May 9, 2010
OLD WESTBURY, New York -- Utah Valley scored seven runs over the first three innings on its way to a 9-3 series-clinching win at NYIT on a cold and windy Sunday afternoon in New York. The Wolverines (28-16, 18-2 in GWC) won three out of four in the series and have won 14 of their last 15 conference games.
Blake Krahenbuhl had the longest start of his young career, going 6.2 innings and giving up just one run on four hits while striking out seven. After a two-out base hit in the first, Krahenbuhl, who moved to 6-1 with the win, retired the next 10 hitters he faced.
Five different UVU players had two-hits with all nine starters picking up at least one hit. After hitting a leadoff home run in Saturday's win, Jake Rickenbach began Sunday with a double and then scored the first run of the game on a base hit by Jason Zundel.
Zundel stole second, UVU's seventh steal of the series, and then scored when Chris Benson doubled him home with two outs. Goose Kallunki then scored Benson with another two-out hit, a single to right on a 3-2 pitch.
In the second inning, five singles led to the scoring with Rickenbach, Zundel and Billy Burgess each driving in runs.
UVU added a run in the third when Kevin Arendse doubled and later scored but wouldn't score again until the ninth.
NYIT reliever Mike Roth, who hadn't pitched longer than two innings all season, threw seven complete innings in relief and allowed just one run on four hits with six strikeouts. At one point during his appearance he retired 15 straight Wolverine hitters.
The Bears (21-21-2, 12-7 in GWC) added a run in the seventh but stranded the bases loaded when Braden Poole struck out Brian Smith to end the inning.
NYIT got two more in the eighth after loading the bases with no outs but Utah Valley answered both of those runs in the ninth.
Zundel scored three times and drove in two runs while Benson also had two RBI to up his total to 63, just three shy of the school record.
The Wolverines now make the long trip across the country to face Seattle University in a two-game midweek series on Tuesday and Wednesday.
