March 24, 2009

PROVO, Utah - Michael Bowen hit two 3-run home runs as BYU defeated Utah Valley 12-5 on a cold Tuesday night in Provo. The loss sends the Wolverines to 6-15 on the year while the Cougars improve to 14-8.

UVU took an early lead thanks to four BYU errors through the first three innings. The Wolverines scored four unearned runs and carried a 4-2 lead into the fourth.

Kirk Doxey hit an RBI single in the second that scored Josh Hinckley to give the Wolverines a 2-1 lead. Doxey then stole second and J.T. Musso's throw to second got away from Andrew Law to allow Kevin Arendse score from third.

In the third, Brinkerhoff scored the fourth run after Billy Burgess took off for second and BYU had him hung up on the basepaths before shortstop Brandon Relf dropped first baseman Kasey Ko's throw.

In the top of the fourth, Bowen made a tumbling catch of a Jake Rickenbach liner to end the inning and keep UVU off the scoreboard before becoming the hero at the plate.

BYU tied it quickly in the fourth on an RBI double from Steve Parker and RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Jonathan Cluff . A batter later, Bowen hit his first homer to cap a five-run inning, breaking the 4-4 tie.

His second came as part of a four-run fifth as the Cougars broke the game open with the nine unanswered runs.

Brock Sargent (1-4) took the loss while Nathan Bunch (3-0) earned the win for the Cougars.

Doxey had three hits and two stolen bases to lead Utah Valley. In addition to Bowen's night, Relf was 3-for-3 and a homer short of the cycle before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth.

The Wolverines will now travel to Reno, Nevada this weekend for a four-game series beginning Friday night at the University of Nevada.