SAN JOSE, Calif. – Utah Valley baseball dropped the second game of their series with San José State on Friday afternoon at Excite Ballpark. Landon Frei and Joseph Barnhardt hit homers for the two runs scored for UVU (2-4). The Wolverines were held in check by SJSU (4-1) starter Jesse Gutierrez, who finished with seven innings and six strikeouts.
 
The Wolverines struck first in the contest when Frei launched his first home run of the season in the first inning to give Utah Valley an early 1-0 lead. The Spartans tried to put something together in the home half, but UVU starter Corbin Kirk was able to strand a pair of base runners to end the inning. San José State did tie in the second with a home run off the bat of JC Osorio-Agard.
 
Jayden Smith finished the game 2-for-4 with two doubles, with one coming in the second inning and another in the fourth. He would be left on the bases both times. He hit the ball hard in two other plate appearances but at opposing fielders that went for outs.
 
Kirk (0-1) took the loss after going 3 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs. He gave way to Cooper Littledike, who had a nice outing in relief, finishing with 2 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and no runs on ten hitters faced. Luke Kimmel made his second appearance of the season, giving up a walk and striking out the final hitter of the inning.
 
The Wolverines cut the deficit to 3-2 when Barnhardt blasted his first home run of the season, he became the sixth hitter to homer this season. The Spartans quickly answered back with a pair of runs to extend the lead out to 5-2.
 
Franky Lopez made his 2025 debut and pitched a three up, three down eighth inning to keep it at a three-run game. Utah Valley's Jimmy De Anda reached in the ninth on a base hit, but that's all they would get.
 
UP NEXT
The Wolverines and Spartans will play the third game of the series on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 3:05 p.m. MT. Junior RHP Colton Kennedy will be on the hill for Utah Valley and will be opposed by David Thomas.