Utah Valley defeated UT Arlington, 17-7 in eight innings, on Wednesday afternoon at Hohokam Stadium. UVU (29-27) was led by Jayden Smith and CJ Colyer, each with four RBIs in the contest. The Wolverines recorded 18 hits for the second time this season, and it’s the third-most hits this season.

The Wolverines jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first innings with five hits coming against UTA starter Joe Steeber, all coming on singles. Mason Strong put UVU up 1-0 with a single through the left side, and on the throw home, the runners moved up 90 feet. Dominic Longo II hit a line drive to first base and off the glove of Maverick first baseman Xavier Melendez. The inning wrapped up with a two-run single from Brody Block.

After the Mavericks responded with six runs in the top of the second, they extended their lead to 7-4. The Wolverines regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with four runs in the inning that started with a double that hopped off the centerfield wall, and with two outs, Luke Iverson worked an important walk after Jimmy De Anda was hit with two strikes to load the bases. Smith tied it up with a double to right center field before Landon Frei dropped a single to center field and hustled into second base for a double.

After Carston Herman kept the Mavericks off the board, Utah Valley’s bats added five runs to take a 14-7 lead after an RBI single from Colyer that went through the right side. UTA pitchers hit five hitters in the game and plunked Iverson to put runners on the corners with one out. Utah Valley added their runs on three consecutive singles with Smith knocking home two, Frei adding one, and Strong plating one run.

The Wolverines added a run on Colyer’s double down the left field, his fourth RBI of the game, which tied his career high. UVU ended the game in the eighth inning on a two-run home run to left center field for the only homer of the game.

Herman (4-3) won after six innings with five hits, one run, and two strikeouts. Jacob Heppner made the start and went two innings with three strikeouts while earning a no-decision.

Frei finished 4-for-6 with two runs scored and three RBIs in the game, with Longo II adding three hits and five runs scored. He is the first player to score five runs since Daniel Dickinson scored five against Utah Tech.

The Wolverines advanced in the winner’s bracket to face No. 2 Abilene Christian on Thursday, May 22, at 9:30 a.m. local time and 10:30 a.m. MT. The game will be on ESPN+ with an audio-only stream available on GoUVU.com.