University of Utah
14-22-1, 4-14-1
Arizona
20-15, 7-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 1 |
| Arizona | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | X | 14 | 17 | 1 |
Big Sixth Inning Swings Series Opener to Arizona, 14-9
4/21/2023 11:41 PM | Baseball
Clarkson had three doubles and three RBI in Friday’s contest
Clarkson's three doubles were a career-high and the first such game by a Ute since Kai Roberts accomplished the feat vs. Mercer in March 2022. It also extended his hitting streak to nine straight games.
Roberts himself was 3-for-5 on Friday night with his three hits tying a season-high. Four other Utes had a pair of hits each.
Roberts led off the game winning a seven-pitch at bat with a base hit to center field, scoring all the way from first base when Clarkson laced a double to the gap in left center. Arizona would equalize in the bottom of the first on an RBI single.
The clubs traded big innings in the second with Utah posting a four-spot on four hits and an Arizona error, only for the Wildcats to counter with three runs. Bruer Webster opened the scoring with a base hit to plate Landon Frei, then Matt Flaharty trotted home when a back-pick attempt to third got through the third baseman and into left field.
Roberts proceeded to walk and put men at the corners, setting the stage for Clarkson to lace his second gapper in as many at bats for two more RBI.
In the visiting half of the third, Dakota Duffalo restored the Utes' advantage to two runs at 6-4 after a liner through the right side brought in Frei once again. But it would prove to be a run swap as Arizona put up one of their own in the bottom of the third.
Utah built its lead up to 9-5 by way of another run in the fifth inning and a pair in the sixth, but the tables turned to the Wildcats with six runs on six hits to give Arizona their first lead at 11-9 after six innings of play.
The Utes put the tying run in scoring position both in the seventh and eighth, but were unable to get anyone across the plate. Arizona then added three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the game away.
Left-hander Bryson Van Sickle worked into the sixth inning before being relieved by fellow southpaw Ernesto Lugo-Canchola. Van Sickle received the loss for the Utes.
Saturday's middle game is again slated for a 7 p.m. MDT first pitch as Utah looks to even the series at Hi Corbett Field.
Follow Utah baseball on social media (@utahbaseball).
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Orloff, Eric (2-0)
L: Van Sickle, Bryson (2-5)
Batting:
2B: Clarkson, TJ 3 ; Cop, Davis 1 ; Flaharty, Matt 1
RBI: Clarkson, TJ 3 ; Kiernan, Jayden 1 ; Cop, Davis 1 ; Duffalo, Dakota 2 ; Webster, Bruer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Roberts, Kai 2 ; Clarkson, TJ 1 ; Kiernan, Jayden 1 ; Cop, Davis 1 ; Frei, Landon 2 ; Flaharty, Matt 1 ; Webster, Bruer 1
SB: Roberts, Kai 1 ; Gurney, Cameron 1 ; Flaharty, Matt 1
HBP: Cop, Davis 2 ; Flaharty, Matt 1
Batting:
2B: Bingham, Mac 1 ; Romero, Kiko 1 ; Casagrande, Tyler 2
3B: Caulfield, Garen 1
HR: Bullard, Tony 1
RBI: Bingham, Mac 2 ; Davis, Chase 1 ; Romero, Kiko 1 ; Splaine, Tommy 2 ; Caulfield, Garen 3 ; White, Mason 1 ; Bullard, Tony 2 ; Casagrande, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bingham, Mac 2 ; McClaughry, Nik 1 ; Davis, Chase 1 ; Romero, Kiko 2 ; Splaine, Tommy 2 ; White, Mason 2 ; Bullard, Tony 2 ; Casagrande, Tyler 2
