PROVO, Utah—Bronson Larsen's 10th-inning run gave BYU baseball a 3-2 victory and the series sweep over league-leading San Francisco Saturday afternoon at Miller Park.  

"We did a great job of just persevering today," BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. "(Michael) Rucker gutted it out. You've got to pat him on the back for it. He did an incredible job today for us, as did Mason (Marshall) coming in late in the game. Every game is a must-win for us from here on out in conference play."

BYU's (21-19, 11-7 West Coast Conference) Brennon Lund extended his hitting streak to 20 games while Larsen extended his to 13 games. Colton Shaver went 1-for-4 with his 10th home run of the season and two RBI in the close win.

With the win, BYU collects its first series sweep of the season in the league.

The Cougars had runners on second and third in the bottom of the 10th before a wild pitch got away from the catcher with Lund up to bat, scoring the Larsen run and winning the game for BYU 3-2.

The Dons (22-23, 14-7 WCC) had two hits in the first inning before Lund singled up the middle on the first pitch for the Cougars. BYU and San Francisco were then both retired in order in the second and third innings.

The Dons' Brendan Hendriks singled to get on base to start the fourth, but a double play from the shortstop Hayden Nielsen to the first baseman Dillon Robinson ended the inning. San Francisco countered in the bottom with a double play of its own to end the inning for the Cougars. 

With runners on second and third for the Dons, an RBI single to right field gave San Francisco a run before a throw from right fielder Eric Urry to home plate ended the top of the inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Robinson bunted just over the head of the pitcher allowing him to get on base, but BYU couldn't capitalize to end the inning, leaving two runners on base.

After a scoreless sixth inning, Tanner Chauncey found the gap down center field to single onto base. Shaver followed that up with a two-run home run to give the Cougars a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the seventh.

In the eighth, a walk for the Dons with the bases loaded tied the game at two runs apiece, which ultimately sent the game to its extra inning following a scoreless ninth. Urry took the first of two bean balls in the 10th and will be sidelined four to six weeks with a broken finger.

The Cougars travel next to nearby Utah Valley Tuesday at 6 p.m. MDT. The game will be broadcast live on BYU Radio. Links to live stats and a video feed can be found on the BYU baseball schedule.

After a week off for finals, BYU’s baseball team returns to action in a big way this week when it hosts Utah on Tuesday and a three-game series with San Francisco.

“This week off for finals gives our guys a chance to heal some minor injuries and mentally prepare for the final month of conference play and our push for the conference tournament,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “We have a chance on Tuesday to even up the series against Utah, and it's no secret how big that game is to all of us.”

The Cougars, 17-19 overall and 8-7 in the West Coast Conference, host Utah (13-22) on Tuesday at 6 p.m., in a game televised live by BYUtv. Starting on the mound for BYU will be Brady Corless (1-4, 5.59) as the Cougars hope to rebound from last month’s 9-3 loss to the Utes in a rain-shortened six-inning game in Salt Lake City.

Tuesday’s contest is pivotal in the three-game Deseret Duel series which BYU baseball has won six of seven times since its inception.

On Thursday and Friday the Cougars return to league play against league-leading USF (22-19, 14-4) with Kolton Mahoney (3-4, 4.53) and Brandon Kinser (4-2, 3.55) scheduled to be their starting pitchers in games starting at 6 p.m. BYUtv will also televise both of those games live. Saturday’s contest has been changed from 1 p.m. to now start at noon between the Cougars and Dons will be streamed live on theW.tv.

“Every game from here on out is a big game for us and none are bigger than the weekend series with San Francisco,” Littlewood said. “USF has played very well in conference and if we want to make the conference tournament we need to win the series against them.”

Brennon Lund leads BYU with a current 16-game hitting streak. Teammates Eric Urry has a 10-game streak, Bronson Larsen has a nine-game streak and Tanner Chauncey has an eight-game streak.

Following the USF series, BYU plays the next week at Utah Valley University and University of the Pacific.

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