March 17, 2007
Reno, Nevada - Utah Valley mounted a furious comeback with a seven-run seventh inning, but Nevada scored last and prevailed 9-8 on Saturday afternoon. The loss is the fourth straight for the Wolverines, who fall to 5-13 while Nevada has now taken the first two games of the series and stands at 12-12 on the year.
Nevada broke open a 1-1 game with a six-run fourth inning and added another run in the sixth before Utah Valley roared back.
After two singles and a walk to start the top of the seventh, senior Keiki Albino tripled home three runs to trim the lead to 8-4. Scott Crowshaw followed that with a single to score Albino, cutting the lead to three.
After Adam Openshaw struck out and Dan Bulow popped out to the catcher, Austin Heaps walked to put men at first and second with two out.
Eli Slesk then doubled to left, scoring Croshaw and a throwing error also allowed Heaps to score all the way from first.
Jace Brinkerhoff then capped the inning with a single up the middle to score Slesk and knot the score at eight.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Mike Hale reached on a bunt single and moved over to third on a Matt Suleski single to right.
David Ciarlo then delivered what would be the game-winning hit, a single to left Hale.
The Wolverines had chance in the eighth with Albino at second and two outs, but Kody Keroher got Openshaw to pop out to second to end the threat.
Keroher stayed on for the ninth and set the heart of the Wolverine order down in order to pick up the win and push his record to 3-1 on the year.
Turreal Moore (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on six hits in 2.2 innings of relief.
Albino finished the game 1-for-2 with three runs batted in including a sacrifice bunt. Croshaw drove in two runs for UV while freshmen Brinkerhoff, Dick Bargewell and Kevin Arendse all had two hits each.
Nick Sansone was a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI as the Wolfpack pounded out 16 hits. Jason Rodriguez had three hits while Konrad Schmidt drove in three for Nevada.
