SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Utah Valley University struggled in the opening game of a four-game weekend, falling 9-2 at Santa Clara's Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament.
Sloppy defense came back to haunt the Wolverines (3-3) and the Broncos took advantage (4-2). A pair of errors contributed to three runs coming in unearned, but a handful of other misplays that could have been turned into outs allowed SCU to build a 9-0 lead after six innings.
Mitchell White (1-0) pitched 8.0 innings and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out a career-high nine for the host Broncos. White had allowed just one base-runner through seven innings until the Wolverines pushed two runs across the plate in the eighth.
After a infield single by
Spencer Gothberg in the second, White retired the next 15 hitters in order, retiring the side in the sixth and seventh on a combined nine pitches.
Keaton Asay, in his first plate career plate appearance as a Wolverine, was hit by a pitch to begin the eighth, ending the run of 15 straight UVU hitters retired.
Zac Willis continued his early-season, run producing success, singling home Asay in the eighth inning for UVU's first run. Ryne Edmonson followed him with a triple to the wall in right center – his second of the season – scoring Willis and matching the two with a team-high six RBIs.
Santa Clara scored once in the second, twice in the third and added two more in the fifth to lead 5-0. It was a four-run sixth inning that opened the game up for the Broncos.
Nine different players had one hit each for Santa Clara, with the Broncos outhitting Utah Valley 9-4.
Jesse Emery added a two-out single in the ninth for the Wolverines.
Danny Beddes (1-1) took the loss for UVU. He struck out five in 5.0 innings and was charged with three earned runs (five total).
The Wolverines continue the weekend on Saturday with a 1 p.m. PT/2 p.m. MT start against UC Davis. On Sunday UVU will face Saint Joseph's before closing out the tournament with a second game against UC Davis.
