MESA, Ariz.-- Utah Valley (28-28) used a four-run first inning to power past Bakersfield (26-32) 5-2 in the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament final Friday night at Cubs Park.        

The Wolverines, which entered the game 14-2 in post-season tournaments since moving to Division I, had five of the first six batters of the game reach base in the first run rally. Utah Valley would add a run in the fifth to finish off their scoring.

The Roadrunners loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth. Max Carter (Fr., Bakersfield, Calf., Stockdale HS) recorded a sacrifice fly to score Mylz Jones (So., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) but that would be the only run for CSUB as Garrett Pierce (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Centennial HS) would ground into a double play back to Utah Valley pitcher Andrew Freter to end the inning.

Jones led off the eighth with a single. He moved to third on a UVU error when Chance Gusbeth's (So., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS) grounder to third was misplayed by Beau Kallas. Carter singled to left to plate Jones. Pierce popped out center before Ross Hough (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Central Arizona College) grounded out to conclude the frame.

With one out in the ninth, Oscar Sanay (Sr., Chula Vista, Calif., Bonita Vista HS) and David Metzgar (Fr., Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS) recorded back-to-back singles off to chase Freter in favor of the Wolverines' closer Chad Michaud. The first batter Michaud faced was Jones who grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

The Roadrunners left 10 on the bases as CSUB outhit UVU 13-10. Wolverine lead-off hitter Kade Andrus was 3-for-4 with a run scored.  Craig Brinkerhoff drove in three of the UVU runs. Sanay recorded his second consecutive 3-for-5 performance.  Jones, Gusbeth, each posted two hits for the 'Runners.

The Bakersfield loss sends the Roadrunners to the 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon game against Sacramento State. The Hornets defeated New Mexico State 9-5 on Friday to stay alive. The winner of that game advances to the championship game against Utah Valley Saturday night at 7 p.m.

~www.GoRunners.com~