May 8, 2009
DALLAS, Texas -- Utah Valley University led 4-2 in the sixth but 11 unanswered runs by Dallas Baptist led to a 13-4 defeat on Friday night at Patriot Field in Dallas.
The Wolverines (16-32) were able to break through first, scoring two times in the third. Billy Burgess got UVU on the board with a sac-fly to center that scored Cole Anderson. Chris Benson upped his hit streak to 11-game with a single that brought in Jace Brinkerhoff for the second run.
UVU starter Justin Smith didn't allow a hit until the fourth when Ryan Goins began the inning with a double to right. Goins was at third with two outs when Ryan Thompson singled to short to bring home the first run for DBU.
Trevor Head tied the game two batters later, scoring Thompson before Riley White was able to gun down Austin Knight at the plate, preserving at 2-2 tie after four.
Utah Valley regained the lead in the sixth when Goose Kallunki's sacrifice bunt ricocheted off the glove of Patriot pitcher Ryan Millard, allowing Burgess to score from second and Benson to move from first to third. Kevin Arendse then drove Benson home with a sacrifice fly to center, giving UVU a 4-2 lead.
That lead didn't last long after the Patriots took the lead with a three-run fifth. An error and two walks doomed the Wolverines in the inning in which all three runs that scored were unearned. The big blow came on a two-out, two-run single to right by Clay Kelly.
Dallas Baptist added four runs in each of the seventh and eighth to put the game away.
Smith (7-4) took the loss, the first he's suffered in his last seven starts. Smith allowed three earned runs (six total) on six hits and while striking out five.
Ryan Millard (6-2) got the win for DBU after allowing three earned runs on seven hits. Chris Haney earned his sixth save after throwing three perfect innings and striking out four.
Benson and Brinkerhoff had two hits each to lead the Wolverines, who finished with seven hits on the night. Thompson had three hits to lead the Patriots with Austin Knight and Trevor Head driving in three runs apiece.
The series finale will be Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
