MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – No. 20 ranked West Virginia came from behind to defeated BYU 12-10 Friday in game two of a three-game Big 12 baseball series at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
WVU (15-4) racked up 12 runs on 18 hits while stranding eight. BYU (9-10) scored 10 runs on 10 hits while leaving just four on base, but two Cougar errors proved to be costly in the loss.
Highlights
Crew McChesney: 2-5, 4RBI, HR, 2B
Ezra McNaughton: 2-3, 3RBI, 2R, 2BB
Ryder Robinson: 1-4, 2RBI
Luke Anderson: 1-3, 3R, 2BB
Tu'alau Wolfgramm: 2-4, RBI, R, 2B
Summary
After a scoreless first inning, BYU centerfielder McChesney led off the second inning with home run for a 1-0 advantage. WVU respond in the bottom half of the inning scoring one run on two hits combined with an error and a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1.
BYU scored again in the third on a two-out McChesney double to right center that scored Anderson, McNaughton and Ryder Robinson for a 4-1 lead. The Mountaineers responded again in the bottom of the same inning with two runs on three hits to pull to within one at 4-3.
The Cougars then added four more runs in the fourth inning to push the advantage to 8-3 through four complete. Jones led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a Keoni Painter double to right center. Parker Goff then reached on a fielder’s choice when Jones was tagged out at the plate. Wolfgramm singled up the middle to score Painter and move Goff to second, then Anderson walked to load the bases.
McNaughton also drew a walk for an RBI and Robinson singled to left field to drive in Wolfgramm and Anderson for a five-run Cougar lead.
West Viginia fought back, scoring four in the bottom of the fifth on five hits and a BYU error to pull within 8-7. Back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly plated the tying run in the sixth inning, while a four-run seventh gave the Mountaineers nine unanswered runs and a 12-8 lead.
Following a scoreless eighth inning by both squads, BYU made it interesting in the top of the ninth with a single by Anderson to lead off the inning combined with a two-run home run by McNaughton to pull within two runs. West Virginia closer David Perez then came out of the bullpen to retire the next three BYU batters to preserve the WVU win and pick up his second save of the series.
Up Next
West Virginia and BYU will play the final contest of the three-game series on Saturday, March 21 at 12:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and will also be available on BYUradio.org and on the BYU Radio app.