BERKELEY, Calif. – It was a tie game until Utah Valley pushed across three runs in the seventh inning that proved to be the difference in USF's 8-4 loss on Wednesday evening at Cal's Evans Diamond.
 
Utah Valley (3-2) broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the seventh with a two-out three-run spurt highlighted by consecutive RBI doubles and a run-scoring base hit that put the Wolverines up 7-4.
 
Greyson Bogden's solo home run to left field in the top of the ninth added a final insurance run for the UVU.
 
"We played pretty well early," said head coach Nino Giarratano. "We got some run production, we were up 3-0 and kind of cruising. Then, a couple walks, a couple hits and all of a sudden we gave back the momentum. We're giving up too many runs and we're just not producing enough offense.  

"That was a really good hitting ball club tonight. One through nine, that was one of the better hitting clubs we've seen so far. We had some bright spots, but not enough to get a 'W'." 

Mack Meyer (0-1) took the loss for USF (0-6) after throwing 1.2 innings in relief, allowing two runs on two hits.
 
USF starter Joey Carney went 2.2 innings where he allowed two runs on six hits, while walking two and striking out two.
 
Ryan Matranga enjoyed a 2-for-4 day at the plate with an infield RBI single that tied the game in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Brady Bate (1-for-4, 2 R) and Ross Puskarich (1-for-4) each launched monstrous home runs well over the left field wall in the bottom of the second to give USF an early 3-0 advantage.
 
Utah Valley answered in its half of the third when Jeff Arens drew a bases loaded walk against USF reliever Riley Helland, while the next batter, Zac Willis, drove home a run with an infield single up the middle that cut the USF lead to 3-2.
 
The Dons took advantage of a throwing error by Utah Valley second baseman Paul Estrada that allowed Bate to reach base to start the bottom of the sixth. Four batters later, Matranga's soft infield chopper to third base brought Bate home to tie the game at 4-4, but that would be the last run the Dons would tally.
 
Utah Valley threatened again in the top of the eighth, but James Kannenberg worked out of a no-out, bases loaded jam in by inducing a ground out to third base and back-to-back infield pop ups.
 
Greg McCuch (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Utah Valley with 2.0 innings of work, surrendering one run on one hit while striking out a pair.
 
The Wolverines tallied 16 hits on the night and were led by Stone Ramsey's 4-for-5 effort with a run scored.   
 
 
WEB GEMS: 2B Aaron Ping made a run-saving diving stop ranging up the middle with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the third. A run did score on the infield hit, but Ping's stop saved multiple runs from coming across.
 
NOTES: Tonight's game was played at Evans Diamond due to ongoing construction of USF's new ballpark… The six pitchers that saw action for the Dons were the most USF has used in a game so far this year… UVU's 14 hits were the second-most surrendered by the Dons this year… Of Utah Valley's 14 hits, only three were extra base hits (2 doubles, home run)… The Dons had multiple home runs in the same inning for the first time this season when Brady Bate and Ross Puskarich launched long balls in the bottom of the second… Utah Valley left 14 runners on base, while USF stranded eight.
 
UP NEXT: The Dons kick off a three-game series hosting the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors on Friday morning at 10 a.m. at Saint Mary's College's Louis Guisto Field. RHP Anthony Shew will be making his first appearance when he gets the start.