Husky Bats Unable To Warm Up In Brisk Utah Air As Team Falls 3-1

The Huskies hit the diamond under overcast weather in Salt Lake City today for the rubber match of their three-game series with Utah.

1st Inning
A slow top of the first would offer a hint of what to expect from Utah pitching as the Huskies went down in order. Case Matter got the start on the mound for the Huskies and looked good at first dealing a ground out to shortstop and a strikeout. Two singles and a stolen base followed however. Next came a grounder past a diving Michael Snyder and Cam Clayton into left field that ultimately put Utah on the board with 2 runs.

2nd Inning
Coby Morales lead off the second with a single to center field. AJ Guerrero reached on a fielding error at second to put the Huskies in great shape. Michael Snyder struck out next however, and a grounder to 2B by Michael Brown set up a double play putting an end to the Husky threat. In the bottom half, Matter delivered two quick ground outs before giving up a full count walk. He dialed it in on the next batter though with 3 straight swinging strikes.

4th Inning
Following two quick outs, Morales came to the plate again and sent a single into left field for his second hit of the day. Up next, Guerrero drew a full count walk and for the second time in the game, the two provided a legitimate concern for the Utes. A grounder to shortstop by Michael Snyder however, ended the top of the inning. Lefty Adam Bloebaum took over for Matter to start the bottom half of the inning and immediately delivered a four-pitch strikeout. The next batter tripled to right field however, and would soon score on a sacrifice fly to center field. A final strikeout would end the inning, but not before the Utes had added to their lead making it a 3-0 ballgame.

5th Inning
Mike Brown provided a much needed spark in the fifth leading off with a double to left center.  Cam Clayton grounded out to shortstop next, but was able to move Brown 90 feet away from home.  Cole Miller came through next grounding out to third, but scoring Brown in the process. to put the Huskies on the board 3-1.  In the bottom half, the Huskies were quickly in trouble with a walk and a single to right putting two on.  Bloebaum was able to deliver a ground ball to the shortstop however, setting up a 6-4-3 double play.  A runner advancing to third kept things interesting, but a final ground out to Dalton Chandler who had replaced Cole Miller at second base to start the inning, quickly put an end to things.

7th Inning
With one out, Michael Snyder launched one to the wall in left center spelling the end of the road for Utah's starter. Their reliever was able to deliver a ground out and a fly out however, to keep it a 3-1 ballgame. 

8th Inning
Dalton Chandler led off the eighth with a walk. A single by McKay Barney through the right side put runners on the corner creating a little momentum for the Huskies. Johnny Tincher went down swinging however, and Will Simpson grounded into a 6-4-3 double play ending the Huskies final real threat of the day.

Starter Case Matter took the loss (0-2) finishing with 3 hits over 3 innings, giving up 2 earned runs with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Josh Emanuels was impressive in relief with 3 strikeouts over two innings of work with no runs, hits, or walks.