Photo credit: Jay Hinton
AUSTIN, Texas — BYU baseball’s comeback bid fell short in a 4-3 loss to Texas at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Friday night.
Despite trailing 3-1 after three innings, the Cougars (12-15, 5-9) climbed back into the game with scores from Easton Jones and Kuhio Aloy in the fourth and sixth, respectively. Texas (19-12, 7-4) notched an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth and BYU came up empty from the plate in the final three innings as the Longhorns escaped with the win to even the weekend series at one apiece.
“We needed a few more hits tonight and didn’t get them but I’m proud of our guys for fighting and competing,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “We’re ready to come back and win the series tomorrow.”
Bryce Robison (2-3) took the loss for BYU with seven hits and four runs allowed along with four strikeouts in four innings pitched. Candon Dahle, Mason Olson, Jake Porter and Stone Cushing came out of the Cougar bullpen and combined to allow only one run down the stretch.
Player Highlights
- Easton Jones: 1-4, run, RBI, HR
- Cooper Vest: 1-4, run, RBI, HR
- Keoni Painter: 1-2, RBI, 2B
Two-out scoring proved costly for the Cougars on Friday with the Longhorns registering three of their four runs with two away.
Texas opened the game’s scoring with a homer to left center in the bottom of the first. BYU squared the game 1-1 in the top of the third with a solo bomb from Cooper Vest. Texas tacked on two more runs to take a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third with an RBI single to center followed by an RBI single to shortstop, both again coming with two outs.
Easton Jones sparked the Cougar comeback effort with a solo homer to left in the top of the fourth. The Longhorns then regained a two-run advantage in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly.
Two of BYU’s three doubles on the night came on consecutive at bats in the top of the sixth and brought the Cougars within one at 4-3. With one and the bases empty, Aloy doubled to left center then scored moments later when Keoni Painter doubled down the right field line for an RBI.
Both offenses stalled over the final three innings with Texas holding off the Cougars late for the 4-3 victory.
BYU and Texas tangle in the series’ rubber match on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CDT. Watch game three on the Longhorn Network or listen to live play-by-play on the BYU Radio App.