PROVO, Utah – BYU baseball used a three-run sixth inning to defeat Texas Tech 6-5 on Friday night at Miller Park and clinch a spot in the 2025 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship.
With the win, the Cougars move to 27-25 on the year and 10-19 in Big 12 play, while the Red Raiders fall to 19-32 and 12-17. BYU's victory Friday night, combined with UCF's loss to Baylor, ensured the Cougars a spot in the Big 12 Tournament. In addition, the win gave BYU its first Big 12 home series win of the season.
Ryder Robinson’s single to left field drove in two runs to give BYU a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Defensively, Crew McChesney made the play of the game for BYU with a diving snag in left center for the third out in the eighth inning, stranding the would-be tying run on second.
WHAT. A. CATCH. 🤯
— BYU Baseball (@BYUBaseball) May 17, 2025
📺 https://t.co/q7NuOHlymH pic.twitter.com/EN9WhqWQBO
Ashton Johnson (3-1) got the win as he emerged from the bullpen in the sixth for three-and-a-third scoreless innings, scattering three hits while striking out two.
“We told these guys it’s just another Thursday,” said head coach Trent Pratt. “It was good for us to come out on the good side of a close one. We have been on the other side of a lot of close ones, and it was great to get a team win up and down the lineup.”
BYU Highlights
Cooper Vest: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI
Bryker Hurdsman: 2-4, 2 RBI
Ryder Robinson: 1-4, 2 RBI
Tate Gambill: 1-4, RBI
The Red Raiders began the scoring in the top of the first with a two-run shot over the left field wall. The Cougars answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Gambill led off the inning with a single, followed by a steal that put him in scoring position. Vest then singled with two outs to score Gambill and advanced to second on the throw. Bryker Hurdsman then singled to score Vest from second, tying the game at 2-2.
Texas Tech would take the lead right back in the top of the second with a run on two hits for a 3-2 advantage. After scoreless innings in the third and fourth, the Red Raiders tacked another run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly for a 4-2 lead.
BYU responded with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning on a Vest solo shot over the right field wall with two outs that cut the deficit to just one, 4-3. Texas Tech scored again in the top of the sixth, stretching its lead to 5-3.
Once again the Cougars responded, this time for three runs in the bottom of the sixth. McChesney led off the inning with a single, then took second with BYU's fourth stolen base of the game. Parker Goff then singled to left field to put runners on the corners with one out. A ground ball by Gambill scored McChesney from third and a Texas Tech throwing error advanced both Goff and Gambill into score position. Ryder Robinson then singled to left scoring Goff and Gambill for a 6-5 lead.
With two outs in the top of the eighth, Texas Tech hit a fly ball into left centerfield with the would-be tying run on second, but McChesney made a diving catch for the third out to preserve the 6-5 win for the Cougars.
In the bottom of the ninth, Johnson closed out the game and wrapped up three and a third innings of work by forcing two flyouts and a lineout to Robinson at shortstop that ended the game.
punched our ticket 👊 pic.twitter.com/alPqZ0K8wr
— BYU Baseball (@BYUBaseball) May 17, 2025
On Deck
BYU wraps up the regular season at home against Texas Tech on Saturday at 1 p.m. MDT. The game can be found live on ESPN+ and BYU Radio.