SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Yet another late offensive push and stellar pitching gave BYU baseball its second win at Cal Poly 4-3 on Friday.
"All wins are good, but tonight was a great win," BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. "Mitch, Danny and Bryan came through with big at bats and three freshmen got it done on the mound – Cy gave us a solid start, Jack did a great job in his first college outing and Bryce was really good to finish up the game.
"In all we used eight freshmen during tonight's game and they all came up big. Really proud of the guys tonight."
Game Highlights
- A sac fly in the eighth by Danny Gelalich scored the game-winning run for the Cougars
- It’s the second time in as many nights and the fourth time in four wins this season that BYU has scored the deciding run in the eighth inning
- BYU held the Mustangs to three earned runs; the Cougars have not allowed more than three earned runs in any game this season
Player Highlights
- Mitch McIntyre: 1-2, 2B, 3 BB, RBI
- Andrew Pintar: 2-3, 2B, 2 R, BB
- Bryce Robison: W (1-0), 3.0 IP, H, 0 ER, BB
- Cy Nielson: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Tied 3-3 going into the eighth, BYU’s Bryan Call hit a deep double in a pinch hit at bat to start things off. Brock Watkins added a single and Zack Peterson a walk before Danny Gelalich sent his first pitch to right field to bring Call in for what would be the game winner.
On Thursday against the Mustangs, BYU (4-2) broke open a 2-2 game in the eighth with four runs; the Cougars have earned their other two wins in the eighth frame as well, scoring six after a 1-1 tie against Gonzaga and one in a 3-3 tie against Oregon State.
Freshman right hander Bryce Robison earned the first win of his career, pitching the final three innings of the contest and allowing just one hit.
The Cougars scored in the first inning for the first time this season with Andrew Pintar doubling to lead off and Hunter Swapp getting hit by a pitch. After an out, Mitch McIntyre walked and then Austin Deming hit a sac fly to center to score Pintar.
The Cougars loaded the bases in both the third and fourth innings but couldn’t bring a run across. Instead, Cal Poly (2-4) scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth on two doubles and a triple to pull ahead, 2-1.
After the Mustangs tacked on another run in the sixth, BYU fought back in the seventh. Pintar singled and Hayden Leatham walked before two wild pitches gave Pintar his second run of the game. McIntyre then took a 3-2 pitch to left center to easily bring in Leatham and tie the ballgame, 3-3, setting up the eighth inning heroics.
Freshman Cy Nielson started the game and pitched five strong innings, striking out seven with four hits and two walks. Redshirt freshman Jack Sterner also made his BYU debut with a strikeout in one inning of pitching. At the plate, Pintar had two hits and two runs while McIntyre walked three times and added an RBI.
BYU and Cal Poly will finish their series with a doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 22, starting at 1 p.m. PT.