Utes blow early 5-1 lead
Feb. 4, 2006
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The University of Utah baseball team saw a strong start go by the wayside Saturday afternoon at Presley Askew Field. The Utes jumped out to a 5-1 lead over New Mexico State, but couldn't hold it. The Aggies exploded for an eight-run fifth inning, en route to a 12-5 win over Utah.
Utah (0-2) got a great start in the first inning. Second baseman Bret Baldwin singled and third baseman Erich Kemp drew a walk with one out. John Welsh came up with two out and hammered his first home run of the season to left field. Welsh's blast put Utah up 3-0. New Mexico State (2-0) touched Utah starter Eric King for a single run in the bottom of the first to make it 3-1.
The Utes added to their lead in the third. Shortstop Ryan Khoury led off with a double to center field. Khoury came around to score on Baldwin's RBI single, giving Utah a 4-1 lead. Baldwin later scored on a New Mexico State error and Utah led 5-1 after three innings.
King pitched four innings, allowed just the one run in the first inning and struck out three. But he was on a pitch count and was removed from the game after the fourth. Junior transfer Brandon Ast took over and promptly ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases. The Aggies' Luke Hopkins then ripped a grand slam to center field, knotting the game at 5-5. The next New Mexico State batter doubled and knocked Ast from the game.
"King pitched very well," Utah head coach Bill Kinneberg said. "But he was on a pitch count and we had to get him out of there. Ast came in there. He just didn't have it today and gave up four quick ones."
|
|
 |
Freshman Rory James took over on the mound and didn't fare much better. James gave up a run-scoring groundout and later allowed three-run triple to Vince Rodden, which put New Mexico State on top by a count of 9-5. The Aggies added three more off sophomore Chase Christensen in the eighth to account for the final tally of 12-5.
Baldwin led the Utah offense, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Khoury was 2-for-5 and scored a run. Welsh's three-run homer was his lone hit. Ast (0-1) suffered the loss for Utah. He allowed five runs and did not record an out. Tyler Sturdevant (1-0) pitched five innings of scoreless relief for New Mexico State to pick up the victory.
Utah and New Mexico State wrap up their three-game set Sunday at 1 p.m.
-UU-
