May 1, 2007
Orem, Utah - Utah Valley was its own enemy as the Wolverines committed six errors and didn't take advantage of several scoring opportunities as they fell 2-1 to BYU in a 12-inning thriller.
The game displayed a little of everything, including several spectacular defensive plays by both teams intertwined with fielding and base-running errors on each side. Marcus Moore started the game for UV (19-25) and pitched 8.1 strong innings, giving up only one run while striking out eight. Moore threw 158 pitches in the game to earn the no decision.
Matching Moore inning-for-inning was BYU's (26-16) Blaine Howell, who also only gave up a single run in 8.1 innings.
Among the excellent defensive plays on both sides were a combined nine double plays, six by BYU and three by UV. The nine combined double plays rank second all-time in the NCAA record book for double plays in a game. The Cougars left 14 runners on base while the Wolverines squandered seven on the base paths.
BYU had the first scoring opportunity in the first inning when two Cougars got on base on a walk and single. Moore forced BYU's Kasey Ko into a groundout to end the threat.
The Cougars threatened in the second, when they had runners on second and third with only one out. The Wolverines got their first double play when BYU hit a fly ball to Scott Croshaw in right who caught it and cut down a speedy Leon Johnson at the plate.
UV's first threat was in the bottom of the second when Heaps led the inning off with an opposite field single. Heaps' hit was wiped out when Kevin Arendse hit a shot to right field where the Cougars' Johnson got revenge from the previous inning, making a leaping grab then doubling Heaps up at first.
The Wolverines turned double plays in the third and seventh innings and were doubled up in the third, fourth, seventh, ninth and 11th innings.
It was BYU that scored first as the Cougars manufactured a run in the top of the eighth. Ko drew a walk and was replaced with pinch runner Collin Fanning, who stole second despite a pitch out. BYU pinch hitter Chase Framton hit a bloop single to drive home the speedy Fanning.
After UV was retired in order in the eighth, Slesk came up big in the ninth frame. Leading off the ninth, he drilled a full-count pitch over the left-center fence to tie the game. The home run was Slesk's third of the season. The game went to extra innings as the Wolverines were unable to score another run.
The score remained tied until the top of the 12th inning. BYU's Apana Nakayama scored an unearned run on a RBI double by Steve Parker.
UV will finish the week in Greeley, Colo. where the Wolverines will play two against Northern Colorado and one against Air Force. The series will begin with Air Force Friday at 11 a.m. (MDT)
