May 17, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY - Utah Valley could not withstand a late rally by the University of Utah, falling 8-7 on a walk-off base hit by Austin Shackelford in the ninth inning on Tuesday night at Spring Mobile Ballpark.
The loss ends an eight-game win streak for the Wolverines, who dropped to 27-21 with the loss in their final non-conference game of the year. The Utes improved to 27-18 and took the season series 3-1.
UVU scored six straight runs midway through the game to take a 7-1 lead before Utah scored the game's final seven runs while taking advantage of defensive miscues.
Billy Burgess hit a two-run home run and Chris Benson had a three-hit day to lead Utah Valley. C.J. Cron had four hits for Utah while Shackelford had three hits including the game-winner.
The Wolverines got a pair of two-out hits to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Benson singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and then scored when Austin Heaps lined a pitch into right center for an RBI base hit.
Utah came back with a run in the second on a double down the first-base line by Josh Alexander that scored Shackelford from first.
Alex Exon singled to lead off the sixth before Burgess blasted his home run on top of the berm in left to give UVU a 3-1 lead. The Wolverines would get two more clutch two-out hits in the frame when Heaps and Goose Kallunki both singled home runs to extend the lead to 5-1.
In the top half of the seventh, Kirk Doxey tripled to left center to bring in Willie Pratt and then came in to score on a two-out single by Benson to make it a 7-1 game.
The Utes used five singles and a sacrifice fly to plate four runs in the seventh and make it a 7-5 game.
Utah added another run in the eighth and had the tying run at first with one out. Kyle Beecher then came in and got Alexander to hit into an inning-ending, 6-4-3 double play on the first pitch to preserve the lead.
The Utes tied it in the ninth when an error with one down and runners at first and second allowed James Brooks to score from second, knotting the game at 7-7. Shackelford later hit a two-out liner that sailed over Burgess' head in right to bring in Tyler Relf for the winning run.
Ty Hansen started and threw five strong innings for Utah Valley. Hansen was in line for the win after giving up just one run on five hits while striking out three.
The Wolverines begin a four-game Great West Conference series that will decide the regular season champions on Thursday against Northern Colorado. UVU needs one win to clinch its second straight conference title. The series starts Thursday at 6 p.m. at Brent Brown Ballpark.
