PROVO, Utah — BYU baseball won game two of a three-game series with UNC Greensboro, 19-8, led by third baseman Austin Dening who had two homers, a double and drove in six runs on Thursday at Miller Park.
With the win, BYU improves to 16-21 on the year, while UNCG falls to 17-22. The Cougars will face the Spartans in game three of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. MDT.
Game Summary
• BYU recorded season highs in runs 19 and 23 hits
• The Cougars were six for 16 (.375) with runners in scoring position
• BYU scored runs in each of the first five innings
BYU Highlights
• Cooper Vest: 5-5, 3 Run, 2 RBI, 2B
• Austin Deming 3-5, 6 RBI, 2 Runs, 2 HR, 2B
• Ryan Sepede 3-5, 3 Runs, 2 RBI, 2 HR
• Jacob Wilk 3-5, 2 Run, 2 RBI, 2B
UNC Greensboro jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning, scoring twice on three singles and a hit batter.
BYU respond with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning on an Austin Deming solo shot over the left-center wall to cut the Spartans lead to 2-1.
The Cougars then picked up five runs in the second inning for a 6-2 advantage. Ryan Sepede led off the inning with a home run to center field. Singles by Cooper Vest and Jacob Wilk, combined with a walk by Parker Goff loaded the bases for Luke Anderson, who then walked to pick up an RBI. With bases loaded and two outs, Deming doubled to left field to clear the bases giving him four RBI on the night.
After surrendering a run in the top of the third to UNCG, Sepede got the run right back with a first-pitch home run to right field. Back-to-back doubles by Vest and Wilk scored another run. Goff then singled to score Wilk, and Anderson finished off the scoring with a two-run home run to right center for an 11-3 lead.
BYU tacked on three more runs in the fourth on four hits. Doubles by Cole Gambill, Call and Goff, combined with a single by Vest pushed the Cougar advantage to 14-3.
The Spartans struck for four runs in the top of the fifth to cut into the Cougar lead at 14-7. BYU then exploded for five runs in the bottom of the inning. After an Anderson double to lead off the inning, Deming hit his second home run of the night to bring his RBI tally to six. Gambill then walked, Sepede singled and Vest singled for another Cougar run. Wilk then singled to score Sepede and Pratt singled to score Vest, to bring the BYU final run total to 19.
UNCG picked a run in the seventh to bring the final score to 19-8. Due to the large Cougar lead and the 43-degree weather with rain, the head coaches agreed after the fifth inning that the 10-run rule would be in effect for the game after seven innings.
BYU starter Bryce Robison (5-2) got the win for BYU, while Luke Thomas (2-4) took the loss for UNC Greensboro.
The final game of the series will be broadcast live beginning at 1 p.m. MDT on the BYU Radio App and BYU Radio 107.9 FM in the northern Utah market, with Greg Wrubell on the call. BYUtv will also broadcast the game live on BYUtv and the BYUtv App, with Dave McCann and Gary Sheide providing play-by-play and analysis.
Ticket information can be found at BYUtickets.com.