SALT LAKE CITY — Cooper Vest scored three runs with two hits including a home run as BYU baseball rode a four-run eighth inning to a 7-3 rivalry win over Utah at Smith’s Ballpark on Tuesday night.
Vest came home on a sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning then recorded a solo homer in the fourth before scoring his third run of the evening in the Cougars productive eighth.
BYU (14-15) put up seven runs on eight hits while allowing Utah (21-10) three runs on six.
"We played hard tonight to come away with this win," said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. "I really like how this team is playing together and getting better."
Including a 13-7 win at Utah on May 9, 2023, BYU has now beaten the Utes in back-to-back road games for the first time since 2012. Tuesday’s win also marks the Cougars’ 250th win over Utah since record keeping began in 1948.
Player Highlights
- Cooper Vest: 2-3, 3 runs, RBI
- Kuhio Aloy: 1-4, run, 2 RBI
- Crew Robinson: 1-3, run, 2 RBI
- Collin Reuter: 1-4, run, 1 RBI
BYU opened the game’s scoring in the top of the second with Vest reaching base on a single to the right center gap. He used a passed ball to move to second and moments later advanced to third on a fielder's choice. Vest then scored on a sacrifice fly from Crew Robinson for a 1-0 lead.
Utah responded to tie the game at one in the bottom of the second and threatened again in the third, but BYU got out of the inning when Collin Reuter threw out Utah’s Kai Roberts attempting to steal third. The out marked just the fourth time in 25 attempts the Pac-12 stolen base leader has been caught stealing.
Vest put the Cougars back on top 2-1 in the top of the fourth with a solo shot to right center. Jake Porter preserved BYU’s lead in the bottom of the fourth with a strikeout that stranded Utah runners at second and third.
The Cougars tacked on a third run in the top of the sixth with Reuter singling through the right side to bring Luke Anderson home from second.
Utah knotted the game 3-3 with a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the seventh before BYU ran off for four runs in a game-sealing eighth.
After BYU loaded the bases in the eighth, Utah looked to put a quick end to the Cougar threat with a home-to-first double play for the first two outs. Kuhio Aloy then broke the 3-3 tie with a two-out, two-strike single up the middle that sent Vest to second and scored Easton Jones and Keoni Painter.
The Cougars added to the 5-3 lead with a run from Vest as Robinson singled to right center. BYU’s seventh and final run came with Chipper Beck bringing in Aloy from third on an infield groundball.
Cutter Clawson commanded the mound for the Cougars in each of the final two innings as he retired the final six Ute batters and sealed the win. Boston Mabeus, who came on in relief in the seventh, earned the win and moved to 2-0 on the season.
BYU begins an eight-game homestand on Thursday at 6 p.m. MDT with the first of three matchups with Baylor at 6 p.m. Watch the Cougars take on the Bears on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ or listen to live play-by-play on BYU Radio 107.9 FM/BYU Radio App.