February 19, 2006 

FRESNO, California - Utah Valley State scored four runs in the top of the 9th inning to comeback from three runs down and knock off Fresno State 5-4 to salvage the final of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon. Some timely hitting combined with a little luck gave the Wolverines (2-5) the much needed win over the consensus pick to win the WAC. 

A throwing error with two out in the 9th inning scored the tying and winning runs for Utah Valley and Kyle Tash (2-0) retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning to earn the complete game win.

"We just kept battling and didn't give up and we had a couple of breaks go our way. That was a great win today," said UV head coach Steve Gardner. "We has some outstanding efforts by several guys, especially Kyle Tash. He threw strikes when he had to and whenever he ran into a little trouble he kept battling." 

Fresno starter Andy Underwood (2-1) had controlled Utah Valley State for most of the afternoon, allowing only one run on an RBI double way back in the 1st inning by Dan Bulow through the first eight innings. But Bulow came through again in the 9th when he hit another RBI double, scoring Canyon Vance who walked to lead off the inning to cut the Bulldog lead to 4-2.

After an infield single by Derrick Thomas, a sac bunt by Brad Hales and a walk to Keiki Albino to load the bases, freshman Chris Benson delivered a pinch-hit RBI on a sac fly to centerfield, cutting it to 4-3.

Underwood then got the ground ball he needed off of the bat of Cory Newton, but fortunately for Utah Valley the throw to first was high and got by first baseman Kent Sakamoto, scoring Bulow and Keiki Albino.

Bulow and Adam Openshaw both finished with two hits for the Wolverines while Ozzie Lewis was 2-for-3 with an RBI for Fresno State. 

The Wolverines converted a 7-2-6 double play in the 6th inning when leftfielder Vance threw out FSU's Beau Mills trying to score from second on a single by Christian Vitters. Vitters was then thrown out by catcher Derrick Thomas when he tried to take second on the throw home.

Up next for the Wolverines is a series at New Mexico next weekend. The Lobos are one of four Mountain West teams Utah Valley State will play this season. 

Series Notes: Eli Slesk went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, which dates back to last year ... Hales' season long hit streak stayed at six because he sacrificed in his only plate appearance ... Bulow's two doubles give him a team high five on the season ... Tash's complete game is the second of his career. His previous CG came against BYU on April 18, 2005, a 7-4 Wolverine win.