STOCKTON, Calif. - Led by another strong outing from Justin Sterner, BYU baseball swept Pacific 5-0 on Saturday at Klein Family Field.
“I’m really proud of our guys for staying focused today,” BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. “Justin gave us another great start and our hitters did a great job against one of the better pitchers in the conference.”
Game Summary
- Justin Sterner pitched 6.1 scoreless innings, extending his streak to 14.0 innings without a run allowed
- BYU scored a run in the second and one in the sixth before tacking on three in the eighth
- The shutout is BYU's fourth of the year
Player Highlights
- Mitch McIntyre: 2-4, HR, R, RBI
- Danny Gelalich: 2-3, 2B, R
- Justin Sterner: W (8-3), 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 K
A hit off the foul pole in right field resulted in a home run for Mitch McIntyre and the Cougars' opening run of the game in the second inning. BYU (29-10, 13-5) managed another run in the sixth when Danny Gelalich hit a bunt single then advanced around the bases, finally scoring on a Tiger error.
Sterner pitched his second-straight game of scoreless baseball, going just over six innings and striking out five. His efforts come one week after he went 7.1 innings without allowing a run at Washington and improve his record to 8-3 on the year, the most wins of any pitcher in the WCC.
Freshman Reid McLaughlin entered the game for the Cougars in the bottom of the seventh with two on and one out, forcing a groundout on his second pitch that lead to a force out at second base and the third out when the runner from first was called for interference.
The Cougars extended their lead in the following inning, with Gelalich hitting a double then scoring on a Brian Hsu single. Brock Hale and Jackson Cluff each walked to load the bases and Austin Deming followed with a two-RBI single.
Blake Inouye came on in the ninth with two on and one out, getting a strikeout and groundout from Pacific to end the game.
BYU will stay in the state to play the Cal Golden Bears on Monday, April 29, at 3 p.m. PT. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network and will air on BYU Radio and ESPN 960.