Photo by Jacob Farrar
LUBBOCK, Texas — BYU opened a three-game conference series at Texas Tech with a 8-5 win over the Red Raiders on Thursday night at Rip Griffin Park in Lubbock.
Sophomore righthanded pitcher Ben Hansen (3-2) earned the win going six strong innings allowing just two runs while striking out four, while the Cougar bullpen of Mason Olson and Stone Cushing closed out the final three innings for the win. Cushing got the save, his fifth of the season.
“Ben was really good tonight,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “Once he got the lead he was hard to hit. I was pleased with the way we answered on offense tonight. When they scored to cut into our lead we came right back and answered. It helped us keep the momentum on our side.”
Player Highlights
– Ben Hansen: W, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 K
– Collin Reuter: 2-4, 2 RBI, 2 Runs
– Kuhio Aloy: 1-5, HR, 4 RBI, Run
– Crew Robinson: 1-4, RBI, Run
Game Summary
After a scoreless first inning, BYU (11-8, 4-3) struck first with a run in the top of the second. Crew Robinson doubled with one out and scored on a two-out single to left center by Keoni Painter. Texas Tech (15-7, 2-5) answered with a double and single of its own in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 1-1.
A grand slam in the top of the third inning by designated hitter Kuhio Aloy gave the Cougars a 5-1 lead. Luke Anderson led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a Red Raider error that allowed Vest to reach safely. Collin Reuter was then hit by a pitch to load the bases and set up the blast by Aloy over the left-center wall.
Texas Tech scored runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to cut the Cougar lead to 5-3.
BYU responded in the top of the seventh with two runs on three hits. Chipper Beck singled up the middle to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a single by Anderson. A sacrifice bunt by Copper Vest moved the runners up a base. Tech then intentionally walked Easton Jones to load the bases before Reuter singled to score Beck. With the bases still loaded, Robinson was hit by a pitch that brought home Anderson for a 7-3 lead.
The Red Raiders got two runs back in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run home run with two outs to pull within two at 7-5. Cougar catcher Reuter then answered with a home run of his own in the top of the ninth to finish off the scoring, giving BYU the 8-5 win and its fourth straight victory.
The Cougars scored eight runs on nine hits, while Red Raiders plated five runs on eight hits.
BYU and Texas Tech will play game two of the series on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT, with the Saturday game scheduled for 2 p.m. CT. Both games will air live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The games will also be broadcast live on the BYU Radio App, BYUradio.org and BYUradio 107.9 FM in Utah County with Steve Klauke on the call.