Momentum Shifts Halfway for Utes' 16-10 Victory

SALT LAKE CITY -- Halfway through Saturday's game momentum shifted in Utah's favor as it beat BYU, 16-10.

After being down 7-2, the Utes mounted an eight-run rally in the fifth inning off eight consecutive hits through three BYU pitchers. And that doesn't count the solo homer by Sam Swenson and the two-run blast by Jed Chrisman in the third, and the two-run dinger in the seventh by Nate Weese.

Just prior to that momentum shift, BYU losts its left fielder, Shane Belliston after he had produced three consecutive hits. Belliston's three run homer in the six-run third helped BYU to reclaim the lead at 7-2. Then in the fourth, Belliston led off with a single and dislocated his shoulder diving back to first base off an attempted pick-off.

"I think Shane's injury had an effect on his teammates," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "He was still pale when they took him to the hospital because they couldn't reset it."

However, Law did not discount the strong effort by the Utes before the 3,113 fans at Franklin Covey Field.

"I was disappointed to have a 7-2 lead and have us blow it. I don't fault our effort, but we ought to have been able to shut things down. Utah is swinging the bats well and they are an under-rated offensive team."

Aside from Belliston, most of BYU's offense was generated by fellow outfielder Nick Day. Day knocked in BYU's first run with a sac-fly and had doubles in the third and sixth to account for three RBI as well.

Utah's Chrisman, a junior who was coached at Provo High School by Law, had a banner day with a double, homer, double, single in that order for four RBI in five at bats.

BYU, now 25-23 overall and 13-11 in the Mountain West Conference, readies to host San Diego State this Thursday. Utah, now 21-16 and 11 13, next plays at league-leading New Mexico.

Utah 16, BYU 10
BYU   106   001   002--10 16 2
Utah   023   081   20X--16 18 3
Opdahl, Ray (5), Noorda (5), Rex (5), Crump (8) and Davies.  Page, Wylie (3), Ebright (4), Lindsey (6), Ballard (8) and Hawes.  WP-Ebright, 2-6.  LP-Ray, 3-3.
2B-BYU, Peterson, Day 2, Davies; Utah, Chrisman 2, Dannier, Hawes, Stuart.  3B-Utah, Castleton.  HR-BYU, Belliston; Utah, Swenson, Weese, Chrisman.
A-3,113