March 5, 2010
SURPRISE, Arizona - Utah Valley dropped a narrow decision for the second straight day at the Coca-Cola Classic in Surprise, Arizona, falling 8-6 to Cal Poly. Four Wolverine errors proved costly, leading to three unearned runs on the afternoon.
After a four-hit day on Thursday, Jace Brinkerhoff remained hot at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Chris Benson had a pair of hits and drove in two while Kevin Arendse also had two RBI for the Wolverines (4-5).
Ross Brayton led the Mustangs (4-5) with three hits, all singles, and two batted on the go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning that gave Cal Poly the lead for good.
After falling behind 3-0 early, Utah Valley fought back mounting a two-out rally in the fourth to tie the game. Benson doubled to left to score Jason Zundel to get the Wolverines on the board. Austin Heaps followed with a single that moved Benson to third and then stole second before Arendse drove both runners home with a single to right.
Later, Billy Burgess led off the UVU's half of the sixth with a go-ahead home run, his third of the year, to put UVU up 4-3.
That lead was short-lived though as Cal Poly came back with four runs in the seventh. Three of the runs in the inning were unearned with two Wolverine errors aiding in the big inning for the Mustangs.
Luke Yoder added a solo home run for Cal Poly in the eighth to give the Mustangs an 8-4 lead, his third home run of the year.
The Wolverines got two back in the eighth. Zundel led off the inning with a base hit to right before Brinkerhoff doubled to left, scoring Zundel from first. After Burgess flew out to right, Benson drove home Brinkerhoff with a single into left-center.
In the last of the ninth, Jake Rickenbach drew a two-out walk but Frankie Reed got Zundel to pop out to end the game. Reed earned the save, his first of the year while Kyle Anderson (1-1) earned the win for Cal Poly. Anderson tossed 7.1 innings and allowed six runs on 12 hits.
Ryan Chadwick (0-1) took the loss. He pitched 1.1 innings with just one of his four runs earned.
Both teams finished with 12 hits. Cal Poly's only extra-base hit was Yoder's home run.
The Classic continues on Saturday with the Wolverines facing No. 10 Oregon State at 4 p.m. MT. Utah Valley will close out the weekend on Sunday at 1 p.m. MT against UC Riverside.
