PROVO, Utah – BYU baseball fell to Cal Baptist, 14-7, on Friday afternoon at Miller Park in game two of a three-game series. The Lancers used a six-run third inning and four total home runs to take control, while the Cougars tallied seven runs on 12 hits behind three home runs.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Cooper Jones: 2-4, 3 RBI, HR, BB
- Luke Anderson: 2-5, RBI, HR
- Ezra McNaughton: 2-5, RBI, HR
- Crew McChesney: 2-3, Run, 3B, BB
- Ryker Schow: 1-1, RBI, 3B
SUMMARY
Cal Baptist struck first in the top of the second, plating four runs on five hits including two solo home runs, an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to take a 4-0 lead.
BYU answered in the bottom of the second when Cooper Jones blasted a two-run homer over the left field scoreboard, scoring Bryker Hurdsman and cutting the deficit to 4-2.
The Lancers pushed the advantage to 10-2 in the top of the third, capitalizing on a throwing error and two hit batters before a grand slam broke the inning open.
BYU got one back in the bottom of the third, as Crew McChesney ripped a triple to right field and later scored on a Matt Hansen groundout to make it 10-3.
The Cougars kept the momentum going in the fourth, when Luke Anderson sent a 440-foot solo shot over the centerfield wall for his first home run of the season to make it 10-4. Moments later, Ezra McNaughton followed with a solo homer to dead center, bringing BYU within 10-5.
Cal Baptist stretched its lead to 12-5 in the top of the sixth, opening the inning with its fourth home run of the afternoon before later adding an RBI single.
Following a scoreless sixth inning, Cal Baptist extended its lead to 14-5 in the top of the seventh after back-to-back doubles put runners in scoring position before a two-run RBI single brought both home.
BYU added a run in the bottom of the seventh as Matt Hansen was hit by a pitch and worked his way to third before Cooper Jones drove him in with an RBI single, bringing the score to 14-6.
The Cougars held Cal Baptist to its first 1-2-3 inning of the game in the top of the ninth, setting up one last chance at the plate. Austin Park drew a walk before Ryker Schow tripled to right field to score Park, bringing the final score to 14-7.
UP NEXT
BYU and Cal Baptist will play the final game of the series on Saturday, March 7 at 1:00 p.m. MST at Miller Park. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Dave McCann and Gary Shiede on the call. The game will also be available on BYUradio.org and on the BYU Radio app with the call from Greg Wrubell, “the voice of the Cougars."