May 22, 2010
HOUSTON -- Jace Brinkerhoff had five hits including a home run, scored five runs and drove in six as Utah Valley capped the Great West Conference regular season with a 21-3 win at Houston Baptist on Saturday to complete a four-game sweep.
The Wolverines -- the 2010 Great West Champions -- finish the regular season 38-17 overall and 26-2 in the GWC and will begin the conference tournament next Wednesday in Edinburg, Texas. The 38 wins is currently a 20-game improvement on last season.
Chris Benson also homered and drove in five as both hitters surpassed 80 RBI on the season. Brinkerhoff is now batting .463 with 13 home runs, 84 RBI, 113 hits and 83 runs scored and could lead the nation in one or more of those categories after play on Saturday.
Benson ends his regular season with a .402 average, 14 home runs, 81 RBI, 10 triples and 98 hits and also ranks in the top 10 in several categories. Jake Rickenbach scored four times after entering the day two behind the national leader in runs scored and has 85 on the season.
Utah Valley jumped out quickly and scored multiple runs over the first four innings; three in both the first and second, four in the third and five more in the fourth to lead 15-1 after four.
Meanwhile, Zane Gray shook off some early control problems and got the win after throwing six innings and allowing two runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
UVU also got some help from the Huskies (26-30, 15-13) who walked eight hitters, committed two errors and had four wild pitches over the first four frames.
The Wolverines got three in the top half of the first inning after Rickenbach reached on a strikeout and a wild pitch. Brinkerhoff later drove him home with a single, Billy Burgess doubled and then Benson blooped a ball into left and hustled his way to second with a double that scored Brinkerhoff. Benson's home run came in the second with two outs and two on.
Utah Valley scored four times in the third on just one hit - a two-run single up the middle by Brinkerhoff - to take a 10-0 lead. Three walks and an error aided the Wolverines in the frame.
Brinkerhoff's home run came in the top of the ninth and capped the 21-run, 18-hit day for Utah Valley.
Goose Kallunki extended his hit streak to 18 games and was 2-for-6 with a double and three RBI. Rickenbach, Burgess, Benson and Sage Thorpe also had two hits apiece.
Chase Hernandez started and took the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits in 1.2 innings.
Braden Poole, Craig Stringham and Travis Ayoso all pitched one inning in relief to close out the game for the Wolverines.
The Wolverines begin the Great West Conference Tournament next Wednesday in Edinburg, Texas against Chicago State. The official opponents and times for the tournament have yet to be determined.
