BYU takes game two of CSUN series

BYU baseball won game two of its three-game series with CSUN, 7-3, on Friday evening at Robert J. Hiegert Field in Northridge.

BYU takes game two of CSUN seriesBYU takes game two of CSUN series

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — BYU baseball won game two of its three-game series with CSUN, 7-3, on Friday evening at Robert J. Hiegert Field in Northridge.

With the victory, the Cougars improve to 4-3 on the year, while the Matadors fall to 1-4. The series finale is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. PT. 

“It was a good team win,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “We need to do a better job of getting key hits with runners in scoring position, but we did enough tonight to win. I thought Justis was really good tonight. I'm so happy for him. He's the ultimate competitor and it's great to have him healthy.”

BYU Highlights
Cooper Vest: 1-4, 2 RBI, HR
Crew McChesney: 2-4, 2 RBI, BB
Luke Anderson: 2-4, RBI
Jaden Harris: 5 IP, 2 Hits, 3 SO, Win 
Justis Reiser: 2 IP, O Hits, 5 SO

Game Summary
Cooper Vest led off the top of the second inning with a solo home run to get BYU on the scoreboard first. Four batters later, Luke Anderson scored on a ground ball to short by Brock Watkins that also advanced Bryker Hurdsman to third. Watson then scored on an infield single by Crew McChesney for 3-0 lead. 

With one out in the third inning, Jones singled up the middle and Anderson walked to put Jones into scoring position. Hurdsman then doubled down the leftfield line to score Jones for a 4-0 advantage.

The Matadors threatened in the bottom of the third with runners on the corners but a great defensive play by Vest at first base ended the threat. 

Goff and Robinson were both hit by a pitch to lead off the fourth inning. Jones then drew a walk to load the bases, and Vest was hit by another pitch to score Goff. An infield ground ball by Anderson scored Robinson to push the Cougar lead to 6-0. 

CSUN got on the board in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out, three-run home run by Matthew Pena to cut the BYU lead in half at 6-3.

Justis Reiser relieved BYU starter Jaden Harris in the sixth inning. He faced the minimum of just nine batters in three innings of work, tallying five strikeouts, before handing the game over to closer Stone Cushing in the ninth. Harris (1-0), Reiser and Cushing combined for a two-hitter in the win. 

The Cougars responded with an insurance run in the seventh for a 7-3 lead on a two-out single by McChesney that scored McNaughton, who had reached on a fielding error to lead off the inning. 

The BYU-CSUN series finale will be broadcast live on BYU Radio with veteran play-by-play announcer Dave McCann on the call and Tuckett Slade as an analyst.