OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University, an NCAA Division I opponent, powered its way to a pair of wins over the Bushnell University baseball team, hitting nine home runs in the doubleheader sweep. 
 
The Beacons (16-11) were productive offensively in their first-ever counting games against an NCAA Division I opponent, tallying 29 hits on the day. The Wolverines (9-14) erased an eight-run deficit in the opener and used a seven-run first inning in game two on their way to a doubleheader sweep.

Kai Keamo, who pitched game one said, "It was an amazing experience to be able to play against a DI team and go up against that kind of competition. I wish we came out with a win but it showed that we can hang with them."
 
Game 1: Utah Valley 11, Bushnell 9
 
Bushnell got out to a 9-1 lead following a six-run top of the fifth, but Utah Valley answered with a six-spot of its own in the bottom half and put four more on the board in the eighth to secure the comeback victory.
 
Nate Stevens led the way in the opener, going 4-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles. He said, "I saw the ball good today. Excited for another chance at it tomorrow."
 
The Wolverines hit three homers, accounting for six of their runs. A three-run homer in the fifth made it a two-run game and UVU hit two more in the eighth, including a go-ahead two-run shot by leadoff hitter Daniel Dickinson to go up 10-9.
 
Keamo got the start for the Beacons, giving up five runs on five hits in 4.2 innings.
 
The Wolverines were led by three hits from Jayden Smith.
 
Game 2: Utah Valley 19, Bushnell 11
 
Utah Valley kept it going in game two, scoring 10 runs in the first two innings. A three-run homer by Nate Bach started off the seven-run first and Isaac Lovings hit a three-run shot of his own in the second to make it a 10-2 advantage.
 
Eight more runs came across via the long ball, extending the lead to 18-3 through five innings.
 
The Beacons answered with a seven-run eighth, cutting the deficit to 18-10. Cade Crist brought in two with a double down the left field line, Caleb Richter and Albert Jennings followed with RBI-singles, and Jacob Richardson drove in two more with a double to center field. Jordan Wilson finished off the frame with an RBI-double to center.
 
Wilson, Richter and Liam Kerr finished with three hits apiece, while Crist recorded three RBI.
 
The Wolverines hit six home runs in game two, accounting for 14 of their 19 runs.  
 
Up Next: Bushnell and Utah Valley finish off the three-game series with a game on Saturday at 12:05 p.m. (MT).