PROVO, Utah — Despite seven RBI from first baseman Cooper Vest, BYU baseball fell to Baylor in an 18-17 shootout on Saturday afternoon at Miller Park.
The Cougars were down 18-5 before surging back late in the game, combining for 12 runs straight in the final four innings. In a wild game, the two teams combined for 35 runs and 39 hits. Nine Cougars recorded hits, including home runs from third baseman Easton Jones and pinch hitter Parker Goff.
Vest's seven RBI were good for a single-game career-high while true freshmen Ryker Schow and Crew McChesney each recorded the first two-hit games of their respective careers.
Player Highlights
- Cooper Vest: 3-4, 7 RBI, 2 triples
- Easton Jones: 2-5, 2 RBI, 1 HR
- Parker Goff: 2-3, 2 RBI, 1 HR
- Kuhio Aloy: 2-4, 4 RBI, Double
- Crew McChesney: 2-3, 1 RBI, Triple
The Bears continued their series trend of striking first, going up 3-0 early in the first inning. Baylor continued with a stand-up double and a home run at the top of the second, bringing the score to 6-0 for Baylor through two.
After two scoreless BYU innings, Vest recorded the Cougars' first hit, a triple to left-center off the wall, clearing the bases and putting the Cougars back in it at 6-3. Kuhio Aloy was next up and secured a standup double to bat in Vest, bringing the score to 6-4 to end the third inning.
Four Baylor doubles and three singles in the fourth inning allowed nine more Bear runs, bringing the score to 15-4. A two-run home run in the fifth for Baylor brought the score to 17-4.
After a scoreless fourth inning for the Cougars, Easton Jones hit a center-field home run to start the fifth, bringing the score to 17-5. Despite loading the bases, the Cougars were unable to capitalize.
Baylor grabbed one run in the sixth on a run-down, making the score 18-5 heading into the Cougar’s batting order. After walking Anderson and singles from Schow and Goff, Vest hit to center field to grab two runs for the Cougars. A hit from Aloy brought two Cougars home, followed by McChesney bringing in Aloy. Watkins grounded out to bring McChesney home, finishing the sixth inning with six Cougar runs and an 18-11 ballgame.
After a Schow single and Goff walk, Vest grabbed his second triple of the game and his season, bringing both runners in. Vest got in on the scoring action himself on a flyout, bringing the score to 18-14 to close out the seventh inning.
At the bottom of the eighth, Anderson shot a double into right field, and a Jones single ran him in. A home run from Goff brought Jones in, bringing the game within one run heading into the final inning. The late-game fight didn’t prove to be enough as neither team scored in the 9th, ending at 18-17 for Baylor.
The Cougars will be back in action on Monday against Utah Tech at 6 pm MDT at Miller Park. Watch BYU face the Trailblazers on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ or listen live on BYU Radio 107.9/BYU Radip app.