SALT LAKE CITY — BYU and Utah went back-and-forth through five innings before the Utes scored four runs in the sixth and held on for the 9-6 win in the series rubber match on Saturday afternoon at Smith’s Ballpark.
"This was tough," said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. "We just couldn't get the big hit. It was frustrating. We had our chances and it just didn't come today. Credit Utah. They put balls in play."
BYU (17-16, 5-10 Big 12) scored six runs on nine hits, while stranding 13 runners. Utah (15-17, 4-11) scored nine runs on 16 hits, while stranding 12.
BYU Highlights
Parker Goff: 2-2, Run, 2 RBI, 2B
Tate Gambill: 1-3, 2 RBI
Luke Anderson: 1-4, Run, RBI, HR
Crew McChesney: 2-6, RBI
Game Summary
BYU took an early 1-0 in the top of the first as Luke Anderson took the first pitch he saw and sent it 452 feet over the left field wall for a solo home run.
Utah answered with three runs in the bottom of the first on one hit and an error with two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly. The Cougars put another run on the board in the top of the second, cutting the Ute lead to 3-2. Parker Goff and Tate Gambill reached on a walk and hit by pitch, respectively. Goff then scored from second on an RBI single to right courtesy Crew McChesney.
BYU tied the game 3-3 with a run on two hits in the top of the third. Bryker Hurdsman reached on a walk before taking second on a Goff single and scoring on another single from Gambill. In the bottom of the third, Utah retook the lead, 4-3, with an RBI single scoring a runner who had reached on a two-out double. The Utes used a flurry of singles in the home half of the fourth to plate another run and take a 5-3 lead.
Two of BYU’s first three batters reached in the top of the fifth with Vest reachin on a hit by pitch and Hurdsman a four-pitch walk. The Cougars scored both free-base runners with Goff doubling into left to bring home Vest and an RBI groundout from Gambill plating Hurdsman for the 5-5 tie.
Utah jumped in front 9-5 with four runs on five hits, including a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.
Despite two scoreless innings by BYU reliever Ashton Johnson and loading the bases in the top of the eighth, the Cougars were unable to complete a comeback, falling 9-6 after a late RBI single from Ezra McNaughton in the ninth.
Up Next
After eight straight road games, BYU returns home to host Utah Valley in the annual crosstown clash on April 22 at 6:00 p.m. MDT. Watch the Cougars face the Wolverines on ESPN+ or listen to live play-by-play on BYU Radio.