March 7, 2008

SACRAMENTO, California - Dan Christensen tossed a complete game, five-hitter in Utah Valley's 4-1 win over BYU as the neighboring schools met at the River City Classic in Sacramento on Friday.

Christensen struck out two and didn't allow a walk in pitching his first career complete game win. He threw one complete game in 2007, but it was a loss at Gonzaga.

The game was scoreless until the fifth when Ryan Jones led off with a double and Kai Hatch drove him in two batters later.

After Christensen retired the top of the sixth in order on three straight flyouts, Utah Valley (2-8-1) pushed three runs across in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-0 lead.

With one out in the sixth, Jake Rickenbach walked before Scott Croshaw doubled him home for the second run of the game. AJ Palmer then walked and Jones grounded out to short, moving Croshaw to third and Palmer to second. Jace Brinkerhoff then came up with huge two-out single to center, plating the final two Wolverine runs.

BYU (5-7) scored its only run of the game in the seventh after Kent Walton doubled to lead off and later scored on a Bryce Ayoso single.

Christensen wrapped up the game by pitching perfect eighth and ninth innings to get the win and end UV's three-game losing streak.

The Wolverines and Cougars will play again on Tuesday in Provo at 6pm MT. Before that though, Utah Valley will play host Sacramento State on Saturday at 3pm MT and San Jose State on Sunday at 11am MT.