May 26, 2010
EDINBURG, Texas -- Sage Thorpe ripped a walk-off, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning as Utah Valley staved off Chicago State's upset bid with a 9-8 win in its Great West Tournament opener on Wednesday. The win ties a school record with the Wolverines' 11th straight victory.
It's Thorpe's second walk-off hit of the year -- he hit a 10th-inning home run to defeat Portland earlier in the year -- and it helped the top-seeded Wolverines moved to 39-17 and avoided a loss to the eighth-seeded Cougars.
"Chicago State did a good job but I don't feel like we did a very good job of doing what we do best," said UVU coach Eric Madsen. "There at the end though I think it was our guys just knowing they can win and sometimes they will themselves to win."
Trailing 8-7 entering the bottom of the ninth, Billy Burgess singled thru the left side to open the frame and Chris Benson -- who had two hits and five RBI on the day -- walked before Goose Kallunki sacrificed the runners over to second and third.
After an intentional walk to Kevin Arendse, Thorpe drove the ball into the corner in left to score Burgess and Benson and was mobbed at short after he rounded second with the double.
"That's just outstanding for Sage. He's been in and out of the lineup but he's as clutch as they get. That's two walk-off's for him and I don't know how many other guys can say that," said Madsen.
Craig Brimhall got the win after pitching a perfect ninth inning and moved to 4-2 while Austin McDowell -- who started the day at third -- took the loss.
Chicago State had a 5-2 lead and seemingly had control of the game with two out and nobody on in the bottom of the seventh. Jason Zundel singled, Jace Brinkerhoff walked and Billy Burgess loaded the bases on a bunt single to bring up Benson, who doubled off the wall in left to clear the bases and tie the game.
Kallunki followed with a base hit to center to plate Benson and give UVU a brief 6-5 lead before CSU came back with three in the top of the eighth to go ahead by two runs.
The Wolverines got a run in the eighth on a base hit by Zundel with two outs and Derek Amicone at second to get back within a run.
Utah Valley will face North Dakota on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. CT in the second round of pool play at the GWC Tournament.
