SALT LAKE CITY – Despite a closely contested game, BYU baseball fell 6-3 to the University of Utah at Smith’s Ballpark Thursday, in game one of a three-game weekend series.
“I thought we did a real good job at the plate tonight,” BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. “We hit balls harder than we have all season, had some really good at bats and got some key hits. We also got good starting pitching and played pretty solid defense.”
Player Highlights:
Mitch McIntyre: 3-4, 2RBI, 2B, 3B, BB
Abraham Valdez: 1-3, 2R, 2B, BB
Easton Walker: 4.0 IP, 0ER, 7K
After no scoring through three innings, the Utes got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning to go up 1-0. BYU quickly answered back in the top of the fifth. Valdez opened the inning with a double to left center and McIntyre backed it up with another double to bring in Valdez, evening the score at 1-1.
BYU tacked on another in the top of the seventh frame to take the lead at 2-1. A double from Peyton Cole put the Cougars in scoring position and back-to-back walks for Andrew Pintar and McIntyre loaded the bases. All three runners advanced on a wild pitch giving Cole a window to score.
The Cougars lead didn’t last long as Utah quickly put another run on the board in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 2-2. Utah broke the game open in the eighth, plating four runs to take the lead at 6-2. Despite a McIntyre triple in the top of the ninth, the deficit was too much to overcome as the Cougars ultimately lost 6-3.
We just had the one inning get away from us," Littlewood said. "As a team we need to learn how to finish games and close the door when we have the opportunity. We’ll come back tomorrow and be ready to battle again."
BYU returns to Smith Ballpark on Friday, March 12 for the second game of the series against the Utes. The game is slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch with a live radio broadcast on BYU Sports Network and a live stream on the Pac-12+ Network.