Box Score

The DBU Patriot Baseball Team dropped the opener of a weekend series, Friday, a 10-5 decision to Utah Valley University at Horner Ballpark. The series continues, Saturday at 2 p.m., with the finale scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
The Wolverines jumped on top in the top of the first, scoring a single run on a pair of doubles, first by leadoff man Jordy Hart, with the RBI two-bagger coming from Sean Moysh. Zach Slesk pushed across a pair of runs in the second on a two-run single, with Colby Croft doing the same in the third, running the early UVU lead to 5-0.
 
The Patriots (15-6) came roaring back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs to climb within one at 5-4. David Martinelli started the scoring, drilling a double to left-center to score Mike Wesolowski and Austin Listi. Later in the inning, with Martinelli on third and Nash Knight on second following a walk and stolen base, KJ Alexander reached on an error by first baseman Riley White, scoring both runners.
 
Extending their lead by a run, UVU scored a single tally in the sixth, with Slesk scoring on a Greyson Bogden sacrifice fly. The visiting club pushed two more across in the seventh, doubling their lead at 8-4.
 
Martinelli did his part to keep the Patriots in contention, drilling a solo home run in eighth, his second of the season, to cut the deficit to three at 8-5. The Wolverines put things away in the ninth, however, scoring a pair of runs and shutting the door in the bottom half, completing the 10-5 win.
 
Paul Voelker started for DBU, dropping to 3-2 after 5 1/3 innings. The junior allowed six runs on 10 hits, striking out four and walking two. Sean Stutzman was a bright spot for the Patriots out of the bullpen, throwing two perfect innings, registering a pair of strikeouts.
 
"They had a good approach," said DBU Head Coach Dan Heefner. "They got a lot of guys on early. A big problem was when we had them down two strikes, we couldn't put them away."
 
Drew Turbin joined Martinelli in earning multi-hit performances. Turbin went 2-for-5 with a pair of singles, with Martinelli tallying three RBI and scoring twice. Wesolowski and Justin Wall each earned a single for the last of the Patriots' six hits.
 
"There is some doubt going on with our hitters," added the DBU skipper, "you can see that in their swings. They're all capable, they will be fine, it is just a matter of time in figuring it out."
 
For Utah Valley (6-15), Andrew Freter earns the win after hurling 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, two of them earned, on five hits. Kyle Valgardson and Chad Michaud combined to complete the final 2 2/3, allowing one run on the Martinelli home run.