April 24, 2008

OREM, Utah - Scott Croshaw went 4-for-5 with a home run and five runs batted in as Utah Valley used a nine-run eighth to pull away from Dixie State, 14-4, in the opening game of a three-game series. The senior also tripled in the game, finishing just a double shy of the cycle.

Carrying a slight 5-4 edge into the bottom of the eighth, the Wolverines (10-26-1) sent 14 batters to the plate as eight different hitters collected at least one hit in the inning. UV totaled 10 hits in the eighth, nine of which were singles, with Croshaw and Kevin Arendse both picking up two hits each.

Marcus Moore (6-5) went eight innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits to pick up the win while Skyler Southwick (3-3) was saddled with the loss after giving up four earned runs in four-plus innings.

Utah Valley jumped to a 2-0 lead after one inning with Jace Brinkerhoff and Arendse driving in runs. After Dixie scored a single run in the third, Croshaw hit his third home run of the year, a three-run shot to left-center.

The Rebels (21-20) chipped away with two more in the fourth and a single run in the fifth on an Alex Rosenhan home run.

From that point neither team scored until the big eighth inning for Utah Valley.

Ryan Jones was 4-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI for the Wolverines while Arendse and Adam Openshaw both had three hits each.

The series will conclude with a doubleheader beginning Saturday at 1pm.