SANTA CLARA, California—Nate Favero, Tanner Chauncey and Mason Marshall helped lead No. 22 BYU baseball to a series-clinching 13-7 victory over Santa Clara on Friday.
“This was a strange game, but we did what we needed to get the win,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “Mason did a great job in an extended relief appearance; he was very sharp tonight.
“Thank goodness our hitters showed up tonight because we needed every run possible. I thought Nate's (Favero) two-strike, two-out single up the middle was one of the key hits of the night for us.”
Favero led the team with a double and a pair of singles, including the one to centerfield in the sixth inning to plate Colton Shaver and Keaton Kringlen for an 11-6 lead.
Chauncey knocked a two-run homer in the first inning for the initial lead. He extended his hitting streak to eight games and has not struck out in his past 83 at bats, as he remains the nation’s toughest batter to punch out.
Chauncey also made a key defensive play in the third inning in addition to his second homer of the season. Chauncey prevented Santa Clara from taking a 4-3 lead when he alertly threw home, catching Bronco Jake Brodt in a rundown. He then backed up in the ensuing relay to tag him out going to the plate.
Freshman catcher David Clawson accounted for the game-winning RBI in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly to score Shaver. Clawson joined Chauncey with two hits and three RBI on the night.
Shaver belted his 11th home run of the season with a leadoff long ball in the eighth, his second against SCU in the series.
Marshall pitched 5.2 innings and struck out five in relief for his second win of the season.
“Whether I close or pitch in the middle of the game, I just want to win games.” Marshall said. “As long as we are winning, I’m happy. I threw fine, but the run support is what really does it. Our pitching is good and our hitting has really come along.
The game ended when Santa Clara batted out of order in the ninth.
BYU remained in first place in the West Coast Conference, improving to a 16-4 with a 28-14 overall record. Santa Clara is now 7-13 in the WCC and 11-34 overall.
The Cougars attempt to go for their fourth sweep of the season in Saturday’s game starting at 1 p.m. PDT.