Kyle McDonald, Sports Writer, @kylesportsbias
The Long Beach State Dirtbags defeated the Utah Valley Wolverines 4-2 on Saturday February 21, 2015 after scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
It was the sixth straight defeat for the Wolverines to open up the young season.
“We need more guys to take advantage of the big opportunities to help us win games, both at the plate and on the defensive side,” said head coach Eric Madsen. “I was pleased with the pitching staff. They really competed and did a great job for us today.”
Long Beach State would strike first as Zack Domingues would score on a pass ball in the first inning. They would add another run in the third when Zack Rivera tripled home Garrett Hampson.
The Wolverines would finally get on the scoreboard in the fourth when Jake Atkinson hit a two-out RBI single to score Kade Andrus. In the eighth inning UVU would tie the game up thanks to a two-double from Seth Rhineer that would score Greyson Bogden.
UVU couldn’t score anymore and Long Beach State would take advantage. In the bottom of the eighth inning Hampson, who doubled with one-out, would score the go-ahead run on a single by Luke Rasmussen. Rivera would then score on a sacrifice fly to give the Dirtbags their fourth run.
Jackson Cofer of UVU allowed two runs in 5.1 innings pitched in just his second collegiate start. Tanner Brown of LBSU pitched 6.1 innings, giving up one run on four hits while striking out six. Ty Povencher would throw a perfect ninth inning and was the winning pitcher for the Dirtbags. Kyle Valgardson of UVU struggled in 2.2 innings pitched giving up two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one and he would get credited for the loss.
The rubber match of the series will take place on Sunday February 22, 2015 at 1 p.m. PT/2 p.m. MT and Utah Valley will look to get their first win of the season.
