Late Rally Comes Up Short at USC in 6-5 Setback

Thursday, May 16

Irvine, CA

7:30 PM

University of Utah

32-19, 16-12

USC

26-27, 15-12

Utah

USC

Photo credit: JPWest Media

Late Rally Comes Up Short at USC in 6-5 Setback

5/16/2024 11:38 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Utes had the tying run at third base in the ninth

IRVINE, Calif. – The Utah Baseball team had the tying run at third base in the ninth inning but fell just short against USC in a 6-5 ballgame on Thursday night at Great Park.

Trailing 6-4 to begin the ninth, the Utes loaded the bases before Drake Digiorno sent a fly ball to the warning track in left-center field for a deep sacrifice that scored Matt Flaharty. Now with two outs and the tying run at third, a grounder to the right side sent the USC second baseman onto the outfield grass before throwing to first in time to end the game.

Kai Roberts had his 20^th double and drove in two runs as part of his 25^th multi-hit game of the season; his multi-hit performances now tie former Ute Jayden Kiernan (2023) for the most in the Pac-12 era of the program. It also went as Roberts' 16^th multi-RBI performance of the year. His stolen base in the first inning was his league-leading 31^st stolen base of the season and 64^th in his career—both Utah program records.

Left-hander Bryson Van Sickle worked seven innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out five Trojans. Though he received a no-decision, it marked Van Sickle's seventh straight start of at least six innings and 10^th of the 2024 season.

The Trojans would open the scoring in the bottom of the second, after Austin Overn led off with a double and later came home on a sac fly.

A four-run top of the fifth swung momentum into the Utah dugout—thanks to a two-out rally. Core Jackson poked a single up the middle to bring in Kaden Carpenter with the tying run, then Roberts went opposite field for a two-run double. He took third on a relay throw to the plate then scored later on a wild pitch for the 4-1 Utah advantage.

USC got one run back in the sixth on a two-out single that dropped into center field and scored Austin Overn from second base.

The 4-2 score remained until the eighth inning when a sac bunt put Trojans in scoring position with just one out. A single through the left side plated two to tie the score at four, then back-to-back USC doubles put the home club ahead 6-4.

Flaharty let off the ninth with a base hit, then a pair of USC errors helped Utah load the bases ahead of Digiorno's sac fly.

Micah Ashman received the loss on the mound.

Next Up
The Utes and Trojans will be back at Great Park on Friday night for the middle game of this three-game series. First pitch will be at 7:30 p.m. MT.

This weekend is the final Pac-12 Conference series for Utah before the Pac-12 Tournament begins next week in Scottsdale, Arizona. Tournament tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

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