#7 UTRGV 8, #6 UTA 5 PDF Box Score
#5 TSU 12, #8 SAC 6 PDF Box Score

MESA, Ariz. – The first round of the 2024 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament saw offensive firepower aplenty on Tuesday during a picturesque day at Hohokam Stadium. No. 7 UTRGV downed No. 6 UT Arlington 8-5 and No. 5 Tarleton State raced past No. 8 Sacramento State 12-6 in single elimination action to advance to the double elimination phase of the tournament.
 
The 2024 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament resumes with two games on Wednesday. No. 3 Utah Valley and No. 7 UTRGV are set to square off at noon MST, and No. 5 Tarleton State advanced to face No. 4 California Baptist at 4 p.m. MST.
 
The winner of game three between Utah Valley and UTRGV will earn a winner’s bracket showdown against No. 2 Abilene Christian on Thursday at 9 a.m. MST, with the advancing team from the fourth contest pitting Tarleton State versus CBU drawing top-seeded Grand Canyon Thursday at noon MST. All games will air on ESPN+.
 
Game 1 – No. 7 UTRGV 8, No. 6 UT Arlington 5
No. 7 UTRGV pulled the minor upset in the first game of the week, scoring eight runs after clubbing 16 hits against UT Arlington. The Vaqueros opened with two runs in the top of the first, added a run in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the eighth in the win.
 
Adrian Torres ripped four hits in five at-bats, scoring once for UTRGV. CJ Valdez logged two hits and drove in four runs and Martin Vasquez chipped in three hits and scored three runs. Zach Tjelmeland went the distance on the mound, throwing all nine innings and striking out four batters on 98 pitches for the Vaqueros.
 
Garrison Berkeley shined in defeat for UTA with three hits in four trips, roping a home run and driving in three for the Mustangs. Jackson Hill added two base hits from the DH slot for UTA.
 
Game 2 – No. 5 Tarleton State 12, No. 8 Sacramento State 6
Tarleton State picked up the first WAC baseball conference tournament win in school history with an impressive offensive display against Sacramento State, scoring 12 runs on 19 hits over eight trips to the plate. The Texans broke the game open with six runs in the bottom of fifth and four runs in the bottom of the sixth innings to power the victory.

Mason Hammonds fashioned a 4-for-5 performance out of the leadoff spot for Tarleton State, finishing a single short of the cycle while driving in two and scoring four runs. Hunter Smith plated three runs on two hits and Cris Enriquez and Mason Crews scored two runs apiece for the Texans.
 
JP Smith drove in four runs for Sacramento State on two home runs, setting a program record with his 36th career long ball with a ninth-inning blast. Elie Kligman and Tyler White each chipped in RBIs for the Hornets.