Pitching Keys 3-2 Series-Opening Win vs. Stanford
SALT LAKE CITY – Starting pitcher Merit Jones worked into the eighth inning for his longest outing as a Ute, as the Utah Baseball team grabbed the series opener with a 3-2 win over Stanford on Thursday night at Smith's Ballpark. The result gives Utah (17-7, 6-4 Pac-12) its sixth victory in the last seven games and also snaps a seven-game slide against Stanford that dated back to the 2021 season. The Utah Baseball team won the series opener against Stanford 3-2, marking their sixth victory in the last seven games and breaking a seven-game losing streak against Stanford. Starting pitcher Merit Jones, who worked into the eighth inning for his longest outing as a Ute, performed well and struck out six Cardinal in his seven-plus innings of two-run ball on four hits. Southpaw Micah Ashman took over the game's save, securing his league-leading seventh save of the season and 16th as a Utah player. The game was delayed due to inclement weather and wrapped up in two hours and 27 minutes. The next game will be a Friday FryDay matchup with fans claiming a voucher for a free order of French fries at the concession stand. Single-game tickets are now on sale for the entirety of Utah's 2024 home schedule.
प्रकाशित : 4 सप्ताह पहले द्वारा में
SALT LAKE CITY – Starting pitcher Merit Jones worked into the eighth inning for his longest outing as a Ute, as the Utah Baseball team grabbed the series opener with a 3-2 win over Stanford on Thursday night at Smith's Ballpark.
The result gives Utah (17-7, 6-4 Pac-12) its sixth victory in the last seven games and also snaps a seven-game slide against Stanford that dated back to the 2021 season.
Jones (2-1) threw 76 pitches, had just one walk and struck out six Cardinal in his seven-plus innings of two-run ball on four hits. Randon Hostert came on from the bullpen and recorded two outs in the top of the eighth, before passing the baton to southpaw Micah Ashman for the balance of the contest.
Ashman, who entered a 3-2 game with runners at the corners, induced a grounder back to the mound to get out of the eighth, then retired Stanford 1-2-3 in the ninth—all on fly balls tracked down by center fielder Kai Roberts. It secured Ashman's league-leading seventh save of the season and was his 16th as a Ute—one away from tying Tyler Wagner for the program record.
The Utah pitching staff combined for just two walks and allowed Stanford to reach the leadoff batter twice, in only the sixth and eighth innings.
Core Jackson collected a pair of hits with an RBI single, while TJ Clarkson sparked a two-run sixth with an RBI triple that broke a 1-1 tie. Later in the sixth, Clarkson scored the game-deciding run on a Kaden Carpenter groundout.
Making his seventh start of the season, Jones began the night working around a one-out single to put together a scoreless first frame. He retired the Cardinal in order in the second, including his first strikeout of the night.
Stanford put together a two-out rally to score the game's first run in the third inning. It came on a first-pitch double off the bat of Malcolm Moore, followed up with a Temo Becerra base hit to get the visitors on the board.
Looking to equalize, Utah had three hits in the home half of the third and Bruer Webster got as far as third base. Jackson also stole second to give Utah a pair in scoring position, but a groundout would end the inning.
In the fifth, the Utes came even. Hunter Antillon hit a one-out single and took third on an error in the Stanford outfield. Two batters later, Jackson came up with a two-out base hit to tie the score, 1-1.
Continuing his dominance into the sixth inning, Jones allowed a leadoff walk but quickly got out of the inning on a bunt foul with two strikes followed up with a 4-6-3 double play.
The Utes threatened early in the bottom half of the sixth as Drake Digiorno led the inning off with a hit-by-pitch and scored after Clarkson tallied his second triple of the season, giving the Utes a 2-1 lead. Clarkson scrambled home with an RBI groundout from Carpenter, pushing the lead to 3-1.
Hostert came on in the eighth after a leadoff, pinch-hit single for the Cardinal. The Cardinal would later plate a run with an RBI groundout to cut the Utah lead in half. After a two-out walk, Ashman entered and slammed the door with a grounder back to the mound, ending the inning.
After Utah went down in order in its half of the eighth, Ashman needed just six pitches in the final inning to wrap up the save.
The start of the game was delayed about 30 minutes due to inclement weather with first pitch coming just after 7:30 p.m. But once the ballgame got underway it moved right along and was wrapped up in two hours, 27 minutes.
Next Up
The Utes will take on Stanford on Friday with first pitch coming at 2 p.m. MT. It'll be a Friday Fry-Day matchup as the first 50 fans to arrive can claim a voucher for a free order of French fries at the concession stand. The game will be available to watch on the Utah Live Stream feed.
Buy Your Tickets! | Click Here
Single-game tickets are now on sale for the entirety of Utah's 2024 home schedule at Smith's Ballpark. Season tickets are still available for purchase, but season ticket hats have sold out.
Fans can contact the Utah Athletics Ticket Office via phone with questions at (801) 581-8849.
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विषय: Academia