SALT LAKE CITY — BYU relievers Hayden Coon and Ashton Johnson combined for four-and-a-third scoreless innings to close out a 9-8 win in the Big 12 series-opener versus rival Utah on Thursday night at Smith’s Ballpark.
BYU (17-14, 5-8 Big 12) scored nine runs on 13 hits, including a pair of two-run home runs by seniors Cooper Vest and Brock Watkins, while Utah (13-17, 2-11) scored eight runs on 12 hits with two errors.
“Our offense got off to an early lead again and our defense made some bigtime plays tonight," said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. "Coon and Johnson really pitch well down the stretch and shut Utah down."
BYU’s defense played error-free on the night with first baseman Cooper Vest recording 11 putouts along with four a-piece from centerfielder Crew McChesney and shortstop Ryder Robinson.
BYU Highlights
Brock Watkins: 4-5, Run, 3 RBI, 2B, HR
Cooper Vest: 3-5, 2 Runs, 3 RBI, HR
Luke Anderson: 1-4, Run, 2 RBI, 2B
Ryder Robinson: 2-5, Run, 3B
Game Summary
BYU broke out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning with four runs on four hits. Crew McChesney earned a leadoff walk then came home as Vest took an 0-2 pitch with two outs over the right field wall for a two-RBI homer. Bryker Hurdsman reached base on a bunt single down the third base line then Watkins drove him home on the second two-RBI bomb of the inning.
Utah picked up two runs in the bottom of the first with a pair of two-out RBI doubles before BYU took a 9-2 lead with five runs on four hits in the top of the fourth.
Luke Anderson started the fourth inning scoring with a two-RBI double down the leftfield line that scored McChesney and Ryder Robinson who had reached on a fielder’s choice and single, respectively. Anderson took third on an obstruction call assessed to the Utah shortstop at second base then scored on a Vest single to right for a 7-2 BYU lead.
Hurdsman reached on a hit-by-pitch and Watkins plated him and Vest with a two-RBI double to give the Cougars the 9-2 advantage.
The Utes answered with their own scoring outburst in the bottom of the fifth to climb within one at 9-8. Utah’s six runs came on four hits with a two-out RBI single, hit batter, walk and a two-RBI single.
After three-and-a-half scoreless innings, the Cougars and Utes arrived in the bottom of the ninth with Utah hoping to complete its comeback.
The Utes put a man aboard to lead off the inning on a single to shallow center then looked to advance him to second on a sacrifice bunt, but BYU catch Goff collected the bunt and fired to Robinson at short for the first out. Robinson then picked up the second out on a liner to short before reliever Ashton Johnson sealed the win with a swinging strikeout for his second save of the season.