MESA, Ariz.—Utah Valley defeated CSU Bakersfield 6-4 in the first game of the Western Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament Wednesday night at Hohokam Stadium.

The Roadrunners, the tournament's sixth seed, scored the opening run of the game without the benefit of a hit. Beddes walked Dustin Frailey to begin the game. Frailey stole second and moved to third on a Mahlik Jones ground out to second. Frailey came around to score on a David Metzgar ground out.  

The Wolverines, the tournament's third seed, took the lead in the bottom of the first. Trevor Howell reached on a leadoff infield single. Zac Wills singled to right. The ball was bobbled by CSUB rightfielder Chance Gusbeth, allowing Howell to get to third. Greyson Bogden nearly fouled out to third, but Jones slipped, allowing the ball to fall cleanly to the ground. Roadrunner starter Max Carter worked the count to 0-2 when Bogden singled to right to plate Howell. Craig Brinkerhoff flew out to right as Wills tagged on the play, advancing to third. Carter got out of the inning when he induced a 463 double play out of Mark Krueger.

The Wolverines took the lead in the second. Spencer Gothberg and Stone Ramsey began the inning with back-to-back singles. Junior Felix's passed ball allowed both baserunners to move up 90 feet. Justin Erlandson grounded out to Carter before Jordan Schlehuber ripped a shot to right center to score both Gothberg and Ramsey. Carter got the next two outs to keep the game 3-1.

With two outs in the top of the third, Frailey again walked and stole second. Jones' grounder to short was thrown high by Bogden. Frailey rounded third and tried to score, but Gothberg, the Utah Valley first baseman, threw home where Willis, the catcher tagged Frailey out.

Bogden walked to open the UVU third. Brinkerhoff tripled in Bogden for the fourth Wolverines' run. Brinkerhoff scored on a Carter wild pitch to create a 5-1 score.  Beddes walked Metzgar to get the CSUB fourth underway. Gusbeth singled to right center for the first Roadrunner hit. Ryan Grotjohn grounded into a 6-4-3 double play as Metzgar moved to third. Drew Seelman's strikeout proved to be final out.

Beddes settled in, retiring nine in a row before issuing his fourth walk to Grotjohn with one out in the seventh. Beddes recorded the next two outs to keep CSUB at bay. With one out in the eighth, 'Runner pitch-hitter Jake Ortega recorded the second CSUB hit with an infield single to shortstop. Frailey walked for the third time as Jones came to the plate. Despite another Bogden high throw, Jones grounded out to short, but both baserunners moved up a base. Metzgar singled to right center to drive in two runs. Metzgar's hit chased Beddes in favor of Jake Mayer. On Mayer's first pitch, Gusbeth grounded into a fielder's choice to third to quiet the CSUB threat.

Brinkerhoff led off the UVU eighth with his 11th home run of the year (the second most in the WAC).  Grotjohn was hit by a Mayer pitch to begin the CSUB ninth. Pinch-hitter Christian Deaton battled back from being down 0-2 in the count to work out a walk. UVU went to their closer, Kyle Valgardson, to face Nick Vehlewald. Valgardson got Vehlewald to pop out to short. Valgardson fell behind 3-0 in the count to Cody White. White appeared to have fouled out to Willis, but Wills dropped the ball to give White new life. The CSUB first baseman couldn't take advantage as White struck out. With the count 3-2, Ortega singled up the middle to drive in Grotjohn for what proved to be the final CSUB run. Valgardson struck out Frailey looking for his eighth save of the season.

Beddes allowed three CSUB hits. He struck out five and walked five. Carter reset his career high by earning the eight-inning complete game. Carter retired 12-of-13 UVU batters at one point. He also reset his career high for strikeouts with six while walking only two.

CSUB (18-36) will play the fifth seed, Northern Colorado (16-34) at 11 a.m. in an elimination game Thursday morning. The Bears squandered a 6-0 lead against the fourth seed, Sacramento State, and lost 8-7 in Wednesday's opening game.  Utah Valley (34-21) will play No. 2 NM State at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

~www.GoRunners.com~