FRESNO, Calif. — BYU baseball picked up a split in its four-game series with Fresno State with a 6-4 come-from-behind win on Monday evening at Bob Bennett Stadium in Fresno.
With the victory, the Cougars improve to 2-2 on the year as they now travel south to take on UCLA in a Tuesday game scheduled for 5 p.m. PT at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles.
“We did a good job of being patient at the plate tonight,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “Our pitchers threw strikes and pounded the strike zone. It gave the offense a chance to get going and comeback late. It’s always fun to come from behind and win.”
BYU Highlights
• Luke Anderson: 1-4, 2RBI, HR
• Parker Goff: 1-4, 2RBI, Run
• Crew McChesney: 1-4, 2RBI, 2B
• Bryker Hurdsman: 2-4, Run
Game Summary
Fresno struck first in the bottom of the first inning with one run on two walks and a throwing error for a 1-0 advantage. After two scoreless innings, BYU took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth on a two-run home run to left field by Luke Anderson with Easton Jones on board.
The Bulldogs answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth on three hits and a walk to tie the game at 2-2. After a scoreless fifth inning, FSU designated hitter Griffen Sotomayor homered to left center to lead off the bottom of the sixth for a 3-2 advantage. Fresno State scratched out another run in the seventh on a single, a walk and an error to increase its lead to 4-2.
With two outs and bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, Cougar catcher Parker Goff singled to left to score Cooper Vest and Bryker Hurdsman to even the score at 4-4. BYU leadoff hitter Crew McChesney then doubled down the left field line to bring home pinch runner Tu'alau Wolfgramm and Goff for a 6-4 lead.
“I was just trying to find a pitch I could drive and get the next guy to the plate,” said Goff of his game tying base hit. “It was a lot of fun to come from behind as a team and win tonight.”
Cougar relievers Nolan Ficklin and Stone Cushing combined to face just six FSU batters in the eighth and ninth innings to close out the game. Ficklin (1-0) got his first win as a Cougar, while Cushing picked up his first save of the year.
Notable Stats
• BYU freshman right hander Owen Miller got his first start as a Cougar, going 3.2 innings with three strikeouts and allowing just one earned run in a no decision
• With his 11th career save, Stone Cushing moves up to a tie for fourth all-time at BYU with Jordan Muir (2006-09)
Next up for BYU baseball is UCLA on Tuesday Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. PT at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles. The game will be broadcast live on BYU Radio with veteran play-by-play announcer Dave McCann on the call and also available for live stream on Big 10+.