Mason Gray pitched seven solid innings and Spencer Olsen belted out a grand slam and six total RBIs to lead Utah Valley University baseball to a doubleheader split against the first-place Grand Canyon Lopes on Saturday at UCCU Ballpark.

After dropping the first game of the day 16-4, UVU (16-28, 9-15 WAC) responded by claiming the nightcap by a score of 10-6 to salvage the series and split Saturday’s twin bill against No. 25 GCU (30-15, 17-4 WAC). The victory marks UVU’s first win over a top-25 team since March 9, 2018 when it defeated No. 21 Mississippi State.

“I think anytime you can win a big game after some disappointing losses, and you can respond they way we did tonight, it can go a long way with your confidence and answer any questions or doubts you might have,” said head UVU coach Eddie Smith. “To see our guys get off the mat for game two and come out swinging, I think it says a lot about them. We talk about being relentless and resilient, and the guys did that today and it was great to see.”

Gray got off to a strong start on the mound for UVU in the nightcap, as he struck out four straight batters which included striking out the side in the second as the game was scoreless in the early stages.

After falling behind, UVU answered in the home half of the fifth in a big way with five runs to take a 6-2 lead.

Following a leadoff single from Drew Sims, Mitch Moralez tripled to left center to drive in Sims to tie the game. The Wolverines then loaded the bases with still nobody out in the frame and Olsen blasted out a grand slam to the opposite field to deep right to help UVU put the crooked number on the board in the frame.

Gray gave UVU a quality start in the nightcap by tossing 7.0 solid innings to improve to 2-3 on the year. Gray struck out six and surrendered just three runs on the evening. GCU’s Connor Markl (5-3) took the loss after giving up six runs in four-plus innings.

Offensively both Cutchen and Sims both had three-hit performances for UVU, while Olsen tied the Utah Valley single-game school record with six RBIs. Olsen finished by going 2-for-4 with a grand slam and a two-run double. Andeel paced GCU by going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

“Mason Gray has really responded for us on the mound as of late with three great outings. That’s what we need. We need someone that we can give the ball to that will give us a lot of confidence, and right now we feel that way with Mason,” Smith added. “Offensively, Spencer Olsen came up in some big situations and he just delivered. You can’t say enough about him and how our bats got warm when Spencer got warm, so it’s been great to see.”

In Game 1, the Lopes struck first and never looked back, building a big lead and pulling away for the 16-4 victory.

Hall led UVU offensively off the bench by going 1-for-2 with a two-run homer while Luna went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk. Aguilar paced the Lopes by going 2-for-5 two home runs and five RBIs.

The Wolverines will now  step out of conference play to open a nine-game road trip at Washington State of the Pac-12 Conference for three games next weekend, May 6-8, in Pullman. UVU will continue the trip with a contest at Lower Columbia College on Monday, May 9 followed by a midweek game at Portland on Wednesday, May 11. Utah Valley will then return to WAC play with a big three-game set at Sacramento State May 13-15 and will cap the trip with a Monday tilt at Pacific on May 16.

Softball drops pitcher’s duel

Utah Valley found itself on the short end of a pitcher’s duel as Seattle U won the series’ rubber match, 2-0, on Saturday behind the bat and arm of Carley Nance.

Nance, a senior for the Redhawks, pitched her second shutout of the series and also hit a solo home run — her 14th of the season — on Senior Day at Logan Field. Brooke Carter, who pitched a nine-inning complete game is the UVU’s win on Friday, went the distance again but took the tough-luck defeat. She allowed just four scattered hits and struck out three.

Madison Carr and Linnah Rebolledo had two hits apiece on a six-hit day for the Wolverines (20-22, 10-11). UVU also got a one-out double in the seventh from Danyé Albritton, but Nance notched her sixth strikeout to end the game and strand Albritton at third. Carr’s two hits put her at 64 for the season, one shy of tying the single-season program record.

The Wolverines will stay in the Pacific Northwest and face No. 10 Washington on Monday at 11 a.m. PT/noon MT. UVU will then close out the regular season at home, with a midweek against BYU on Wednesday and a three-game set against New Mexico State in the final WAC series.

Men’s golf finishes tied for fifth at WAC Championships

A final round 292 (4-over-par) put the UVU men’s golf team in a tie for fifth at the WAC Championships at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev., which concluded on Sunday.

The Wolverines were led by Brady McKinley, who shot a 212 in the three-day tournament to finish in sixth place. Caden Weber tied for 15th with a score of 217.

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