OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University defeated New Mexico State University, 10-8, in the regular-season finale on Saturday afternoon at UCCU Ballpark in Orem, Utah. 
 
Utah Valley (18-37, 10-20 WAC) used a balance offensive attack scoring multiple runs in the third, fifth, six and eighth innings to secure the win on Senior Day over New Mexico State (20-32, 10-20 WAC). Senior Drew Sims homered and finished with a 2-for-4 outing with two runs scored and two RBIs while also setting the new UVU school record for throwing out the most would-be base stealers over his career with 62, while fellow senior Mitch Moralez added another multiple-hit performance by going 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Fellow seniors Blake Zeleny and Bobby Voortmeyer also pitched well down the stretch for the Wolverines in the game. 
 
"It was a great game. I think every senior had a chance to experience some success and we were able to score enough runs to get the win," head UVU coach Eddie Smith said. "It was another great day from Mitch Moralez, and it was great to see Drew Sims have a couple of RBIs including the big fly. It was awesome." 
 
The Aggies struck first in the second with back-to-back doubles by Cal Villareal and AJ Garcia to go up 1-0. The Wolverines tied the game in the bottom of the second after senior catcher Drew Sims hit a home run to left to tie the game at 1-1.
 
UVU took a 3-1 lead in the third after Moralez had a one-out single to center and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Mick Madsen doubled to center to bring home Moralez and Utah Valley added another run on an RBI single from Spencer Olsen.
 
NM State came back to score two runs in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3. UVU put two runners in scoring position with no outs in the bottom half of the inning after a single from Moralez and a double from Trey Cutchen. The Wolverines took the lead on a back-to-back sacrifice flies from Madsen and Olsen to score Moralez and Cutchen, making it 5-3.
 
Copper Hansen led off the sixth inning with a one-hopper that skipped into left field. After back-to-back strikeouts. Kyle Coburn hit a home run to left center that went off the light pole to make it 7-3 in favor of Utah Valley.
 
Villareal started in the eighth inning for NMSU with a double and later came around to score on a base hit from Preston Godfrey to cut the Wolverine lead to 7-4. Senior Blake Zeleny was able to retire the next two hitters to end the threat. 
 
Utah Valley added a trio of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Paul Vossen beat out an infield grounder to short to start the inning. A batter later, with the hit-and-run in play, Drew Sims had a long single allowing Vossen to sprint home from first. Garrett Broussard added a couple of insurance runs on a two-run home run to left-center to put UVU up 10-4.
 
The Aggies scored four runs in the ninth and had the tying run at the plate when senior Bobby Voortmeyer struck out the WAC home run leader Logan Gallina to secure the 10-8 win for the Wolverines. 
 
Mason Gray (3-5) picked up the victory after throwing 6.0 innings, allowing nine hits while adding five punchouts. Brendan Rodriguez (1-6) took the loss in relief for the Aggies. 
 
The senior Zeleny went 2.0 innings in relief allowing just two hits, while fellow senior Voortmeyer pitched the ninth for the Wolverines and ended his collegiate career with a game-ending strikeout. 
 
The senior Sims was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in the game, while fellow senior Moralez ended his UVU career with a 2-for-5 day. Coburn and Broussard both added two-run home runs on the day for UVU. Cutchen also tallied multiple hits by going 2-for-4 on the afternoon. 
 
Utah Valley celebrated the careers of five seniors for their athletic and academic achievements throughout UVU careers after the game in Moralez, Sims, Voortmeyer, Zeleny, and left-handed pitcher Logan Petet.

"These seniors led this group. Those that stuck around and stayed for the transition, they really led this group of youngsters," Smith added. "I shared this earlier with the team, but everybody wearing this uniform today won more games than any other year, won more conference games than any other year, they had a higher RPI than any other year, etc. It's a stepping stone and I'm really proud of this senior class and what they have done for our program. They've all done unbelievable things for us all year long and I can't say enough about these guys." 

The Wolverines' 2022 season concluded on Saturday with an eight-win improvement from a year ago in head coach Eddie Smith's first year at the helm of the Wolverines. UVU swept a two-game series at UNLV, won back-to-back conference series at Seattle and home against Dixie State, as well as a win over the 2022 WAC West Division champion and No. 25 Grand Canyon in late April.