Marcus Moore’s luck could only last so long against Utah. The righty with a devastating slider asserted himself as the Wolverines’ ace in three wins against the Utes last year.
This year was a different story as Utah handled an early offensive effort by Utah Valley as a mid-inning surge gave it a 12-6 win Tuesday night.
The Wolverines (4-17-1) had to endure 21 straight road games at the start of the year before finally getting to enjoy their home park.
But Utah (8-12) spoiled the festivities by showcasing an offense that had been lacking as it tallied a season-high 20 hits.
Moore (2-4) gave up two runs through four innings before a four-run fifth gave Utah the lead for good.
Cody Guymon’s RBI single started the scoring. From there it was Utah Valley’s inability to get the third out that caused the damage.
Austin Jones hit a double to center that scored two. Jones would then get to third on a throwing error by Wolverines shortstop Jake Richenback.
Cooper Blanc finished the rally with a single that brought Jones in and put Utah up 6-4.
All of it came with Moore still on the mound. Moore ended up pitching 5 2/3 innings, allowing 12 hits and six earned runs.
This gave Utah’s Bryn Card (1-1) the win despite two innings of mid-inning relief.
Utah Valley took an early lead with three runs in the first and added another in the second to take a 4-1 lead.
Scott Croshaw scored on a fielder’s choice, Ryan Jones on a wild pitch, and Adam Openshaw from a Kevin Arendse single‚ all unearned as a couple of wild pitches and an error let runners on base and then advance with two outs.
Utah opened the game with a quick run. Shimada led off on an error by Ryan Jones. Guymon hit an RBI double to left that brought Shimada in from second.
Shimada homered in the sixth and Tyler Relf had an RBI double in the seventh for two insurance runs.
It turned out those runs weren’t just window dressing, as the Wolverines scored two in the bottom of the frame off of Kevin Arendse, two-RBI single to get within two runs.
The Utes added one in the eighth and three in the ninth for the final blow.
Utah’s other run came in the fourth when Blanc bunted a runner in from third that cut Utah Valey’s lead to 4-2.
