SPOKANE, Wash. — BYU baseball defeated former conference foe Gonzaga, 10-2, on Thursday in the first of a three-game series at Steve Hertz Field.
Starting pitcher Payton Gubler scattered three hits over seven innings, while the BYU (5-4) offense scored 10 runs on nine hits including four home runs. Gonzaga (2-5) had two runs on four hits.
BYU now has 18 home runs through nine games in 2025, the second-highest total in program history through the first nine games of a season. The 1988 Cougar squad hit 26 in their first nine games and went on to record a program-record 161 HRs on the year.
BYU Highlights
• Ryder Robinson: 2-4, HR, RBI, 3 Runs
• Bryker Hurdsman: 1-3, 2 RBI, 2 Runs
• Brock Watkins: 1-1, 2 RBI, Run
• Payton Gubler: 7 IP, 3 Hits, 4 Ks
• Cayson Bell: 2 IP, 1 Hit, 3 Ks
Game Summary
After a scoreless first inning, BYU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on two home runs in the second. Luke Anderson homered over the left field wall to open the inning. After Bryker Hurdsman was hit by a pitch and stole second, Brock Watkins hit a towering shot over the left field wall for two more runs.
The Cougars tacked on single runs in both the third and fourth innings on solo shots by Ryder Robinson and Hurdsman for a 5-0 advantage.
Gonzaga responded with its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth on a single and double to cut the Cougar lead to 5-1.
BYU then added three more runs in the fifth to push its lead over the Zags to 8-1. Following back-to-back walks by Robinson and Easton Jones to lead off the inning, Cooper Vest then doubled into the right-field gap for two RBIs. A fly ball to center field by Anderson moved Vest to third where he scored on a Hurdsman sacrifice fly.
The Cougars began the sixth inning with a walk by McChesney, followed by a Robinson single. Easton Jones then doubled off the left field wall for two RBIs and a 10-1 lead.
The Zags finished off the scoring with a run in the seventh for a 10-2 final.
BYU starter Payton Gubler (2-1) threw seven complete innings for a new career high, surrendering just three hits and two runs while striking out four for the win. Cayson Bell pitched two innings of relief, striking out three.
“Our pitching was very good tonight,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “We gave Payton an early lead and he did a great job of getting ahead of guys in the count and challenging their hitters. It was also good to see the offense get some timely hits to score runs in several innings tonight.”
Seven of the nine Cougar starters had at least one hit and scored a run in the 10-2 win.
BYU and Gonzaga will meet in game two of the weekend series on Friday at 3 p.m. PST. Watch the Cougars and Bulldogs on ESPN+ or listen to the BYU Radio live broadcast with veteran play-by-play announcer Dave McCann and analyst Tucket Slade on the call.