PROVO, Utah — BYU baseball defeated rival Utah 6-4 Thursday night at Miller Park in game one of a three-game Big 12 series.
BYU (23-21, 12-10) scored six runs on 12 hits while stranding nine, while Utah (21-19, 9-13) plated four runs on seven hits, leaving eight on base.
Highlights
Ezra McNaughton: 3-for-5
Ryder Robinson: 3-for-4, RBI
Crew McChesney: 2-for-4, RBI
Ridge Erickson: 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Luke Anderson: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB
Summary
Utah struck first in the second inning. A leadoff double to left center, followed by a single put runners on the corners before a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield brought home the game’s first run, but BYU starter Wayland Crane limited the inning to one, stranding two and keeping the deficit at 1-0.
Utah threatened in the top of the third, loading the bases with one out, but Crane worked out of the jam with a ground ball double play to keep the Cougars within one.
BYU answered in the bottom half of the inning. Luke Anderson drew a walk and Ezra McNaughton followed with a single to right to put runners on the corners. Ryder Robinson delivered an RBI single to left to tie the game at 1-1.
Utah regained the lead in the fifth. After a one-out single and a double put runners on second and third, the Utes capitalized on a ball up the middle. A fielder’s choice scored one run, and a throwing error allowed a second to score, giving Utah a 3-1 advantage. Crane responded with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning and strand two, preventing further damage.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Cougars responded. Luke Anderson led off with a single and Ryder Robinson’s base hit to right center put runners on the corners. After a strikeout, Bryker Hurdsman drove in a run with a single up the middle to cut the deficit to 3-2.
BYU continued to apply pressure with two outs. Crew McChesney followed with an RBI single to right to tie the game, and Tu’alau Wolfgramm added another base hit to center to give the Cougars the lead. Matt Hansen then drew a walk to load the bases and Ridge Erickson delivered a two-RBI single to shallow center, extending the lead to 6-3. The Cougars tallied six singles in the inning to plate five runs.
Utah cut into the deficit in the seventh as Daniel Arambula led off with a solo home run to left, trimming BYU’s lead to 6-4. Dan Brousseau responded by retiring the next two hitters, including a strikeout, to limit the damage.
The Utes went down in order in the ninth as Ashton Johnson entered and secured the final three outs, including a strikeout, to close out the game and earn save number five on the year. Crane went five innings, surrendering just one earned run while striking out two for his second win of the season.
Up Next
BYU continues its three-game series with Utah on Friday at 6 p.m. MDT at Miller Park. 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.
