue professional soccer and I’m excited to go out and show my talents,” Kwizera said. “I’m my grateful for my family and all of my teammates and coaches that have helped me get to this point in my career.”

This past season, Kwizera led the WAC and was tied for fifth in the nation with 11 assists. He also scored five goals and finished with a team-high 21 points. He had a goal and two assists in the WAC Tournament quarterfinal and was named to the All-Tournament team in November. Kwizera was also a second-team All-WAC selection last spring.

Other scores from Friday’s action

BYU baseball defeated Santa Clara, 10-0 … BYU softball won the first game of a doubleheader vs. LMU, 4-0, but (at press deadline) trailed 7-3 in the top of the fifth in the nightcap.

UVU softball lost both games of a doubleheader at Grand Canyon, 13-4 and 10-1.