May 2, 2006
OREM, Utah - With fireworks scheduled following the final home game of Utah Valley State's season, the team figured they might as well get the show going a little early as the Wolverines (15-32) scored 11 consecutive runs to blow past neighbor BYU 13-6 on Tuesday night.
Utah Valley used a six-run fourth and five-run fifth to break open a tie game and take a 13-2 lead in front of 1,274 fans, the largest crowd of the season for the Wolverines.
"It feels great. It's huge," said UV senior Kam Mickolio, who earned the win on the mound to move to 5-6 on the year. "It feels good to go out (at home) like this."
BYU (22-23) scored four runs late to put a dent in the lead but the 18 hits, including 11 from the six UV seniors in the lineup were too much for the Cougars.
Chris Benson got the Wolverines on the board first in the bottom of the first with a single that glanced off the glove of BYU pitcher Jake Wortham and into the outfield, scoring Eli Slesk.
Senior Reno Mendenhall made it 2-0 Utah Valley with a solo home run to right center in the second inning for his first home run of the year.
For Mendenhall, who's battled a high ankle sprain for much of the season, it was a fulfulling way to end his home career.
"This was the fun game, with the crowd and everybody hitting well," said Mendenhall. "I couldn't ask for anything more tonight."
BYU answered tied it up in the top of the fourth after Ben Saylor doubled and Jeff Hiestand homered to left center. But from there it was all Utah Valley as the Wolverines pushed across six runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth.
In the fourth inning, Vance hit a two-run home run with Benson aboard to give UV a 4-2 lead. Dan Bulow followed with a double and then scored after an error on a groundball by Cory Newton.
Kade Boyer then doubled home Newton and then scored on an RBI single by Slesk to give Utah Valley an 8-2 lead after four.
Benson got things started again in the fifth with a single up the middle. Following a double by Bulow, Newton doubled to drive in two runs.
Boyer, Brad Hales and Connor all followed with runs batted in to give Utah Valley State that 13-2 advantage.
Mickolio kept BYU at bay for most of his 6 2/3 innings, as he allowed 10 scattered hits and five runs (four earned) to earn the win.
Former Wolverine Matt Jensen (1-5) took the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) in just 1/3 of an inning.
Benson led Utah Valley State with four hits while Connor and Mendenhall both finished their home careers with three hits apiece.
Utah Valley State will play its final nine games on the road, starting with a three-game series that begins Saturday at Pac-10 Washington State in Pullman, Washington. All three games during the weekend can be heard live at www.WolverineGreen.com.
