Baseball Hammers UNLV, 9-4

Sunday, April 27

Lindquist Field (Ogden, Utah)

1:00 PM

University of Utah

16-21, 5-9

UNLV

19-23, 8-10

UNLV

University of Utah

4/27/2008 12:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 27, 2008

Box Score

OGDEN, Utah - Offense was not in short supply as the University of Utah baseball team toppled UNLV, 9-4, in the final tilt of a three-game conference series here this afternoon. The Utes wrap up their first-ever home series at Lindquist Field having gone 2-1 this weekend.

The Utes (16-21, 5-9 Mountain West) scored in each of the first four innings, racing out to a 9-0 lead on the rebels. The Utes used a three-homer, five-run fourth inning to keep the rallying Rebels at bay. Fred Ferguson led the fifth off with a solo homer, and that was followed by Corey Shimada's solo shot. However, Austin Jones topped them both, hitting a three-run dinger over the 390 marker in left-center field.

"John James pitched well today," said head coach Bill Kinneberg. "We had some big innings offensively, but James kept putting up zeros on the board and that was key for us."

Utah hammered out 11 hits today, 10 of which came in the first four innings. Nine of the 11 hits went for extra bases today. In addition to the three homers, the Utes belted out six doubles. Three doubles came from Jesse Shriner's bat, as he hit two-baggers in each of first his three at bats. Shriner's 3-for-4, three-run effort led the Utes. Shimada, Ferguson and Jones were all 2-for-4 this afternoon. Jones led them with a team-best four RBI.

"Fred Ferguson picked us up today both offensively and defensively," said Kinneberg. "I had a feeling after batting practice that he'd give us a spark, and he stepped up and provided that for us in today's game."

John James got the start on the mound for Utah today and gets the win, upping his tally to 3-5. He threw for 7.2 innings, allowing 10 hits and three earned runs. He fanned five Rebel batters, and he didn't issue a single walk.

UNLV (19-23, 8-10 MWC) tallied 11 hits on the day. Rebel hurler Thomas Whitsett gets the loss.

The Utes scored two runs in the first when Dustin Hennis hit a hot shot to the first baseman with runners on second and third. Xavier Scruggs bobbled the shot, and it allowed Shriner and Cody Guymon to score.

A run each in the second and third pushed Utah's lead up to 4-0 and the five-run fourth gave Utah what it needed to keep UNLV at bay.

UNLV tried to rally late for the second game in a row. But today, it fell short. The Rebels got two runs in the eighth and a run in the ninth.

Utah takes a week off for exams before going to Fort Worth, Texas, to battle conference power TCU this weekend.