Utah Valley Secures NCAA Tournament Bid with WAC Title

OREM — Utah Valley’s 31-27 record and 13-11 performance in the Western Athletic Conference may not have initially bolstered their case for an NCAA regional invitation, but that changed on Saturday evening.

Mason Strong delivered a standout performance, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, three RBIs, and four runs scored. His two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning propelled Utah Valley to an 11-9 victory over Abilene Christian, earning the Wolverines their first WAC Tournament championship in nine years at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona.

Historic Achievement

This victory marks Utah Valley’s first automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament since they first participated in the Baton Rouge regional in 2016. Strong, once the top-rated player in Utah from Santa Clara, solidified the achievement during his first season under head coach Nate Rasmussen, who took over last year.

Connecting with Old Teammates

A notable facet of Rasmussen’s strategy involved calling former Snow Canyon teammates, including Strong, who initially turned down his offer. “He’s one of my favorite kids I’ve ever coached,” Rasmussen remarked. Strong, named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, recalled how he and fellow teammates motivated each other during the transfer portal process.

“We called each other and said, ‘let’s go get this done,'” Strong mentioned. “It’s really cool to have the opportunity to play with your best friends that you’ve known since you were six years old.”

Turning the Game Around

Initially predicted to finish sixth in the WAC, Utah Valley secured a No. 3 seed in the tournament. Their impressive four-game run culminated in a combined no-hitter pitched by Colton Kennedy and Cooper Littledike, which marked a historic upset against top-seeded Sacramento State.

Clutch Performances

In the championship game, the Wolverines turned around a 4-1 deficit with a five-run fifth inning, fueled by home runs from Dominic Longo II and Jimmy De Anda. Strong added to the score with a solo homer while Carston Herman contributed with pivotal pitching in relief.

Victory and Future Prospects

Although the Wildcats rallied late, Strong’s timely two-run home run in the ninth secured the two-run lead for Utah Valley. “We said we were playing with house money,” Strong said. “Despite the odds, we didn’t stop believing.” Littledike earned the win, pitching effectively in the final innings to lock down the championship.