May 18, 2006
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota - Utah Valley State used a five-run seventh to break open a tight game and then held on late to open the Division-I Independent tournament with a 9-5 win over South Dakota State on Thursday.
The Wolverines got a tape-measure blast by Dan Bulow and three hits from Nick Connor in the win over the host Jackrabbits.
Utah Valley State will take on New York Tech Friday at 4pm CT in round robin play with a chance to secure a #1 seed when bracketed play begins Saturday.
Brad Hales led off the game with a walk and moved over to third on a single by Connor. Eli Slesk then got the Wolverines on the board after grounding into a fielder's choice that scored Hales.
South Dakota State tied it in the bottom of the third when Matt Zabel came in from third after Korby Mintken grounded into a double play.
Then with two out in the fourth, Canyon Vance singled through the right side before Bulow's big blast to left made it 3-1 Wolverines.
South Dakota State got a single run back in the sixth when Tim Hanigan's RBI ground out scored Tyson Fisher.
Bulow then walked to lead off the seventh inning before Adam Openshaw attempted to sacrifice Bulow to second. SDSU pitcher Matt Bowman tried to get Bulow at second but the throw was low allowing both runners to reach safely.
Derrick Thomas then sacrificed both runners over before Reno Mendenhall delivered a two-run single to center to put UV up 5-2.
Hales followed with a single to move Mendenhall to second before Connor grounded into a fielder's choice that retired Hales at second.
Slesk then doubled to score Mendenhall and Benson singled home both Connor and Slesk to make the score 8-2. Of the five runs that the Wolverines scored in the inning, four were unearned.
The six-run lead seemed safe until the eighth when the Jacks pushed across three runs to cut the lead to 8-5.
Jake Rogers and Fisher walked to lead off the eighth before Chris Iverson's singled loaded up the bases.
Rogers scored on a sac-fly by Cal Lewis, Fisher on an RBI groundout by Hanigan and Iverson on a wild pitch.
The with two out and nobody on, Robby Apo pinch-hit and reached on an error before Zabel walked and Adams was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Marcus Moore then came in out of the bullpen to strike out Korby Mintken to strand the tying run at first.
The Wolverines added a run in the ninth for the final 9-5 tally.
Moore earned his second save after he retired the final four batters of the game, striking out Iverson looking to end it.
Kyle Beecher made his third straight quality start, lasting seven innings and allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits. Bowman (2-7) suffered the loss for the Jacks
In the first game of the day, Northern Colorado beat North Dakota State 10-2 to open the tournament.
Utah Valley State's game on Friday against New York Tech can be heard live by going to www.WolverineGreen.com.
