Eight Homers Lift Utah Over New Mexico State, 21-9

Sunday, February 5

Las Cruces, N.M.

1:00 PM

University of Utah

1-2

New Mexico State

2-1

Utah

New Mexico State

Eight Homers Lift Utah Over New Mexico State, 21-9

2/5/2006 12:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 5, 2006

Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The University of Utah baseball team saw its offense get on track in a big way Sunday afternoon at Presley Askew Field. The Utes hit eight home runs and picked up their first victory of the season, 21-9, over New Mexico State.

Utah fell behind 4-0 after three innings, when New Mexico State got to Utah starter Jason Price for a single run in the first and three in the third. But on a tough day for pitchers, Price kept his team in it long enough for the Utes' offense to explode in the top of the fourth.

Utah broke out for nine runs in the top of the fourth. Center fielder John Welsh led off the inning with a home run to right field. Designated hitter Breeze Stringham then doubled in front of right fielder Joe Mozeleski's two-run homer to right. Catcher Adam Frank followed Mozeleski's bomb with a solo shot to center field, tying the contest at 4-4 and knocking New Mexico starter Frankie Duran out of the game.

Utah took the lead, 5-4, when shortstop Ryan Khoury scored on an RBI single from third baseman Erich Kemp. One batter later, with the bases loaded Stringham ripped a grand slam to right field. Stringham's first career home run put the Utes on top 9-4.

Utah in creased its advantage to 10-4 in the fifth, when Kemp's RBI single pushed Khoury across.

Utah's offense erupted again in the sixth, hanging seven runs on the board. The Utes got a walk and back-to-back hit batsmen to load the bases. Khoury then ripped a grand slam to center field, giving Utah a 10-run lead, 14-4. First baseman Jay Brossman and Kemp later singled in front of Welsh's second home run of the game and his third of the season. Welsh's bomb to center field put the Utes on top, 17-4.

The Aggies scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to make it 17-6. Utah erased any hopes of a New Mexico State comeback in the eighth. Stringham hammered a three-run homer to left field, scoring Kemp and Welsh in front of him. The next batter, Frank, ripped a solo shot to make it 21-8. The Aggies tacked on a meaningless single run in the bottom of the eighth to account for the final score.

"We hit the ball hard today," Utah head coach Bill Kinneberg said. "With eight home runs, I guess we got the offense on track a bit. Breeze Stringham and John Welsh came through big for us today. It was nice to break the ice and know that we can get a win."

Stringham led the Utah offense, going 4-for-5 with four runs and seven RBIs. Khoury was 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Welsh was 3-for-6 with four runs scored and four driven in. Kemp was 3-for-6 with three runs scored and two RBIs.

Price tossed the first four innings for Utah, allowing four runs on four hits. Freshman Greg Krause took over in the fifth and tossed three innings, allowing three earned runs. Krause (1-0) picked up the win. Senior Shad McCord allowed one run over the final two innings to close out the victory for the Utes.

"I was really proud of Krause and Price,"Kinneberg said. "They did a great job in tough circumstances, with the wind blowing out. It was a tough pitching day."

Utah will be back in action again next weekend at Texas-San Antonio. The Utes and Roadrunners begin a three-game series Friday.

-UU-