FRESNO, Calif. — BYU baseball split a doubleheader with Fresno State on Saturday, dropping game one 13-4 before winning the nightcap 7-1 at Bob Bennett Stadium in Fresno. With the doubleheader split, BYU is now 1-2 on the year, while Fresno State is 2-1.
Game Two Summary
BYU starting pitcher Garrison Sumner threw a six-inning gem in game two of the double header, surrendering just one run for his first win as a Cougar. The junior SLCC transfer from Eagle Mountain, Utah, faced 23 Bulldogs giving up just two hits while striking out three.
“I was just trying to be as efficient as possible,” said Sumner. “I tried to challenge the hitters and pound the strike zone. This was an important game for our team and I’m glad I was able to do my part to help us win.”
Fresno State scored first, picking up one run in the bottom of the first on a walk and a double for a 1-0 lead. BYU responded with two runs in the second inning to go ahead 2-1. Ryder Robinson started the Cougar scoring with a single to drive in Bryker Hurdsman, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the second inning. Cooper Vest then drove in Ryker Schow, who had walked, for a 2-1 advantage.
The Cougars tacked on two more runs in the third for a 4-1 lead on a two-out single to center field by Luke Anderson that scored Easton Bryant and Parker Goff, who had singled and walked early in the inning. BYU scored again in the sixth on a Bryant RBI that scored Robinson, who singled to lead off the inning. The Cougars tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth for a 7-1 win. Hurdsman walked and scored on a Goff double, then later scored on a Tate Gambill bunt.
Sumner and righty reliever Hayden Coon combined to hold the Bulldogs scoreless over the final eight innings, surrendering just three combined hits, while facing 33 batters. Coon went three scoreless innings for his first save of the year.
“I can’t say enough about what Garrison and Hayden did tonight on the mound in game two,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “They got ahead of hitters all night and attacked the strike zone. We held Fresno State to just one run early and gave our hitters a chance to get going. I’m real proud of the way they pitched.”
Game Two Highlights
- Ryder Robinson: 2-4, RBI, Run
- Luke Anderson: 2-5, 2 RBI
- Garrison Sumner: 6 IP, 2 Hits, 3K
- Hayden Coon: 3 IP, 1 Hit, Save
Game One Summary
Fresno took an early lead in game one, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning on four singles, two walks and two hit batters. BYU picked up a run in the fourth inning on a solo home run to right field by Vest to cut the lead to 6-1, but the Bulldogs responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to push the lead to 8-1.
The Cougars got another run in the fifth on an Anderson double to right center that scored Hurdsman who had doubled early in the inning. Fresno State responded with two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to increase its lead to 12-2.
BYU scored two runs in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Anderson that scored Bryant who had doubled to lead off the inning and picked up another run on a single by Robinson that scored Hurdsman. The Bulldogs got a run back in the bottom half of the seventh for a final score of 13-4.
Game One Highlights
- Luke Anderson: 2-5, 2 RBI, 2B
- Easton Bryant: 2-4, 2 2B
- Cooper Vest: 1-4, HR, RBI
BYU and Fresno State will play the final game of the four-game series on Monday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. PT at Bob Bennett Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on BYU Radio with veteran play-by-play announcer Dave McCann on the call and available for live stream on the Mountain West Network.