PROVO, Utah — In its first home game at Miller Park this season, BYU baseball defeated Utah Valley, 11-7, in the UCCU Crosstown Clash on Tuesday.
“The guys are playing great and came out with a lot of energy tonight,” said BYU head coach Mike Littlewood. “We really swung the bats well. Reid McLaughlin and Bryce Robison came in and did a good job on the mound to close the game out for the win. Overall, it was a quality team win.”
The Cougars got things going with a run in the first inning as Andrew Pintar led off with a standup double, and advanced to third on a Brock Watkins groundout. Mitch McIntyre then brought Pintar home with a single.
BYU erupted for five runs in the second inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Jacob Wilk scored on a single by Peyton Cole and then Danny Gelalich, who had walked, and Cole were brought home by a Pintar triple. Watkins capped the inning with a two-run homer launched over the centerfield wall.
Wilk continued the Cougar scoring in the third, leading off with a solo shot to right to give BYU a 7-0 lead.
UVU fought back with one run in both the fourth and fifth innings, and four more in the sixth, making it 7-6, BYU.
The Cougars answered in the bottom of the sixth inning as Pintar walked and Watkins brought him home with a double to left center.
BYU added another three more insurance runs in the eight after Cole walked and came home on a deep double to left center by Pintar. Watkins was then hit by a pitch to put Cougars on first and second. Cowden then brought Pintar and Watkins both home on a deep single to right center, putting the Cougars up 11-6. The 11 runs eclipsed BYU's previous season high of nine scored in game two of both the Texas State and LMU series.
In the top of the ninth, the Wolverines got one run back to make it 11-7, but that was as close as they would get. Both teams had 13 hits on the day.
It was a staff day for both pitching staffs. BYU used six pitchers and UVU used seven. Boston Mabeus got the start and the win, going two innings and giving up just one hit. Bryce Robison also went two innings and got the save, giving up one run on two hits and striking out the final batter of the game.
Player Highlights
- Pintar: 3-3, 3 H, 3 RBI, 4 R
- Wilk: 3-4, 3 H, 1 RBI, 2 R
- Mabeus: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K (win)
- Robison: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 K (save)
The Cougars will be back at Miller Park for a three-game series with San Francisco Thursday through Saturday, March 25-27. The Thursday-Friday games are set for 4:00 p.m. MDT, with the Saturday matchup at 1:00 p.m. MDT.
All three games will be broadcast live on the BYUtv App as well as the BYU Sports Network—BYU Radio FM 107.9, BYUCougars.com and the BYU Cougars app. Ticket information can be found at BYUtickets.com.