April 25, 2010
CHICAGO -- Rain on Sunday ended Saturday's halted game as Utah Valley picks up the series sweep with 14-6 win in five complete innings over Chicago State. The Wolverines are now 21-14 overall and 11-1 in the Great West Conference.
The game had entered the sixth inning and was halted due to rain on Saturday. But according to the NCAA rulebook, a game shall be a regulation game if called by the umpire at any time after five innings have been completed, and the score shall be that of the last equal inning played.
The game reverting back to the fifth inning did not have an effect on any runs, but does change Jason Zundel's 5-for-5 day to 4-for-4.
In the game, Utah Valley scored three in the top of the first with Chris Benson driving home two on a two-out triple and Goose Kallunki following him with a double.
Chicago State got four in the bottom of the first thanks in part to a two-run William Hill home run and then added two more in the bottom of the second to go ahead 6-3.
The Wolverines sent 14 hitters to the plate in the top of the third, scoring 10 times on 10 hits. Austin Heaps started the scoring with a bases loaded single to left that plated Billy Burgess and Kallunki. Jake Rickenbach and Zundel both singled home runs before Jace Brinkerhoff tripled to score two more.
Burgess followed with his second single in the frame before Benson reached on an infield single. Kallunki then capped the big inning with a three-run home run, his fourth of the series and ninth of the season. Eight of the 10 runs came with two outs.
Meanwhile Ryan Chadwick came on in relief and retired 10 of the first 11 hitters he faced and picks up the win after throwing four scoreless innings and striking out three.
"Ryan Chadwick came in and pitched outstanding for us. What a great job of coming in and commanding the strike zone and attacking people," said Madsen.
Zundel added the 14th run in the fourth with a big home run to left, his fourth of the year and the Wolverines' 11th of the series. In addition to Zundel's four-hit day, Burgess and Kallunki both finished with three hits. The Wolverines had 17 hits over the first five innings.
Utah Valley returns home this week to host Texas-Pan American in GWC action. The series begins Friday at 6 p.m. before a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. The series finale will be Sunday morning at 9 a.m., a rare morning game due to the Broncs travel schedule on Sunday.
