May 3, 2013

GREELEY, Colo. -- Utah Valley University dropped game one of a four-game Great West Conference series at Northern Colorado, 4-2, on Friday at Jackson Field.

The Wolverines (18-23, 9-4) struck with a run on three hits in the top of the first, but a four-run fifth and the arm of NC starter Jake Johnson carried the Bears (20-20, 11-5) the rest of the way.

After UVU took a 1-0 lead, Johnson retired 16 of the next 18 batters -- including 12 straight at one point -- and didn't allow another hit until the seventh. He struck out six without a walk to improve to 4-3 on the season.

Adam Gunn pitched seven innings for Utah Valley, with his only blemish coming in the fateful fifth inning. Gunn (5-5) retired the side in order four times and didn't allow a hit until there were two outs in the fourth.

Stone Ramsey doubled to lead off the game and then scored on an RBI single by Mark Krueger to give UVU a 1-0 advantage early.

In the fifth though, six hits -- three of which were doubles -- were enough to give the Bears the win in the series opener.

Ben Netzel and Derek Baum had back-to-back doubles to tie the game. Baum scored the go-ahead run on a base hit by Landon Moseley before Ryan Yamane doubled Moseley home. The inning was capped with a RBI single from Nick Miller.

Utah Valley got a run back in the seventh after Greyson Bogden singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and then scored on a two-out single by Willie Pratt.

Kai Hatch walked to begin the ninth against closer Kevin Willman to get the tying run to the plate. Willman retired the next three hitters though to pick up his seventh save of the year.

The series continues on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at noon.