OREM, Utah – Sacramento State had a six-run fifth inning and led 9-4 in the sixth but Utah Valley rallied with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and finished an 11-9 win in game two of the weekend series in Orem.

Utah Valley (12-20, 8-3 WAC) has scored 23 runs in the first two games of the series after the Hornets had allowed 25 total runs through their first nine WAC games of the season. Sacramento State (18-15, 6-5 WAC) had its largest run output in a road game this season

The big fifth inning for the Hornets included the first career home runs for senior Scotty Burcham and sophomore Gunner Pollman, with Burcham hitting a 3-run homer with one away and Pollman adding a two-out solo shot. In all the Hornets tallied five hits in the inning with a walk and had RBI singles from juniors Nathan Lukes and Chris Lewis.

The Hornets added a run in the top of the sixth on another RBI single from Lewis, but in the bottom of the inning the floodgates opened for the Wolverines. Utah Valley had its first seven batters of the inning reach base on five hits, a walk, and an error. In all 12 Wolverines came to the plate in the inning, totaling seven hits, six of which were singles, and seven runs.

Sacramento State brought the tying run to the plate with two out in the eighth but couldn't get a run across. Lukes opened the ninth inning with a single to again bring the potential tying run to the plate with none out but Utah Valley closer Kyle Valgardson finished the win.

Burcham equaled his career high with three RBIs and scored three runs going 2-for-5. Pollman was 2-for-3 with a career-high three RBIs, senior Kyle Moses went 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot, and Lukes and Lewis each had two hits. Sacramento State had its third multi-homer game of the season.

Utah Valley had a 15-12 edge in hits overall. All nine Wolverine starters had hits in the game and eight scored, with Zac Fuller going 4-for-5 from the number nine spot with a home run. Cleanup hitter Spencer Gothberg drove in three runs as 12 of the 15 UVU hits were singles.

Just as they did on Friday night, the Hornets got on the board first on Saturday. Two of the first three Hornets to bat in the inning drew walks, and with one away Pollman bounced a single through the right side to plate Burcham from second.

Utah Valley threatened in the first two innings but stranded four men. In the third, leadoff hitter Mark Krueger struck out but reached on a wild pitch. Greyson Bogden then doubled and Gothberg brought both runners home on an RBI single. Gothberg would steal second, move to third on a wild pitch, then score the third UVU run on a groundout. The teams traded runs in the fourth and Utah Valley led 4-2 before the big Hornet fifth inning.

Brett Snyder, the third of six Utah Valley pitchers in the game, got the win after starter Jackson Cofer lasted just four innings and was tagged with six runs on six hits and five walks. Sam Long, who entered the game leading the WAC in WHIP, ERA, and opposing batting average, allowed a career high 10 runs (nine earned) to take just his second career loss in WAC play. Junior Tyler Beardsley allowed just one run on five hits and no walks over the last three innings of the game.

Sophomore Justin Dillon will take the mound on Sunday as the Hornets wrap up the series and an eight-game road trip at 11 a.m. Pacific.