PROVO, Utah — BYU baseball dropped its first of three games versus Oklahoma 10-8 at Miller Park on Thursday night.
Despite a late-game surge courtesy a three RBI home run by Collin Reuter, BYU was unable to overcome a five-run deficit.
“We kept battling, but it came down to a couple of plays,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “We’ve got to clean it up. We played such good defense for so long. Oklahoma is athletic, can run, and can put some pressure on and we didn’t do a good job handling that tonight.”
Player Highlights
-Brock Watkins: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, run
-Collin Reuter: 2-5, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBI
-Easton Jones: 2-3, run, RBI
Oklahoma struck first as it took advantage of a BYU error to extend the top of the first and score on a single to left field.
The Sooners continued their momentum in the fourth inning with a sacrifice bunt to advance runners to second and third. A hit into short left field became a two RBI single as it landed beyond the shortstop and short of BYU’s outfielders, putting Oklahoma up 3-0.
After another scoreless sequence for the Cougars in the bottom of the fourth inning, Oklahoma began the fifth with a double to left center followed by a single. Another double led to a pair of scores. Later, Oklahoma went up 6-0.
Watkins breathed life into the game for BYU with a fifth inning leadoff homer to left field, marking the 13th blast of the junior’s career. After a fly out to center field, Luke Anderson singled to right center as freshman Ryker Schow secured his seventh run in the last three games.
An RBI double by Jones then bounced off the back left wall, helping Anderson earn a score as he sprinted past third to slide home. In total, the Cougars registered three runs and four hits in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-3.
Oklahoma later capitalized on a failed pickoff attempt to extend its lead to 8-3.
Boston Mabeus took the mound for the Cougars in the top of the eighth and preserved BYU's comeback opportunity with a strikeout and absence of Oklahoma hits and runs. BYU’s turn at bat began with a walk from Jones and a single to left field by Reuter. After a ground out, both advanced to second and third base. A sacrifice fly from Kuhio Aloy scored Jones to bring BYU within four at 8-4. The Cougars had the deficit down to three to end the inning 8-5 with Watkins singling to right field and scoring Reuter.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Oklahoma hit a single to score and posted another score on an error to go up 10-5. BYU responded with three more runs before eventually falling 10-8. Facing two outs, Reuter drilled a home run to right center, scoring himself, Crew McChesney and Crew Robinson before a pop-up at centerfield gave Oklahoma the win.
Up Next
The Cougars will face Oklahoma for game two of the series on Friday at 6 p.m. MDT. The game will be broadcast live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and streamed on BYU Radio 107.9/BYU Radio App.