Summary
Cincinnati opened Friday’s game with a hot start, hitting a two-run home run in the first inning to put the Cougars at a 2-0 deficit. The Bearcats extended their lead to four after back-to-back singles in the top of the fourth, with the Cougars still scoreless heading into the fifth.
The Bearcats put up another run in the top of the sixth, with a sacrifice fly bringing in a runner from third, moving the score to 5-0 in favor of Cincinnati.
Ezra McNaughton got the Cougars on the board in the bottom half of the sixth, scoring from third off a wild pitch, shrinking the deficit to 5-1. The momentum continued through the inning with Easton Jones hitting a three-run homer over the centerfield wall, bringing BYU to within one at 5-4.
The Cougars kept Cincinnati scoreless through the top of the seventh before claiming their first lead of the game. After a catcher’s error put Ryker Schow on first, Luke Anderson sent the ball deep over the left field wall for a go-ahead two-run homer, giving BYU a 6-5 lead.
Cincinnati answered the Cougars’ momentum with a three-run inning in the top of the eighth, reclaiming its lead at 8-6.
BYU’s offensive push continued in the bottom of the eighth, with an RBI single from Luke Anderson bringing in Keoni Painter to shrink the Bearcats’ advantage to 8-7, but Cincinnati answered with another run in the top of the ninth on a RBI double to push the Cougar deficit to two at 9-7.
BYU was unable to score in the bottom of the ninth, giving Cincy a 9-7 win.
Up Next
The final game of the three-game series is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. MT at Miller Park in Provo. The matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and will also be available on BYUradio.org and on the BYU Radio app.
