The University of Utah baseball team kept its hopes for a WAC Tournament berth alive with a doubleheader sweep of Air Force, 9-8 and 10-5, on Friday at Derks Field.
The Falcons jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first game, but the Utes scored six in the bottom of the seventh - and last - inning to force extra innings.After Air Force scored a run in the top of the ninth, pinch-hitter Matt Mosiello slammed a solo homer over the left-field fence to keep Utah alive. Air Force scored again in the top of the 10th, but Utah centerfielder Victor McCraney slugged a two-run triple in the bottom of the inning to win it. Dan Hansgen got the win for Utah.
In the second game, Air Force again jumped out to an early lead, 5-1. But an eight-run third inning put the Utes ahead for good. Shortstop Robert Castellano collected four RBIs, while Derek Ogle got the win in relief by pitching four innings of shutout ball.
The Utes are 10-25 overall, 4-6 in the WAC. Air Force is 21-13, 3-9. The teams meet in another doubleheader today at Derks Field, starting at 1 p.m.