March 20, 2010
OREM, Utah - Utah Valley got the pitching performance it needed but couldn't come up with the key hits, falling 3-1 to Portland at Brent Brown Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.
Zane Gray threw 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and Craig Brimhall threw 3.2 scoreless innings in relief to give the Wolverines a chance, but Portland kept UVU off balance at the plate all afternoon to give the Pilots (12-6) the win and two out of three in the series.
"We need to stay within our approach and hit the ball like we're capable of. I was extremely disappointed with the way we played into their hands. We never adjusted to what they were doing," said UVU head coach Eric Madsen.
"But our pitching was outstanding. We couldn't have asked for anything more. They pitched out of some tough situations and kept a good hitting club off balance. It was a great outing by both of those guys."
Pilot starter Scott Burris allowed one run on seven hits in 6.0 innings and Owen Jones came in and retired four of the five batters he faced - three via strikeout. Closer Chris Dennis got his fifth save after getting the final four outs of the game.
The Wolverines had the tying run at the plate in each of the final three innings but failed to get the batter aboard in each instance.
Chris Benson led off the ninth with a base hit, upping his average to .508 after a 2-for-3 day, but Dennis finished the game with a pop out, strikeout and fly out to end the game.
Along with Benson, Jace Brinkerhoff also had two hits as the Wolverines out-hit the Pilots 9-7. Beau Fraser had two hits and drove in two for Portland while Craig Smith also had two hits - a double and a triple - and scored two runs.
For the third straight game Portland scored in the top of the first, plating two runs on consecutive singles by C.J. Cullen and Fraser.
The Wolverines got their only run in the bottom half of the first after Jake Rickenbach led off with a double and later scored on a single by Brinkerhoff.
From there both starters put zeroes on the board over the next four innings. After the two-run first, Gray retired nine straight and 12 out of 13 with the only base runner coming on an error.
Burris got out of a jam in the first by getting a ground ball, bases loaded double play - one of four double plays on the day made by the Portland defense.
The Wolverines play at Utah next Tuesday at 6 p.m. before hosting a three-game series with Gonzaga beginning next Thursday at 6 p.m.
