May 8, 2010

OLD WESTBURY, New York - Utah Valley hit six home runs to set a single-game school record in a 21-6 win over NYIT to earn a doubleheader split on a windy Saturday afternoon in New York. The Wolverines (27-16, 17-2) responded after being shutout, 7-0, in the opening game of the twin bill.

Jace Brinkerhoff had four hits and five runs batted in while Chris Benson drove in four runs and had three hits -- including a two-run homer -- and finished just a single shy of the cycle. Brinkerhoff hit a three-run home run, a double and two singles and lacked only a triple for the cycle.

Jake Rickenbach led off the game with a home run and Benson tripled in the inning to plate two runs to put the Wolverines (27-16, 17-2) 3-0 in the first.

Benson's home run was part of a four-run that gave UVU a 9-0 lead. And after the Bears (21-19-2, 12-6) scored three in the bottom of the fourth, the Wolverines answered as Brinkerhoff hit his home run in another four-run inning in the fifth.

Austin Heaps and Cole McWhorter went back-to-back in the sixth and Jason Zundel capped the home runs with a two-run shot lined over the wall in right in the eighth.

It was the sixth time this season that Utah Valley has scored 21 runs or more in a game and was the largest margin of victory this season.

Justin Campbell moved to 4-0 with the win after five runs in five innings. Craig Stringham and Kade Andrus pitched scoreless frames in relief.

The Wolverines suffered a rare shutout in the opener behind a strong pitching performance from NYIT starter Andrew Guarrasi. Guarrasi struck out 10 while allowing just four hits. The Wolverines stranded 12 hitters in the seven-inning game that ended their 12-game Great West Conference winning streak.

Utah Valley has now won two of the first three games in the series and will go for the series win on Sunday at 1 p.m ET/11 a.m. MT.