May 4, 2004 

PROVO, Utah - The University of Utah let Utah Valley State hang around and eventually the Utes got burned in the bottom of the seventh inning when Canyon Vance hit a two-run homerun to give the Wolverines a 5-4 lead. Reliever Brady Drake held Utah scoreless over the next two innings to earn his first save of the year, and secure the one run victory. 

After giving up three runs in the first inning, Wolverine Starter Jed Jensen settled down, only giving up one more run in his next six innings of work. He scattered seven hits, and struck out seven on way to his fifth win of the season. Jensen (5-3) earned his second win in three days. He secured a victory over Northern Colorado on Sunday working 2 1/3 innings of relief. 

In his seven innings of work Jensen pitched his way out of several jams including runners on second and third in the fifth and bases loaded in the seventh. 

Mike Westfall's three run homerun in the first inning gave the Utes the early 3-0 lead. Jay Brossman and Eric Chevalier both singled and were on second and third when Westfall delivered. 

UVSC scored one run in the bottom of the first to peck away at the early Ute lead. Reno Mendenhall walked and stole second, and with two outs Josh Hinckley hit an opposite field RBI double. 

The Utes added one more run in the second inning on a John Welsh solo homerun, but that is all the runs the Jensen and Drake duo would allow. 

The Wolverines scored a two out run in the second inning to cut the lead to 4-2. Jeff Broadhead singled with two down, followed by a Dylan Priest single. Lead off man, Jeremy Harris then walked to load the bases. Reno Mendenhall worked the count on Ute starter, Shad McCord and eventually drew a walk and a RBI. 

Hinckley, who went 2-for-3 on the night, drove in his second run of the game in the fifth inning. Mendenhall singled and stole second, and again with two outs the Wolverines had timely hitting when Hinckley dumped a single over the head of Ute shortstop, Cort Wilson. 

With one out in the home half of the seventh inning Harris walked and stole second. Mendenhall popped out to first, to bring Vance to the plate. Vance didn't waste time as he sent a first pitch fastball from Doug Mackay over the 400 sign in center field. 

Mackay, who only worked one inning for the Utes suffered the loss and falls to 2-6 on the year. 

With the win, the Wolverines improve to 18-15, and 2-1 in games against Utah this season. UVSC and Utah will play three more games this season with the next one scheduled on Wednesday for a 2:00 pm start at Ute Field.