RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A ninth-inning rally fell short, as UC Riverside defeated Utah Valley University, 4-2, on Wednesday night at the Riverside Sports Complex in Riverside, California. 
 
UVU (14-23) jumped out to an early lead on a first-inning homer by Trey Cutchen before UCR (5-28) responded with a four-run third inning. The Wolverines added a late run in the ninth on an RBI double from Spencer Olsen but UCR's Eric Marrujo managed to pitch out of a ninth-inning jam to record the complete-game victory for the Highlanders. 
 
In the top of the first, Cutchen hit a 3-1 pitch over the right-field fence to give Utah Valley an early 1-0 lead. The Highlanders got out of the inning with a groundout and a flyout. Luke McCollough got the start on the mound and threw two scoreless frames to hold the 1-0 lead in favor of UVU. 
 
UC Riverside came from behind in the third inning, with Joey Nicolai and Dylan Orick knocking home a run each. Marcellus Pearson had a two-run single to open up the ballgame for the Highlanders at 4-1. 
 
In the fifth, Garrett Broussard reached second on a leadoff double before being picked off second base for the first out. Later in the inning, Drew Sims had a double to left field but was stranded when UCR's Marrujo got Kyle Coburn to pop out to end the inning. 
 
Utah Valley put runners on base in the ninth inning when Cutchen reached after being hit by a pitch. Following a double play from the UCR defense, Connor Hall walked before Olsen came through with an RBI double to bring home Hall and cut the UCR lead to 4-2. With the tying run at the plate, Marrujo got Broussard to ground out to third to end the game. 
 
Marrujo (1-5) picked up the complete-game win for the Highlanders allowing six Utah Valley hits. Andrew Hauck (1-1) took the loss for UVU in one inning in relief of McCullough, who went 2.0 innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts. Bobby Voortmeyer also had a strong outing for UVU in the contest by holding the Highlanders scoreless over the final 5.0 innings.
 
Despite the setback, the UVU offense tallied five of its six hits on the night for extra bases. Cutchen led the way by going 1-for-3 with a homer, while Olsen went 1-for-4 with an RBI double, and Connor Hall went 1-for-1 off the bench with a double and a walk.
 
The Wolverines will remain in Riverside to play WAC foe California Baptist for a three-game conference series starting Friday, April 22 at 7:05 p.m. MT/6:05 p.m. PT. The series continues on Saturday, April 23 and concludes on Sunday, April 24.