Utah Valley State pitcher Kam Mickolio tossed a complete game shutout to help the Wolverines roll to an easy 8-0 victory over Sacramento State’s baseball team Friday at Hornet Field. The Hornets managed just five hits as they fell to 9-14 in the first of a four-game series. The win put the Wolverines at 5-11 on the season.

Led by designated hitter Adam Openshaw and third baseman Chris Benson, the Wolverines pounded out eight runs on seventeen hits. Openshaw went 5-for-5 while Benson went 4-for-4 and scored two runs. Shortstop Eli Slesk, Utah Valley State’s leadoff hitter, proved to be the catalyst with two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI. First baseman Dan Bulow added three hits and three RBIs.

Hornets starter Matt Campbell struggled through six innings, surrendering seven runs (four of them earned) on thirteen hits. Campbell fell to 2-4 on the season. The Hornets didn’t help his cause in the field, making two errors that led directly to three runs.

The Wolverines scored two runs in the first inning and never looked back. Slesk led off the inning with a double and later scored on a wild pitch. Bulow plated the second run with a sharp single to left.

Utah Valley State scored single runs in the second, fourth, and fifth innings to push the score to 5-0, then put the game away with two runs in the sixth, with Bulow again providing the big hit with a two out, two-run single.

Mickolio, Utah Valley State’s tall, flame-throwing right-hander, couldn’t be touched, giving up just five hits and walking one while striking out four. Mickolio retired the first nine batters in order before Sac State’s Pat Keiper led off the bottom of the fourth with a double. After the fourth inning, Mickolio was never seriously challenged, as he cruised to a shutout victory, his second of the year.

Sac State’s Keiper went 1-for-4 with a double. Sophomore David Flores also had a double. Buddy Morales, Everet Rincon and Kyle Atrat recorded the other hits for the Hornets.

Sac State will play a double header on Saturday against the Wolverines with game one starting at 11 a.m. at Hornet Field.