VINEYARD, Utah (Interstat) — Utah Valley erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday night, turning a tight contest into a decisive 11-6 victory over Northern Colorado at Brent Brown Ballpark.

The Wolverines, who improved to .500 at 6-6, sent 13 batters to the plate in the decisive frame, capitalizing on wildness from the Bears’ bullpen to erase a 6-5 deficit. The comeback secured a win in the opener of a four-game series and handed Northern Colorado its 14th loss in 15 games this season.

The game’s pivotal shift began quietly in the eighth. With Utah Valley trailing 6-5, catcher Mason Strong led off with a walk against reliever Josh Borboa. Brody Block followed with a single, moving Strong to third. Block then stole second, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch, allowing Strong to score the tying run.

After Chipper Beck walked, Cole Katschke gave the Wolverines their first lead since the first inning with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Block. Borboa recorded a strikeout but then lost command, walking the next two batters to load the bases. Mason Hamlin drew another walk to force in a run, making it 8-6.

Northern Colorado brought in Cade Kunz, but Kaden Carpenter greeted him with a two-run single to center. Strong, in his second at-bat of the inning, capped the outburst with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Hamlin for the 11-6 advantage.

The late explosion overshadowed a strong start from Utah Valley’s Colton Kennedy, who earned the win. The right-hander allowed one earned run over five innings, scattering five hits and striking out six. He was effectively followed by Bradley Gilbert, who struck out six over three innings of relief, and Maddax Peck, who struck out two in a perfect ninth.

Northern Colorado built its early lead with opportunistic offense, scoring three unearned runs in the sixth to take a 6-3 lead. The Bears capitalized on two errors by Utah Valley’s Payton Massey, with RBI plays from Josh Sanchez, Chase Stone and Caden Bullard.

Utah Valley immediately answered in its half of the sixth. Strong launched a solo home run to deep left field, his first of the season, to cut the deficit to 6-4. Block later scored on an RBI double from Beck, pulling the Wolverines within a run and setting the stage for the eighth-inning rally.

Northern Colorado starter Reece Wagner had a bizarre line, pitching five hitless innings but allowing five earned runs, fueled by six walks and two hit batters. The Bears’ defense turned two double plays behind him, but Wagner departed with a no-decision.

Bullard and Block led their respective teams with three hits apiece. Strong finished 2 for 4 with the home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. Beck drove in two runs for Utah Valley, while Carpenter also had two RBIs.

The teams will continue the series with a doubleheader on Saturday.