Baseball: UVU unable to slow down hot Indiana State offense

Photos by Mykah Heaton

OREM — A measured offensive attack from Indiana State helped defeat UVU in the first game of a double header 10-5 Saturday afternoon at Brent Brown Ballpark.

The Sycamores scored in all but three innings, putting a 10-run hurting on the Wolverines. In a one-run game in the ninth inning, ISU’s Kyle Moore hit a three-run homerun to left-center field as part of four runs scored on reliever Matt Davidson in the ninth.

Jeremy McKinney, the Indiana State pitcher that was scheduled to start the game, came in relief in the third inning. He pitched six and 2/3 innings, gave up two runs and earned the win.

Dominic Bifano got the Indiana State started early when he hit a leadoff double down the right field line in the second inning. He scored later on when the ball bounced away from first on a double-play attempt.

In the third inning second baseman Clay Dungan roped a single into right field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. He scored when Tony Rosselli doubled to right field and he came in to score when a lined shot hit center fielder Justin Erlandson’s glove in what would have been a nice play.

Indiana State’s starting pitcher Justin Hill exited the game two pitches into the bottom half of the third inning and UVU took advantage, scoring three runs off of reliever Tyler Whitbread. Second baseman Trevor Howell walked, Trevor Peterson singled and catcher Zac Willis hit a three-run homer to left field.

More strategic baseball was showcased in the fourth inning by ISU when with two runners in scoring position, Clay Dungan grounded out to the right side of the infield, allowing Jeff Zahn to score. Chris Ayers singled in the fifth inning and was driven in by Rosselli’s second double of the game for the Sycamores fifth run of the game.

UVU’s starter Jake Mayer was pulled from the game after six frames and five earned runs with five strikeouts. Lefty Cole Fivecoat replaced him and pitched two and 1/3 scoreless innings.

The offense got going for UVU in the seventh inning when Howell singled to right field, advanced to second on an error and was driven in by Peterson’s third hit of the game. Willis then knocked Peterson in with a base hit to center field narrowing the deficit to one run. It was not enough to keep pace with the Sycamores though.

The second game of the double header will begin at approximately 3:30 MST with Kaden Schmitt on the hill for UVU facing Tyler Ward from ISU.