SALT LAKE CITY—For the seventh time in eight years BYU’s baseball team won the Deseret First Duel, clinching the trophy with a 16-6 victory Tuesday night at Smith’s Ballpark.

BYU improved to 25-22 with Keaton Cenatiempo improving to 4-1 after coming in relief during the first inning against Utah, now 16-30-1.

“In the top of the first inning I’ve never been happier for our guys and in the bottom of the first I’ve never been more disappointed,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “It’s a rollercoaster of emotions and I honestly thought this game was going to end 15-14 or something like that.”

The two teams started off in marathon fashion, taking an hour and a half to play the first two innings. Both teams batted through their entire lineup in the first inning and the Cougars did it again in the second, taking a 10-4 lead.

For the second game in a row, second baseman Tanner Chauncey picked up the game-winning RBI. In the third game against the Utes, Chauncey got that RBI from a two-run double to the deep left field corner and went 2-for-4 for the evening. Teammate Colton Shaver, who hit a pair of homers in both the previous two meetings this season when the teams split, went 3-for-5 with four RBI and a double.

The Cougars expanded that lead to 16-6 batting through their order plus one in the sixth. That’s when Mason Marshall took over on the mound for Cenatiempo and retired the Utes in order both of his innings. James Lengal took the mound in the eighth and Michael Rucker in the ninth.

“I loved the way Cenatiempo and Marshall came in and got us a couple of shut down innings. We’ve been swinging the bats really well and made a lineup adjustment to spread it out and extend it a bit.

“We want to leave here on a high, let’s keep riding it right now,” Littlewood said. “It’s always a big game, ever since I played and way before that. It’s one of those special games you enjoy winning and hate to lose.

“I think we feel confident and comfortable where we are at right now. The guys are playing nice and relaxed. This was a big game for us and obviously the next four are huge for us.”

BYU readies for a three-game series starting at Santa Clara on Thursday at 6 p.m., PDT. This week it was made known to the Cougars they would have to reschedule last Saturday’s rainout against St. Mary’s, but will make up that game on Monday afternoon while in California.

With destiny in its own control, BYU’s baseball team begins the final week of the regular season on Tuesday in a non-league game at rival Utah.

The Cougars (24-22 overall and 13-10 in the West Coast Conference) play Utah (16-29-1) on Tuesday to determine the winner of the annual Deseret First Duel. Then BYU travels to Santa Clara (24-26, 11-13) for a three-game series beginning Thursday.

“This is a big week for us as we enter the last week of conference play, as well as a series deciding game against Utah on Tuesday,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said.

“We'd love to go up to Salt Lake, pick up a win against the Utes and capture the baseball portion of the Deseret Dual. Every game against Utah brings a different type of excitement and I'm sure this game won't be any different.”

Junior Brady Corless (2-4, 5.18) will be BYU’s starting pitcher against the Utes. Last March, Utah won a rain-shortened six-inning game in Salt Lake City, 9-6. BYU beat the Utes, 7-6, in Provo last month. With this being the rubber match of the rivalry, run differential is not a factor determining the winner of the Deseret Duel. BYU has won six of the past seven years unless the two teams tie in a series favoring BYU, 240-114-2.

Brandon Kinser (6-3, 4.14)  and Kolton Mahoney (4-6, 4.92) take the mound for the Cougars on Thursday and Friday evenings when the Cougars return to WCC action. Saturday afternoon’s starter is TBA for BYU.

“We hold the destiny of our post season in our own hands,” Littlewood said. “Earning a spot into the WCC tournament was one of our main goals as we entered this season so it feels great to still be able to achieve that goal with a week of conference play remaining.”

BYU has tiebreaking scenarios in its favor with all teams in contention for the final four spots of WCC Tournament berths except league-leading San Diego. A sweep at Santa Clara ensures BYU of a berth in that tourney. The Cougars are a game short of a full complement of conference games because of last Saturday’s cancelled game against St. Mary’s due to rain in Provo.

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