VINEYARD, Utah (Interstat) — Quinn Holt dominated over five innings and Utah Valley’s offense erupted for eight runs in the middle innings to power the Wolverines to a 12-1 victory over Northern Colorado in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Brent Brown Ballpark.

The Bears struck first in the opening inning against Holt. Leadoff hitter Sanchez worked a walk, advanced to second on a walk to Stone and scored on a two-out RBI single through the left side by Easton Bryant. It would be Northern Colorado’s only hit until the seventh inning and its only run of the game.

Utah Valley answered in the bottom of the first without a hit. Mason Hamlin singled and Kaden Carpenter walked. Both runners then executed a double steal, with Hamlin scoring on a throwing error by Bears catcher Pease to tie the game.

The Wolverines took the lead for good in the second when Hunter Katschke launched a solo home run to deep left field. They broke the game open in the third. After Luke Iverson singled, Hamlin connected for a two-run homer to left, making it 4-1.

The most important sequence of the game came in the bottom of the fourth, turning a competitive contest into a rout. Northern Colorado starter Jake Storey, who had struck out six but struggled with control, was relieved by Logan Moser with two on and one out. Moser allowed a three-run homer to Carpenter, capping a five-run inning that was fueled by a costly error from Bears third baseman Kenny. The blast pushed Utah Valley’s lead to 9-1.

Holt, the top star for Utah Valley, was in complete command after the first inning. The right-hander allowed just the one first-inning hit, walked three and struck out nine. He retired 12 of the final 14 batters he faced, striking out the side in the fifth to end his outing. In his last two starts, Holt has now pitched 10 innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out 13.

Chance Wallace relieved Holt and threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two to close out the seven-inning contest.

Utah Valley added two unearned runs in the fifth on an RBI groundout by Katschke, and two more in the sixth on a two-run double by Brody Block.

Northern Colorado’s offense was stifled all afternoon, managing just two hits – Bryant’s first-inning single and a seventh-inning pinch-hit single by Kieffer. Bears pitchers combined to strike out 16 Wolverines batters, but issued seven walks and the defense committed three errors leading to five unearned runs.

With the victory, Utah Valley evened its overall record at 7-7. Northern Colorado dropped to 2-15. The Wolverines have now won the first two games of the four-game weekend series after an 11-6 victory Friday.

The teams were scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader later Saturday.