LONG BEACH, California — BYU dropped the final game of a four-game, round-robin series on Saturday, falling to host Long Beach State, 7-6. The Cougars wrapped up the weekend series going 2-2 with wins over Washington State, while losing two games to the Dirtbags at Blair Field in Long Beach, California.
Long Beach (4-6) scored seven runs on 10 hits while stranding 13 runners. Meanwhile BYU (6-5) scored six runs on nine hits, leaving seven on base.
HIGHTLIGHTS
• Ezra McNaughton: 1-5, 2RBI, HR
• Ryder Robinson: 3-5, 2R
• Easton Jones: 2-2, RBI, 2B, BB
SUMMARY
BYU opened the scoring in the top of the first with a single by Robinson, who advanced all the way to third base on a passed ball and scored on throwing error by LBSU catcher Damon Valdez for 1-0 advantage.
Long Beach countered with a run of its own in the bottom of the second, using a pair of doubles to tie the game at 1-1.
After two scoreless innings, the Cougars retook the lead, 2-1, in the top of the fifth on a single by Luke Anderson that scored Jones, who had singled and advanced to second on a walk by Keoni Painter.
The Dirtbags quickly erased the lead in the bottom half of the inning with a hit batter, followed by back-to-back hits for a 3-2 lead. LBSU increased its lead in the sixth inning on three hits, including two doubles for a 6-2 advantage. The Dirtbags then tacked on one more run in the seventh on a walk, hit by pitch and single to push the lead to 7-2.
BYU made a furious comeback in the top of the eighth, scoring four runs to pull within one run at 7-6. Anderson led off with a single and McNaughton homered to cut the lead to 7-4. Robinson then singled and Crew McChesney walked. Matt Hanson singled to load the bases and Cooper Jones drew an RBI walk. With one out Easton Jones picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left field scoring McChesney. But that would be all for BYU as LBSU got the final out to preserve a one run lead.
After a scoreless bottom of the eighth, the Cougars got a runner on in the ninth, but Long Beach State closer Kaimi Kahalekai got the final three outs for the save.
UP NEXT
Following 11-straight road games in Kentucky and California, BYU returns home to open the 2026 home season with a three-game series versus Cal Baptist at Miller Park, March 5-7. The Cougars will then host Utah Tech in a midweek game on March 10, before opening Big 12 play by hosting Cincinnati in Provo, March 12-14.
BROADCAST PLANS
All three games with Cal Baptist will be broadcast live on BYUradio.org and the BYU Radio app. The games will also be simulcast on 107.9 FM in Utah County. In addition, the home series will be broadcast live nationally on ESPN+.