While it has been the offense chasing the defense for the better part of the season, the defense couldn’t hold down the Golden Bears for a better part of the weekend.
Utah (9-17) dropped two of three games to Cal (20-7) this weekend after giving up 10-plus runs in each of the first two games. But the Utes were able to slow down the Golden Bears in the final game of the series to prevent the sweep and win 3-2 on Sunday.
IF YOU MISSED IT: UTES WIN OVER BYU LAST TUESDAY
“We had opportunities today, and that’s all that you ask for,” said head coach Bill Kinneberg. “You get your opportunities, and you make the most of them, and we did. In the fifth inning, we had a couple more opportunities that we let squander away, but that’s part of baseball.”
In the Friday night matchup, the Utes connected well on the offensive side en route to a season-high total of 15 hits. However, the game was not about hits, as Cal overpowered Utah early and often to secure a big victory.
Junior Bret Helton couldn’t make it out of the second inning, allowing three runs on one hit, but he walked four batters. Helton got the loss and drops to 1-4 this season.
Leading the Utes at the plate were junior Wyler Smith and sophomore Max Schuman, who each went 3-for-5, while Schuman grabbed an RBI as well.
Game two was close early, but the Golden Bears took charge and opened up a big lead and kept it. Utah was able to hit in the double digits but couldn’t keep up with the scoring of Cal.
On the mound, junior Dalton Carroll, who has been Utah’s most consistent pitcher this season thus far, fell to 3-4 on the year after pitching 5.1 innings and allowing eight runs on six hits. Sophomore Hunter Rodriguez relieved him and pitched the remainder of the game.
Rodriguez allowed three runs on five hits. Both pitchers had four strikeouts.
Kody Davis had two hits on the day, and Smith joined him with two hits, along with bringing in two runners. Sophomore Hunter Simmons also got in on the action and was able to grab two hits of his own.
Dallas Carroll had Utah’s best day at the plate, however, going 4-for-5 while bringing in two runs.
Game three was a deadlock until the middle innings, as the Utes made just enough of an impact on offense, getting a total of four hits on the day.
It wasn’t a perfect game for Utah, as junior catcher AJ Young, who was trying to throw a runner out a third base, threw a high ball that went into the outfield to bring home the second run.
Utah battled back, though, as freshman Andrew Jackson, who made his way to third base after hitting a double, crossed home plate after senior Biss Larsen was able to drive him home to cut the lead to one run.
Scaggari powered the Utes to the lead in the fifth inning by smashing a double down the left field line to bring in two runners, giving the Utes a 3-2 lead, and from there the Utes wouldn’t look back, as they kept Cal off the board for the remainder of the game.
Freshman Jayson Rose pitched lights out as he went six innings and allowed two runs on three hits and had a career-high of 11 strikeouts.
“He was really good with his change up against all their left handed hitters and that’s a big pitch,” Kinneberg said. “He was able to throw it behind in the count. For both he and Brock [Duke], it was a key to be down in the zone … throwing strikes down in the zone. That was the difference.”
Senior Brock Duke relieved him and also pitched extremely well during his three innings of work. He didn’t allow any hits and earns the save. Together, Rose and Duke combined for 17 strikeouts on the day.
Rose said it was good for him to come out and get the experience against one of the best offensive teams in the Pac-12.
“I really like what I did, and hopefully I can continue it,” he said.
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