HOUSTON — BYU came from behind to defeat Houston 6-2 Friday to win game two of a three-game Big 12 baseball series at Schroeder Park. Pitchers Justis Reiser, Dan Brousseau and Ashton Johnson combined to hold Houston to seven hits and just two runs, leading BYU to its second win in as many nights.
BYU (17-16, 7-7) scored six runs on 10 hits Friday, while Houston (16-17, 3-11) scored two runs on seven hits.
“Our pitchers did a good job of attacking the strike zone again tonight,” said BYU head baseball coach Trent Pratt. “Reiser went deep into the game and gave the offense a chance to get going. McNaughton’s home run sparked the offense and Brousseau and AJ came out of the pen and shut them down.”
Highlights
Ezra McNaughton: 2-5, 2RBI, 2Runs, HR
Easton Jones: 3-5, Run, RBI, 2B
Ryder Robinson: 2-5, RBI, Run
Justis Reiser: 4.2 IP, K, 2ER
Dan Brousseau: Win, 1.0 IP
Ashton Johnson: Save, 3.1 IP, 3Ks
Summary
Houston scored first in the bottom of the first inning on a single, hit batter and a two-out double down the left-field line for a 2-0 lead.
After four scoreless innings, BYU tied the ballgame in the top of the sixth on a home run by Ezra McNaughton that scored Luke Anderson, who led off the inning with a walk. Ryder Robinson and Easton Jones then singled and Wolfgramm reached on a Houston error to load the bases. A Bryker Hurdsman groundball to shortstop scored Robinson and a flyball to center field by Ryker Schow brought Jones home for a 4-2 BYU advantage.
Three consecutive hits with two outs in the top of the ninth gave BYU two insurance runs. Ridge Erickson was hit by a pitch and McNaughton singled down the right-field line to move him to third. Robinson then singled to score Erickson and Jones doubled to left field to bring home McNaughton for a 6-2 lead.
After surrendering two runs in the first inning, BYU starter Justis Reiser held Houston scoreless over the next 3.2 innings before handing the ball over to the bullpen. Right-handed reliever Dan Brousseau, who got the win, and Ashton Johnson, who picked up the save, combined to hold UH to just two hits and no runs over the final 4.1 innings to lock down the win. Johnson retired the final seven hitters he faced in order to close out the game.
Up Next
BYU and UH will play the final game of its Big 12 series on Saturday, April 11 at 1 p.m. CT at Schroeder Park in Houston. Having already wrapped up the series, BYU will play for the series sweep. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and on the BYU Radio app, BYUradio.org, SiriusXM 143 and 107.9 FM in Utah County.