LAWRENCE, Kansas (March 4, 2016)—Brennon Anderson’s two-run double in the fifth inning on Friday boosted BYU baseball past Kansas for an eventual 8-2 win.
BYU improves to a school-record start of 9-1 while Kansas falls to 3-6.
Starting pitcher Maverik Buffo struck out five in just over five innings to earn his second win of the season. Buffo left the game in a sixth-inning jam when Jordan Wood, the second of two relievers, entered with the bases loaded and a 4-2 lead.
“It was a gutsy performance by Mav (Maverik Buffo) today,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said of the junior righthander that threw 107 pitches. “He didn't have his best stuff but battled his tail off for five innings. Jordan (Wood) was sharp out of the pen and gave us three plus strong innings to finish out the game.”
Wood struck out Joven Afenir, one of KU’s leading batters, then raced over to cover first base for the inning-ending out.
The Cougar offense overtook a 1-0 deficit in the third from back-to-back doubles by senior Eric Urry and freshman Noah Hill which put BYU up 2-1. The Jayhawks tied the score in the bottom of that frame.
Urry saved two runs in the fourth frame when he leaned out to his right in left field and dove for the inning-ending catch (video credit KU Athletics).
In the fifth inning the “Brennon” show started airing for BYU. Brennon Lund and Hayden Nielsen singled consecutively with one out. Then Lund scored the go-ahead run when Anderson stroked a double
The “Brennon” snow continued in the seventh when Lund scored from second again on Anderson’s no-out double to the left field wall for a 5-2 lead. Lund was 2-for-3 for the day, while Anderson was 2-for-4 with three RBI.
“Our everyday starters were solid today, but I was really proud of Noah Hill and Brock Hale who got the start and were productive against the left handed pitching,” said Littlewood. “We need to come out Saturday and finish the series the right way and avoid being satisfied with two wins.”
Game time has been moved up from noon to 10:30 on Saturday morning for the final game with Kansas due to Jayhawk basketball. The BYU-KU baseball game on Saturday can be viewed live on ESPN3 or followed through links on www.byucougars.com.