PROVO, Utah — A six-run fifth inning propelled BYU to a 14-5 victory over No. 23 West Virginia Thursday night at Miller Park.
BYU improves to 14-9 on the year and 4-3 in the Big 12, while No. 23 West Virginia drops to 20-4 and 2-3 in conference play.
West Virginia scored the first four runs of the night before the Cougars posted 14-straight runs, highlighted by six in the bottom of the fifth, for their largest victory in a Big 12 conference game. Luke Anderson was 5-for-5 recording four singles, a double and three RBIs.
"We got a couple of big hits tonight and then it got contagious," said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. "It is going to be a dog-fight tomorrow because they're good. I expect us to come out, throw more strikes and be tough at the plate."
BYU Highlights
Luke Anderson: 5-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 Runs
Crew McChesney: 1-5, 2B, 4 RBI
Bryker Hurdsman: 3-4, RBI, 2 Runs
Easton Jones: 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 Runs
Parker Goff: 1-2, RBI, 2 Runs
Game Summary
West Virginia jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second inning, scoring four runs on four hits, all with two outs.
The Cougars responded with runs in the bottom of the second and third. Ryker Schow walked, Easton Jones singled to left field and Parker Goff walked. With two outs and the bases loaded, Crew McChesney also walked to bring in Schow.
Anderson then doubled in the third and a Bryker Hurdsman singled scoring Anderson. The Cougars then trailed 4-2.
BYU scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead 8-4. Ryder Robinson ended up on first due to a West Virginia error and later scored on an Anderson hit. With the bases loaded, Brock Watkins popped up to shortstop in the outfield behind second base and Anderson tagged to score another run. The sacks were stacked once again when Jones doubled to right field and Hurdsman tallied a run. The Cougars’ final runs of the inning came from a McChesney double that scored Goff, Jones and Keoni Painter.
In the bottom of the sixth, Anderson recorded his fourth hit in his fourth at-bat. A Hurdsman single advanced Anderson before Watkins tallied his second RBI of the game and Anderson scored his second run of the night. BYU increased its lead to 9-4.
Anderson notched his fifth hit of the game in the bottom of the seventh with bases loaded and two outs. The left fielder bdrove in Jones and Painter to stretch BYU’s lead to 11-4.
An RBI double from Watkins in the bottom of the eighth increased the Cougars’ lead to eight at 12-4, then Goff capped off BYU’s scoring with a double that led to two runs for BYU.
Meanwhile the BYU bullpen of Justis Reiser, Brayden Marx and Brett Hansen was outstanding, holding WVU to just four hits and one run, while striking out four over 4.2 innings of combined work. Reiser got the win, his third of the season.
The Mountaineers tallied a run in the ninth for the final score of 14-5.
BYU will resume its three-game home series with West Virginia at Miller Park on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. MDT with Saturday's game scheduled for 1:30 p.m. MDT. Both games will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and BYU Radio.