So much for gaining some much-needed momentum.
The Utah baseball team is now in a bit of a rut as it lost its third straight game, falling to Utah Valley University, 8-2.
Utah (13-15, 3-6 MWC) won the first matchup against the Wolverines last week in Orem partially because of timely hitting and pitching at the end of the game. The Utes didn’t do either of those well in the loss, which now has them reeling on a three-game skid.
Bryn Card (2-3) got the start for Utah and only saw two innings of action. UVU started the game off with two runs in the first inning. The Utes tied it up with two unearned runs off of an error and a sacrifice fly in the second.
Card’s pitches weren’t working on the mound and the Wolverines took advantage of it again in the third. Card walked the first batter of the inning, who would score on the next at-bat off of an RBI double. Card gave up another hit to the next batter, which was the end of a night in which he gave up four runs on seven hits.
The Utes couldn’t do much on the offensive side of the ball, either.
Only Nick Kuroczko and C.J. Cron could put some good metal on the ball, but only once apiece the entire game. The only runs scored were in the second inning, and the struggling Utah offense showed its weak spot against a UVU team that hasn’t played too well this season.
Other than Card having problems on the mound, four other Ute pitchers from the bullpen saw action. Bennett Askew checked in for Card in the bottom of the third inning. He pitched two innings, in which he gave up two hits and two runs.
Sophomore pitcher Tyler Andersen, who has only seen 14 innings of action prior to this game, checked in for Askew. The lack of action this season didn’t affect his performance at all against the Wolverines. Andersen had the best performance of the night, going three innings and giving up no runs on two hits. With his young, live arm, he was pulled and replaced by senior reliever Robert Chimpky, who has struggled all season.
Chimpky was not in the game for long.
He was only a part of one out, because of two runs off of two hits in the eighth inning. Joe Pond checked in to get Utah out of the inning, which he did without giving up any hits.
That was it for the bullpen in this contest.
The Utes couldn’t match last week’s heroics against the Wolverines in late innings and the home team walked away with the win. For the game, UVU picked up 13 hits off of three different pitchers.
Utah will host No. 18 New Mexico on Friday at Lindquist Field. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season.
Utah pitching coach Mike Crawford speaks with his pitcher and catcher. Utah used five pitchers Tuesday night against Utah Valley University in their 8-2 loss.