May 12, 2008

CORVALLIS, Oregon - Cole Anderson hit a fourth inning grand slam as Utah Valley built an 11-0 lead on its way to knocking off two-time College World Series champion Oregon State, 11-6, on Monday night.

Marcus Moore pitched eight innings and picked up his ninth win of the season. Moore allowed three earned runs (six total) on nine hits while striking out six.

The Wolverines (15-34-1) scored two in the first before Anderson's grand slam, following a costly two-out error, made it 6-0. With UV up 2-0 and a runner at first with two outs, Jake Rickenbach's ground ball was fumbled by shortstop Joey Wong to prolong the inning.

After Dick Bargewell reached on an infield single to load the bases, Anderson hit the first Utah Valley grand slam of the year, to right-center, putting the Wolverines up six.

With Jace Brinkerhoff at third and one out in the fifth, Kevin Arendse doubled to right-center to drive home the seventh run before scoring on Rickenbach's two out base hit. Bargewell picked up his second RBI and gave the Wolverines a nine run lead with his second infield hit in as many at-bats.

Brinkerhoff doubled to open the sixth and scored on the next pitch when Scott Croshaw hit his fifth triple of the season. Croshaw then scored UV's final run on a sac-fly to right by Arendse.

Oregon State (24-20) got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when John Wallace homered to right to lead off the inning. Moore then retired the next six Beaver hitters before OSU used a big eighth inning, threatening to claw its way back into the contest.

After Ryan Ortiz walked to lead off the inning, a single, error and then three consecutive base hits trimmed the UV lead to 11-5. Moore induced former Dixie State star Braden Wells into a 6-4-3 double play before Dan Robertson's single plated another run to make it 11-6.

After another single, by Wong, and a walk, Moore got Jason Ogata to fly out to Kai Hatch in right to strand the bases loaded and end the threat.

Brinkerhoff then came on to work a perfect ninth, striking out two, to clinch the opening game of the series for the Wolverines.

Josh Osich (0-2) suffered the loss after giving up four earned runs (nine total) on eight hits in four and 1/3 innings.

Five different Utah Valley players finished with two hits each, as the Wolverines out-hit OSU 13-9 while moving to 2-5 all-time against the Pac-10 school.

The series will conclude on Tuesday at 3 p.m. MT with Andy Jangard the scheduled starter for Utah Valley.