May 4, 2008
STILLWATER, Oklahoma - Bryan Smith struck out 11 and tossed his first career complete game as Utah Valley shocked No. 9 Oklahoma State on Sunday afternoon, 11-3. Smith allowed three runs on eight hits while throwing 153 pitches in leading the Wolverines (13-31-1) to the upset win.
The Cowboys (35-12) had won 12 straight, including the first three games of the series prior to Sunday's game.
"I felt amazing the whole week and knew I had been pitching well. I'm not sure it's sunk in yet," said Smith of what he called his "best game ever."
"Bryan just kept them off balance and threw strikes. I couldn't be more proud of him," said head coach Steve Gardner. "I thought the guys at the bottom of the lineup were huge. This has to be our biggest win. I know it was the fourth game of the series but Oklahoma State's a big talented club. I couldn't ask for anything more."
Utah Valley took a 2-0 lead in the first after an error allowed Scott Croshaw's ball to get into left, scoring Ryan Jones. Adam Openshaw then scored on a wild pitch for the second run. That lead didn't last long though as Oklahoma State tied it up in the second on Luis Flores' two-run single to center field.
Smith faced a big situation in the third with the bases loaded and the Cowboys' top power hitter, Rebel Ridling at the plate. But Smith struck out Ridling to end the threat.
Openshaw broke the tie in the top of the fourth with a home run, his second of the year, to right field. Croshaw then singled to extend his hit streak to 16 games and was followed by consecutives singles from Josh Hinckley and Kevin Arendse. Arendse drove in Croshaw with his base hit past second baseman Thomas Belza.
After Jake Rickenbach sacrificed Hinckley and Arendse over to second and third, Tyler Garretson blooped a single into right, allowing Hinckley to score. Jones capped the scoring in the fourth on a single up the middle that scored Arendse, making it 6-2.
The Cowboys cut the lead to three in the sixth when Rebel Ridling doubled and later scored on a Belza groundout.
In the top of the seventh, Garretson came up with a clutch two-out bases loaded single that drove in Openshaw and pinch runner Dick Bargewell and gave UV an 8-3 lead.
The Wolverines then got three more in the eighth on a two-run single to left by Rickenbach and a single to right from Cole Anderson.
Garretson had two hits and three runs batted in while Rickenback drove in two runs. Croshaw finished 3-for-4 to lead the way for the Wolverines.
Smith, who improved to 2-5 with the win, retired seven of the final eight batters he faced and got Jordy Mercer to ground into a fielder's choice to end the game. OSU starter Tyler Blandford (3-4) took the loss after allowing three earned runs in three-plus innings.
The ninth-ranked Cowboys are the highest ranked opponent that Utah Valley has defeated at the Division I level. The Wolverines beat No. 16 Arizona State during the 2005 season.
The Wolverines will host BYU on Monday night at 7 p.m. in the final home game of the year. It will also be the final home game in the coaching career of head coach Steve Gardner, who is retiring after 18 seasons at Utah Valley. Gardner, as well as the 10 Wolverine seniors, will be honored prior to the game at 6:45 p.m.
