SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah baseball team opened its three-game series against Washington State with a win in walk-off fashion, defeating the Cougars 2-1 on Thursday afternoon.
Utah held a 1-0 lead until Washington State tied it at 1-1 in the top of the ninth inning. In the 10th, Utah reliever
Jacob Rebar opened the inning by sitting down the WSU hitters in order. The first two Ute batters,
Oliver Dunn and
Dallas Carroll, both walked to lead off the inning. After a ground out and fly out,
Zack Moeller hit a fly ball to left field that the fielder tracked back and ultimately missed, sending in the game-winning run.
Utah starter
Jayson Rose threw 7 1/3 innings, striking out seven as he continues to inch closer to Utah's career strikeout record. Rose has 232 career K's, four away from the record of 236 (Jason Price, 2003-06). Rose allowed six hits and four walks.
Chase Bauerle threw one inning, allowing one hit, one walk and one run with a strikeout. Rebar threw the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and raising his record to 3-4 with the win. Rebar also had a strikeout.
The Utes had four hits on the day, and took advantage of six walks. Moeller had a hit and an RBI for the Utes.
Utah got on the board in the second inning.
Wade Gulden walked and after stealing second, he scored on an RBI single from Moeller.
Both teams struggled with runners left on base throughout the game. Utah stranded 11 while Washington State left 14. The Cougars left the bases loaded in the sixth inning as Rose got a strikeout to get the Utes out of the inning. Utah loaded the bases in the seventh with the help of a wild pitch on a strikeout and an error, but couldn't increase its lead. A one-out double and two walks helped WSU load the bases in the eighth but Carroll made a play on a line drive at third to end the inning.
Washington State tied the game in the ninth after a one-out double and single. The Cougars left two on base as Rebar got a strikeout to get Utah of the inning.
Utah and Washington State play game two of the series on Friday, April 28, at 11:30 a.m. MT.