Baseball Falls to Washington State, 12-7

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah baseball team dropped its opening game against Washington State 12-7 on Friday at Smith's Ballpark.
 
The Cougars built a lead that the Utes tried to battle back from, but couldn't overcome the deficit. Utah totaled seven runs on eight hits.
 
Washington State struck first with three runs in the third and fourth. The Utes didn't get going until the fifth inning, where they put two runs on the board. Utah scored two more runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, but Washington State continued putting pressure on the Utes to hold onto their lead.
 
Overall, Utah scored at least one run in four of the final five innings. Washington State also scored runs in five innings with four of those innings being multiple runs. They scored three runs in three of those innings and two runs in one to build their lead.
 
Shea Kramer went 2-3 and had two RBI. Chase Fernlund also had two RBI in the game.
 
Justin Kelly got the start for Utah and he took the loss in the game. Josh Giffins pitched 3.0 innings and Ben Kibbe finished things out for the Utes over the final 2.0 innings.
 
Kibbe didn't allow a run in his two innings.
 
Jayden Kiernan had two more hits in the game giving him hits in 20 of the 23 games this season. His average on the season is second on the team at .330.
 
Utah and Washington State have two more games this weekend with the next one being on Saturday, April 10 at 4 p.m.