HOUSTON — In a battle of the Cougars, BYU defeated Houston 3-2 Thursday night in game one of a three-game Big 12 baseball series at Schroeder Park. Senior pitchers Wayland Crane and Garrison Sumner combined to hold Houston to just three hits and two runs, while striking out 10 in the win.
BYU (16-16, 6-7) scored three runs on 11 hits and had at least one runner on base in eight of its nine at bats Thursday. Meanwhile, Houston (16-16, 3-10) had three hits and stranded seven runners.
“Crane and Sumner were outstanding tonight,” said BYU head baseball coach Trent Pratt. “It was great to see them go out and lockdown a win for us in game one of the series. Sumner was electric with total command of three pitches which made him very hard to hit.”
Highlights
Matt Hansen: 3-4, Run, 2B
Ezra McNaughton: 2-5, RBI, Run, 2B
Easton Jones: 2-5, RBI
Garrison Sumner: Win, 4.2 IP, 7Ks, 1Hit, 1ER
Wayland Crane: 4.2 IP, 3Ks, 2Hits, 1ER
Summary
BYU struck first with one run in the top of the first inning on a single by Easton Jones that scored Ezra McNaughton, who had doubled to deep center field to open the inning.
After a scoreless second inning, Baylor tied the ball game in the bottom of the third on a two-out solo home run to even the score at 1-1.
BYU responded in the top of the fourth with two runs on two hits for a 3-1 lead. Matt Hansen and Ridge Erickson led off the inning with back-to-back singles, then advanced a base on a wild pitch. An infield ground ball scored Hansen from third and advanced Erickson to third before he also came home on an infield ground ball by McNaughton.
Another solo shot in the bottom of the eighth brought Houston to within one run at 3-2 through eight complete. After Houston stranded two BYU runners on base in the top of the ninth, Sumner retired the three Houston batters he faced in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the 3-2 win.
Lefty starter Crane held Houston to just two hits and one run over 4.1 innings, then gave way to Sumner who closed out the final 4.2 innings for his second win of the year.
Up Next
BYU and Houston will play game two of the three-game Big 12 series on Friday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. CT at Schroeder Park in Houston. 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.