BAKERSFIELD, California (March 4, 2017)—A couple rallies could not overcome spotting CSU Bakersfield an early 7-0 lead as BYU baseball lost 7-5 on Saturday afternoon.
BYU dropped to a 4-6 record as it lost the rubber match to the Roadrunners who improved to 8-3. CSUB took a 2-0 lead after scoring in the first and second innings before plating five runs in the third frame.
“We let the game get away from us in the third inning by Kendall's (Motes) inability to command the zone. Our relievers who came in just couldn't stop the bleeding,” said BYU coach Mike Littlewood.
“Offensively we hit the ball hard time after time but it was either right at them, or they made diving plays. They (CSUB) are a team made up of juniors and seniors who play with a lot of confidence. Today they made all the plays, so I guess we tip our hats.”
Cougar Brock Hale kept his hitting streak alive at 11 games when he led off the second inning with a single.
Nate Favero, who went 3-for-3 in a substitute role, scored BYU’s first run of the afternoon with a one-out single in the sixth inning and eventually scored on a Bronson Larsen sac-fly.
BYU shortstop Daniel Schneemann led off with a triple in the eighth, then scored off Favero’s double for the only Cougar extra base hits in the game. Favero scored BYU’s third run of the game when Keaton Kringlen singled for his third time in the contest.
The two-run ninth inning had the potential for BYU to take the lead when Hale flew out on the warning track with two aboard to end the game. Kyle Dean opened that inning with a single and scored two outs later after Brennon Anderson, Schneemann and Favero hit three consecutive singles.
The Cougars next play against UC Santa Barbara as they open the home season Thursday at 5 p.m., to start a four-game series.