MESA, Ariz. - Utah Valley held off a late NM State rally to upset the second-seeded Aggies, 3-2, in game five of the 2016 WAC Tournament at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz.
The Wolverines took the lead in the top of the fourth on a two-run home run by Mark Krueger that also scored Craig Brinkerhoff from first. Jordan Schlehuber added another run before the end of the frame, driving in Jake Atkinson on an RBI single through the right side to give UVU the 3-0 lead.
NM State finally got on the board in the bottom of the eighth as Dan Hetzel singled in Daniel Johnson and LJ Hatch singled in Hetzel to cut the lead to 3-2 but Jake Maye worked his way out of the jam and Kyle Valgardson took over in the ninth to earn his ninth save of the season.
Jackson Cofer earned the win for UVU, striking out eight and allowing just one run on eight hits in seven and a third innings. Marcel Renteria took the loss, allowing three runs over three and two-third innings.
NM State will take the diamond again on Friday morning, taking on CSU Bakersfield in a loser-out contest. Utah Valley advances to play the winner of Seattle U and Sacramento State on Friday night at 7 p.m.