IRVINE, Calif. --- The Anteater bullpen couldn't hold as it entered the eighth with a lead as Utah Valley puts up six runs in the final two innings to snatch the 8-5 win from UCI Saturday afternoon in Anteater Ballpark.

The Anteaters (10-7) took the early 2-0 lead this time around on a squeeze play that Griffin Mazur executed. Starter Jackson Cofer pounced on the bunt, but let it roll under his glove and over the mound allowing Parker Coss and Christian Koss to score in the second inning.

Utah Valley (6-11) reeled the 'Eaters back in with runs in the third, on a passed ball following a Michael Beltran triple, and a two-out looping single from Kade Poulsen, to make it 2-2.

UCI rustled up two more runs in the sixth started off with a wacky play. Parker Coss' sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out for Konnor Zickefoose. His chopper to first was handled and then thrown to third as pinch-runner Devin Pettengill tried to advance by Ryan Fitzpatrick stayed put. Pettengill ran on to third and Fitzpatrick took off for home, and third baseman Kade Poulsen's throws was dropped by Drew Sims allowing Fitzpatrick to slide under the tag safely. Christian Koss' infield single put the lead back at two, 4-2, after six innings.

Louis Raymond's day lasted five innings as he exited with the game tied, and after scoreless frames from Sean Sparling and Taylor Rashi, Rashi headed out for his second inning and allowed three of the first four hitters to reach cutting the lead to 4-3. The reliable Jordan Bocko was called upon, but he would allow Drew Sims' game-tying single and walked in the go-ahead run as UVU's rally was complete now leading 5-4.

The Wolverines added a three-run home run with two outs in the ninth for good measure as Dailin Lee added an RBI in the bottom of the inning and Parker Coss flew out representing the tying run to end the game, 8-5.

Kaden Schmitt, who earned the win, and Drew Hill, who locked up his fourth save going 1.1 innings, formed the solid UVU bullpen allowing one run and one hit in 2.1 innings. Starter Jackson Cofer did his best to scatter 10 hits allowing three earned runs in 6.2 innings.

The Anteater pen relinquished six runs in four innings behind starter Louis Raymond who gave up just one earned run in five innings of work.

UVU's Pacen Hayes drove home four UVU runs, and was 1 of 4 Wolverines with multi-hit days. Ryan Eastburn scored three times while reaching base four times, and Michael Beltran had a run and RBI to go with a double and triple.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and Christian Koss each had three-hit days as they both reached four times. Mazur knocked home two RBI on his squeeze.

The series is now even with Sunday's game ahead. First pitch on March 18 will be at 1:00 p.m.