SURPRISE, Ariz. – A strong all-around game for the Utah baseball team ended in a 12-0 shutout over Ohio State on Thursday evening to open the Pac-12/Big 10 Challenge on Thursday evening.
Utah got on the board with a run in the first inning but took control of the game with a five run second inning for a 6-0 lead. Utah continued to pull away with two runs in the fourth, three runs in the fifth, and a run in the sixth.
Hunter Simmons had three hits to lead Utah at the plate while
DaShawn Keirsey, Jr.,
Josh Rose,
Chandler Anderson, Zach Moeller and
Kyle Hoffman all had two hits.
Oliver Dunn drove in four runs on the night while
Dallas Carroll, Rose and Hoffman all had multiple RBI. Rose hit a two-run home run on the night.
On the mound,
Jacob Rebar allowed just three hits with three strikeouts and a walk in the win, throwing 5 2/3 innings.
Chase Bauerle,
Trenton Stoltz and
Hunter Rodriguez closed out the shutout for the Utes.
Utah got on the board quickly in the first with Keirsey leading off with a single and moving to second on an error before scoring on a ground out.
The fifth was the key inning for Utah, which started when Anderson reached on an error with one out. Moeller singled and Hoffman followed with an RBI single for the first run of the inning. Keirsey also had a single to load the bases before Dunn stepped up with the bases loaded and doubled to send in three runs. Simmons also drove in a run with an RBI single in the inning for a 6-1 lead.
Rose's two-run home run gave Utah a pair of runs in the fourth, and the Utes three-run fifth inning also saw three hits, including RBI doubles from Hoffman and Carroll. Utah capped off its scoring in the sixth after Anderson hit an infield single and Moeller doubled to center to send him home.
The Utes had runners on base in every inning and had 16 hits on the night.
On the mound, Rebar gave up two early hits – with both runners being picked off – and also walked his lone runner of the game in the first inning before sitting down 14-straight runners before allowing a double in the sixth. He had three strikeouts. Bauerle threw 1 1/3 innings, striking out three of the seven batters he faced. Stoltz and Rodriguez threw the final two innings.
The Utes return to the field on Friday, Feb. 24, to face Nebraska at 5:00 p.m. MT. Radio will be available through Nebraska.