March 6, 2008

DAVIS, California - Utah Valley baseball fell by a single run for the third straight contest, 4-3, against Portland at the River City Classic in Davis, California on Thursday.

The Wolverines (1-8-1) have lost four straight overall and will face BYU on Friday at 11am MT on the campus of Sacramento State.

Marcus Moore (1-2) lasted eight innings and gave up four runs on eight hits while striking out six.

The Pilots (7-4) broke through in the top of the first with two runs on three hits off of Moore. After Utah Valley added a single run on a Jace Brinkerhoff RBI single in the third, Portland added two more runs in the fourth on a solo home run from Chase Powell and a sacrifice fly by Rocky Gale to take a 4-1 lead.

Dick Bargewell's RBI groundout scored Aaron Brady in the fourth and Brady singled home Adam Openshaw an inning later, but that was all the scoring either team would do.

Moore allowed just one hit over his final 4 2/3 innings of work but the Pilot pitching staff didn't allow a Wolverine runner into scoring position over the final four innings.

Mark Triolo (2-0) got the win for Portland after going 5 2/3 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits. Zach Varce came on to retire all five batter he face to end the game and earn his first save.

Openshaw and Brady had two hits apiece to lead Utah Valley.