OREM, Utah – New Mexico State University scored seven runs in the ninth to defeat Utah Valley University 15-14 on Thursday night at UCCU Ballpark in Orem, Utah. 
 
Despite the Wolverines (17-36, 9-19 WAC) having 18 hits and scoring 14 runs on pace for some tremendous individual performances, the Aggies (19-31, 9-19 WAC) were able to score when it mattered most with seven runs in the ninth to claim game one of the crucial WAC series. 
 
The Wolverines had 11 extra-base hits on the night, including Trey Cutchen and Brandon Luna homers. Spencer Olsen tied a single-game school record with three doubles while Mitch Moralez added four hits, and Paul Vossen reached base four times. As a team, UVU recorded nine doubles on the night for the second-most doubles in a game in program history. 
 
NM State struck first, scoring two runs on doubles by Brandon Dieter, Gunner Antillion, and Edwin Martinez-Pagani to take an early lead. 
 
The Wolverines got a run back in the third inning after Madsen lined to double to right on a ball that just missed getting out. Vossen brought Madsen home an RBI base hit through the right side to get UVU on the board.
 
Trailing 5-1 heading to the fourth, the Wolverines erupted for seven runs to take the lead. Copper Hansen walked to start the inning before Kyle Coburn singled, and Brandon Luna hit a three-run homer to make it 5-4. Utah Valley later pieced together a two-out rally that was started when Madsen reached on a dropped third strike followed by a double from Olsen to score Madsen as the NMSU catcher dropped the ball at the plate. The inning continued after Jordan doubled to bring home one before Hansen doubled to bring home two to give the Wolverines an 8-5 lead. 
 
The Aggies responded with a three-run homer from Logan Gallina in the sixth to tie the game at 8-8. Utah Valley looked to take the lead in the bottom of the inning after a one-out double from Olsen, but Olsen was stranded on the basepaths as the game remained deadlocked. 
 
UVU looked to take the lead in the seventh as Luna walked to start the inning, and Moralez followed with the single through the left side to put two runners on base. Trey Cutchen worked a full count before hitting a deep fly ball that left the yard to give Utah Valley an 11-8 lead. Following a walk to Madsen, Olsen had his third double of the game to score Madsen increasing the lead to 12-8. 
 
The Wolverines used a pair out two-out doubles for a late insurance run as Luna doubled on a liner to right that rolled to the warning track. Moralez then followed suit with a double to right field and hustled into second base to make it 13-8 UVU. Cutchen added a double off the center-field wall to score Moralez and add to the lead, making it 14-8 UVU. 
 
The Aggies plated seven runs in the ninth inning, capped with a Preston Godrey two-run homer and then a two-run wind-aided bloop single from Kevin Jimenez, giving NM State a 15-14 lead to the bottom of the ninth. 
 
The Wolverines then went down in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the slugfest
 
Frank Dickson IV (2-1) got the win in relief for the Aggies. Josh Brown (0-4) took the loss for the Wolverines, and Alex Bustamante secured his sixth save of the year for NM State in the ninth. 
 
Logan Gallina went 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs to pace the Aggies, while nine different Wolverines tallied hits on the night which included six multi-hit performances. The two teams combined for 36 hits and 29 runs in the wild three-hour and 43-minute contest. 
 
The Wolverines and Aggies will continue the final series of the season on Friday with a 6:05 p.m. MT start. The series will wrap up on Saturday with a 12:05 p.m. MT first pitch. Friday and Saturday's games are now both must-win contests for the Wolverines, as the series winner will clinch the final spot in next week's WAC Tournament in Mesa, Arizona.