PROVO, Utah – BYU baseball came from behind in both games of its Saturday double header with Stetson, winning the first game, 5-4, and the night cap, 7-5, to capture the four-game series, 3-1, at Miller Park.
With the win, BYU improves to 10-5 on the year, while Stetson falls to 8-8. The Cougars have now won eight of their last 10-games, including three-straight series wins over CSUN (2-1), Gonzaga (3-0) and Stetson (3-1).
Game One
BYU senior first baseman Cooper Vest singled to left center with one out in the bottom of the ninth to score Crew McChesney for a come-from-behind, 5-4, victory in game one of Saturday’s double header.
Cougar starter Jaden Harris threw a season-high five innings, surrendering just two hits while notching five strikeouts and holding the Hatters scoreless.
BYU Highlights
Cooper Vest: 1-5, Run, RBI
Parker Goff: 3-4, Run
Luke Anderson: 2-4, 2 RBI, 2B
Jaden Harris: 5 IP, 2 H, 5 SO
Game One Summary
BYU scored two runs off a walk and two hits in the bottom of the first for a 2-0 lead. Ryder Robinson singled to left field and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice by Cooper Vest. Luke Anderson then doubled to left field to score Robinson and Vest for an early lead.
After six scoreless innings, Stetson got on the board in the top of the eighth with a run on two hits and a Cougar defensive error to cut the BYU lead in half, 2-1.
After holding BYU scoreless in the bottom half of the eighth inning, the Hatters took a 4-2 lead in the top of the ninth with three runs on four hits and a walk.
BYU fought back in the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff single by Parker Goff, followed by a walk from Keoni Painter. Crew McChesney then singled to right field, scoring Goff and advancing Painter to third. Robinson then flew out to right field to score Painter and tie the game at 4-4.
A stolen base by McChesney, followed by a walk by Easton Jones set up the Vest heroics as the senior singled to left center for the walk-off win.
Game Two
BYU senior second baseman Brock Watkins went 4-4 and scored three runs in the nightcap to lead the Cougars to a, 7-5, win in game two.
BYU Highlights
Brock Watkins: 4-4, 3 Runs
Matt Hansen: 2-3, BB, Run
Easton Jones: 2-5, 2 RBI, 2B
Ridge Erickson: 1-3, 3 RBI
Ryder Robinson: 1-3, RBI, Run
Game Two Summary
BYU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning off a groundball to short by Ridge Erickson that scored Watkins, who had singled to open the inning.
Stetson answered back with a five-run third to take a 5-1 lead. The Hatters combined for five hits in the inning, including a grand slam home run. BYU responded in the fourth with a sacrifice fly by Erickson to right field that scored Watkins who had again singled to open the inning.
After three and a half scoreless innings by Cougar relievers Brayden Marx and Nolan Ficklin, the BYU offense struck for five runs in the bottom of the eighth to come from behind for a 7-5 victory.
With one out, Watkins singled, for his fourth hit of the night. Hansen then walked and Erickson singled to left center to score Watkins and move Hansen to second. Keoni Painter then reached on a ground ball that scored Hansen and sent Erickson to second. Tate Gambill then reach on a fielder’s choice that sent Tu’alau Wolfgramm—who had entered the game to pinch run—to third base.
With two outs, Robinson singled to centerfield to score Wolfgramm and tie the game at 5-5, while Gambill advanced to third. A double to left center by Jones, scored Gambill and Robinson for the 7-5 lead.
BYU lefty closer Justis Reiser came on in the ninth to retire the three Hatters he faced with two strikeouts and a groundball for the save. Ficklin closed out the eighth inning for the win, his second of the season.
Up Next
BYU remains home to open Big 12 play next week with a three-game series against the UCF Knights, March 13-15 at Miller Park. Game one is set for Thursday, March 13 at 2 p.m. MT. All three games will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and BYU Radio.