Utes Home Opener A Two Game Rout

Saturday, March 17

Salt Lake City

2:00 PM MT

University of Utah

Air Force

3/17/2001 12:00 AM | Baseball

March 17, 2001

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - It took an extra day, but the Utah baseball team finally got to play at home. After opening the season with 22 road games, the Utes (14-10, 4-1 MWC) responded to their home park with a double-header sweep of the Air Force Falcons. Utah outscored the Falcons (13-14, 0-5 MWC) 26-6 and outhit them 34-24.

In game one the Utes scored twice in the first inning and added two more in the second. Air Force got as close as 4-2, but Utah put six on the board in the eighth to claim the game 12-2. Every Ute starter had at least one hit, and five Utes had three hits apiece. Donald Hawes homered in each of his first two at bats on his way to a 3-for-4 game. Hawes finished with two runs scored, three RBI and a double to go along with the two homers. Sam Swenson finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. He finished a home run away from hitting for the cycle.

Ryan Bailey (4-2) pitched a complete game allowing just two earned runs on 10 hits. He had nine strikeouts and only two walks in picking up his fourth win of the season. The complete game was the first by a Ute starter this season and was the first of Bailey's career.

Brian LaBasco led the Falcons with his 3-for-4 game. LaBasco accounted for both Falcon runs, scoring one and driving in the other. Josh Phifer had two hits and scored a run.

Game two saw the Utes continue their early inning dominance. The Utes scored five times in the first and twice more in the second to lead 7-2 after two innings. Leading 12-3 to start the eighth, Falcon reliever Kiwedin Cornell was greeted with two home runs in five pitches. The first by Chris Shelton, then after a Swenson fly out, Mike Westfall put his third homer of the season over the left field fence. Air Force added one in the ninth, but it wasn't nearly enough as Utah won 14-4.

Air Force helped the Utes cause by committing six errors. Only five of Utah's 14 runs were earned and none of the five allowed by Falcon reliever Kyle Clinton were earned.

Seven starters had at least one hit while five had two or more. The first two hitters in the line-up, Donnie Saba and Adam Castleton, combined to go 6-for-10 with three runs scored and five RBI. Both had a double and two triples.

Travis Palmer (3-1) picked up the win after going six innings and allowing only three earned runs. He had three strikeouts and only one walk. Jason Wylie picked up his first save of the season and of his career, throwing the final three innings. Wylie allowed one earned run on three hits while recording four strikeouts.

The two teams will wrap-up their three game series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. (MST) at Franklin Covey Field. Brett Lindsey (2-2) will start for the Utes against Mike Tufte (4-2) for the Falcons.