RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Utah baseball team picked up its first win of the 2018 season in the second game of a doubleheader against UC Riverside, 7-4, after dropping game one of the doubleheader, 3-2, on Sunday, March 11.
Tanner Thomas had a strong outing on the mound in game one for Utah, with the game scoreless through the first six innings in the loss. Utah surrendered three runs in the seventh inning and rallied for two runs in the ninth before a ground out ended the game. Oliver Dunn went 2-for-3 in the game for the Utes.
Utah took a 2-0 lead in the third inning of game two and slowly pulled ahead as the game continued. The Utes scored three runs in the sixth and led 5-4 after seven innings before scoring insurance runs in the eighth and ninth for the victory. The Utes had 13 hits, led by three hits from Chandler Anderson.
The Utes (1-13) head to Las Vegas for a single game against UNLV on Monday, March 12, beginning at 2:00 p.m. PT.
Game 1
Both teams struggled offensively early in the game. UC Riverside stranded two on base in the sixth inning and became the first team to get on the board with three runs in the seventh inning off four hits.
Utah made a rally in the ninth with Dunn and DaShawn Keirsey, Jr., hitting back-to-back one-out singles. After a fly out, Wade Gulden walked to load the bases for Davis Delorefice, who singled to score two runs. The next batter grounded out to end the game.
Thomas struck out eight in the loss, allowing three runs on five hits with one walk over 6 2/3 innings. Trenton Stoltz had two strikeouts and allowed three hits over 1 1/3 innings pitched.
Game 2
Both teams left multiple runners on base in the early innings before the Utes got on the board first with two runs in the third. Dunn beat out an infield single to lead off the inning and Keirsey reached on an error that allowed Dunn to score. Keirsey scored on Dominic Foscalina’s sacrifice fly, giving Utah a 2-0 lead.
UC Riverside loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth inning with a run scoring on a wild pitch before reliever Joshua Tedeschi got three strikeouts to limit the damage. The Utes pulled back ahead with three runs in the sixth. Delorefice singled and Erick Migueles walked with Anderson beating out a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. After a strikeout, pinch-hitter Isaac Cruz singled to bring in two runs and Keirsey sent home a run with a sacrifice fly, giving Utah a 5-1 lead.
The Highlanders rallied back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on three hits, and a solo home run in the seventh cut Utah’s lead to a run, 5-4. The Utes added insurance runs to pull ahead in the late innings. Dunn and Foscalina each singled in the eighth and Gulden and Matt Richardson both walked to send home a run. In the top of the ninth, Anderson and Christopher Rowan, Jr., both doubled to score a run, giving Utah a 7-4 advantage.
Brett Brocoff earned the win after pitching four innings, allowing one run on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Tedeschi had four strikeouts over 2 1/3 innings pitched in middle relief, allowing three runs on five hits. Justin Kelly pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts to close out the game.
In addition to Anderson’s three hits, Dunn and Foscalina each had two hits in the game.
