Four homers power BYU to 15-7 win at UVU

OREM, Utah — BYU baseball scored eight unanswered runs in the second and third innings, along with five runs over the final three innings to defeat Utah Valley 15-7 on Monday night at UCCU Ballpark.

With the game tied 2-2 in the top of the second, BYU responded with a five-run inning as its first five batters reached base, including a triple and two home runs on three consecutive at bats. The Cougars tallied five crooked innings on the night with two or more runs in each of the five.

BYU’s pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts, including six straight in the third and fourth innings. Cayson Bell got the start and the win for the Cougars facing 11 batters and surrendering just one run. 

The Cougars tallied 15 runs on an efficient 14 hits with two errors and 12 runners left on base. UVU’s seven runs came on eight hits with three errors and 10 stranded.

“Overall, I thought our offense was good,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “We were able to pitch out of some jams which is a good learning experience in these midweek games. Winning is hard. Anytime you win, you don’t take it for granted.”

Monday marked the Cougars’ 12th outing of the season with 10 or more runs. With the win, BYU moves to 20-18 on the season and takes the two-game season series with UVU 2-0.

BYU Highlights

Crew McChesney: 3-4, 4 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR
Chipper Beck: 3-6, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 HR
Cooper Vest: 1-4, 4 RBI, HR
Ezra McNaughton: 2-6, 2 R, RBI, 3B
Bryker Hurdsman: 1-5, R, 2 RBI
Maddax Peck: 1.1 IP, 4 SO

Game Summary

BYU struck first with two runs on two hits in the top of the first. The Cougars loaded the bases with singles from McChesney and Anderson, along with Robinson being hit by pitch. A pair of groundouts from Vest and Hurdsman brought the inning’s first two outs but scored both McChesney and Robinson for the 2-0 lead.

UVU squared the game 2-2 in the bottom of the first with a solo home run and sacrifice fly.

The Cougars retook the lead, 7-2,  with five runs on three hits as each of their first five batters reached base in the top of the second. Erickson was hit to leadoff the inning and scored from first moments later as McNaughton recorded his first career triple. Beck then brought home McNaughton with a two-RBI bomb over the centerfield wall to give the Cougars a 5-2 lead. BYU tacked on two more with a second homer in as many at bats as McChesney launched a solo shot and Vest notched another RBI groundout to score Robinson who had reached on a walk.

In the top of the third, six straight Cougar batters reached base and turned in three more runs on three hits, all with two outs. McNaughton started the hitting for BYU with a single to right. Beck came up for his second at bat and posted his second homer of the season with a bomb over the left field wall to plate McNaughton. The Cougars stacked the sacks for the second time in three innings with a McChesney double and walks from Robinson and Anderson. Vest then capped off the inning with a walk to score McChesney push the lead to 10-2.

The Cougar pitching staff complimented the crooked innings with strikeouts of six straight Wolverine batters in the bottom of the third and fourth, including four Ks from Peck. UVU cut the BYU lead to three on a pair of homers in the fifth and sixth.

After three scoreless innings for the Cougar offense, McChesney sparked another two-run spurt in the top of the seventh. BYU loaded the bases for the third time in the game with Anderson hit by pitch and walks to McChesney and Vest. Anderson and McChesney scored moments later with a Hurdsman infield single and UVU throwing error to push the Cougar lead to 12-5.

When the Wolverines added two more runs in the seventh and ninth innings, BYU put up three more in the final two frames. Erickson singled to right in the top of the eighth then hustled to third on a Beck single. A fielder’s choice on McChesney’s ensuing at bat scored Erickson from third for the 13-6 BYU lead.

The Cougars put the finishing touches on a 15-7 win with two runs in the top of the ninth. Vest crushed a ball 107 miles-per-hour over the rightfield wall for BYU’s fourth homer of the game. The Cougars capped the game capitalizing on a UVU throwing error that scored a walked Hurdsman from second.

Up Next

BYU hits the road for a Big 12 weekend series at Arizona State April 24-26 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Watch the Cougars face the Sun Devils on ESPN+ or tune in for live play-by-play on BYU Radio.