FRESNO, Calif. –
Jake Long sparked the Utah baseball team with a two-run homer in the first inning and the Utes never looked back, claiming an 8-3 win at Fresno State on Friday night inside Bob Bennett Stadium.
The result gives Utah a season-opening win to kick off a four-game series with the Bulldogs.
Making his Utah debut, center fielder
Jet Gilliam hit out of the leadoff spot and went 2-for-4 with an RBI single plus a walk, scoring once.
Cameron Gurney tripled and contributed an RBI double as the Utes combined for nine hits and nine more walks.
Right-handed pitcher
Colter McAnelly earned the opening night start and threw five innings with just one unearned run allowed. He struck out three Bulldogs against four hits and a walk. From there,
Ryan Kittredge and
Cameron Nielson each tossed two innings out of the bullpen.
Long, the two-hole hitter, wasted no time in breaking the ice. Gilliam worked a walk to lead off the game, then Long clubbed the first pitch for a moon shot that sailed over the right field bullpen and into the early night skies.
Utah added a three-spot in the third inning, helped in part by two Fresno State errors. The inning began with back-to-back miscues, setting the stage for freshman and Utah native
Cal Miller to double down the right field line for both his first collegiate hit and RBI. Later on, fellow newcomer
Bradley Navarro knocked home
Daniel Arambula with a single and Gilliam was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded as the Utes swelled the advantage to 5-1.
The clubs traded runs as the game turned toward the home stretch. In the sixth, Arambula broke away from a pickoff throw behind him at first base and ultimately stole second. The throw to second got away, however, allowing Gurney to trot home from third base on the play.
Then in the top of the seventh,
Luke Jacobs came in as a pinch runner for Navarro after a walk. Jacobs was called out at the plate on a would-be wild pitch, but after a lengthy video review the call was overturned and Jacobs was called safe for Utah's seventh run of the ballgame.
Nielson was unfazed by a one-out single in the eighth and had a runner in scoring position with one out in the ninth, but answered with a strikeout looking and a fly ball to lock up the victory for the Utes.
Next Up
Utah will return to Bob Bennett Stadium on Saturday for another meeting with Fresno State. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT.
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