PROVO, Utah – BYU scored eight runs in the bottom of the seventh, then cruised to a 12-5 win over No. 22 Arizona in game one of the Big 12 three-game series at Miller Park on Thursday night.
BYU (19-16, 6-10 Big 12) scored 12 runs on 12 hits, while Arizona (26-11, 10-6) scored five runs on eight hits with one error.
“I was pleased with the way our guys responded today," said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. "When Arizona took a lead, we responded. Our pitching was very good today as well. They threw strikes and our defense played great behind them."
BYU’s defense turned in an error-free performance 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
Crew McChesney: 3-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B
Ryder Robinson: 3-5, R, RBI, 2B
Bryker Hurdsman: 2 R, RBI
Keoni Painter: 1-2, R, 3 RBI
Game Summary
Arizona struck first in the opening inning, scoring a run on two hits for a 1-0 lead. The Cougars responded in the bottom half of the innings with McChesney scoring on a groundout to shortstop by Luke Anderson to tie the game at 1-1.
In the top of the second, Arizona regained the lead, 3-1, on two doubles, a walk and a hit by pitch for a 3-1 advantage.
Payton Gubler held the Wildcats scoreless over the next two innings and in the bottom of the fourth, Keoni Painter flied out to left field with the bases loaded, allowing Hurdsman to score and cut the deficit to 3-2. With two outs, McChesney doubled to right-center driving home Parker Goff and Tate Gambill, for a 4-3 Cougar lead.
After a scoreless fifth and sixth inning for both teams, Arizona retook the lead, 5-4, on a one-out double to center field.
In the bottom of the seventh, Easton Jones walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a McChesney single. Robinson then reached on a bunt single, and Jones scored on a throwing error, tying the game 5-5. Moments later, Hurdsman was hit by a pitch, bringing McChesney home and loading the bases.
Tate Gambill kept the momentum going with a single to right field, driving in Vest and Robinson for two RBIs. Painter followed with a single to right, plating Gambill and Hurdsman. Jones then returned to the plate and doubled, scoring Painter. McChesney capped off the inning with a single to right field, bringing home Jones and closing out an eight-run frame that gave BYU a 12-5 lead.
Hayden Coon came out of the bullpen to close out the final two and two-thirds innings. Coon earned the win and moved to 2-0 on the season. Gubler preceded Coon on the mound and recorded five strikeouts over five middle innings.
The victory was BYU’s second over a ranked opponent in 2025 after beating No. 23 West Virginia in game one of that series on March 27. It marked the 11th game this season in which BYU has scored double-digit runs, and it was the third-most runs Arizona has allowed all year.
Up Next
BYU continues its series against the Wildcats at Miller Park on Friday at 4:30 p.m. MDT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and BYU Radio.