MALIBU, Calif. — BYU scored four runs on eight hits for a 4-2 victory over Pepperdine on Thursday to take game one of a three-game series at Eddy D. Field Stadium.
“It was a great way to start the series,” said interim head coach Trent Pratt. “Jack gave us a solid start and Cy and Nate were just dominant on the mound. I thought we backed them up with solid defensive play and timely hitting. It was a solid team win”
The Cougars scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning off a single through the right side by Cole Gambill that scored Brock Watkins. The BYU shortstop singled to open the inning, advanced to third on a Ryan Sepede single and scored on the hit by Gambill.
After two scoreless innings, BYU picked up another run in the top of the fourth for a 2-0 lead. With one out and bases loaded, Josh Cowden delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to score Sepede with the Cougars’ second run of the game.
Pepperdine (20-20, 8-11) tied the game with two runs in the fifth inning on three singles, a double and a passed ball.
BYU (25-18, 9-10) answered with two runs of its own in the top of the sixth to retake the lead 4-2. Back-to-back singles by Austin Deming and Jacob Rogers put Cougar runners on the corners with one out. A single down the right-field line by Cowden scored Deming and advanced Rogers to third. Collin Reuter then scored Rogers with a sacrifice fly to center for what would be the final score.
Left-handed pitcher Cy Nielson (3-0) got the win, while righty Nate Dahle (2) picked up the save for BYU. The two combined to shutout the Waves over the last four innings not allowing a runner to reach base, while striking out eight.
Notables
• Austin Deming: 2-4, Run
• Brock Watkins: 2-4, Run
• Josh Cowden 1-2, 2 RBI
• Cy Nielson 2.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 5 K
• Nate Dahle 2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 5 K
BYU and Pepperdine will play game two of the three-game WCC series on Friday, May 6, at 3 p.m. PDT at Eddy D. Field Stadium in Malibu. The game will be broadcast live on the WCC Network as well as the BYU Radio Network—107.9 FM, BYU Radio App, BYU Cougars App and BYUCougars.com.