MESA, Ariz. – Utah Valley used a five-run first inning to defeat Sam Houston 10-6 in the University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament at Hohokam Stadium. UVU (33-22) scored early and often to jump out to a 7-3 lead.
Casey Anderson went seven innings to pick up his fourth win of the season.
"That was a team effort.
Casey Anderson really settled in after a tough first inning and gave us a great outing on the mound that we really needed," said UVU head coach
Eddie Smith.
The Wolverines scored five runs in the first inning to jump out to an early lead.
Daniel Dickinson and
Cole Jordan both singled to open the ballgame.
Burke Camper reached on a fielding error that allowed the game's first run to score.
Calyn Halvorson hit his fifth homer of the year to clear the bases and put UVU up 4-0, a couple of hitters later,
Matthew Schwarz added his sixth blast of the year and made it 5-0.
Sam Houston rallied to score three runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning. Utah Valley quickly answered with the first two hitters reaching on a single by
Nate Bach and a walk to Dickinson. After an out was recorded on a pickoff, Jordan walked to put two runners on base.
Patrick Mills singled to score one run and chase Sam Houston starter, Coltin Atkinson.
With a comfortable 7-3 lead, Anderson settled in and retired the side in the second, recording a pair of strikeouts. He retired the next seven hitters he faced and did not allow a hit until Clayton Chadwick singled in the fourth. The Bearkats scored two in the fifth inning to cut the margin to 7-4 UVU, and they threatened in the sixth with two runners on base, but Anderson recorded an inning-ending double play to hold the lead for UVU.
The Wolverines took advantage of the momentum in the top of the seventh as Camper led off with a big fly to left field to make it 8-4 UVU. Utah Valley loaded the bases later and made it 9-5 after
Garrett Broussard scored on a passed ball.
Nate Bach singled home a run to put UVU in front 10-5.
Nick Sims came in relief and went the final two innings allowing just two hits and one run scored. Anderson finished with seven strikeouts, which puts him just two shy of passing Justin Smith for fifth all-time in single season strikeouts, and now only needs ten more for first place all-time.
Schwarz finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored in the win. Jordan, Halvorson, and Bach each chipped in with two hits.
Utah Valley will play at 8:00 p.m. MT on May 26 against UT Arlington. The winner will clinch a spot in the WAC Championship on Saturday.
