


-
How to Watch/Listen
- BYUtv
- ESPN 960 AM | Provo, UT
- BYU Radio - Sirius XM 143
Miller Park
400 E University Parkway Provo UT 84604
PROVO, Utah – No. 30 BYU baseball cruised to an 11-2 win over the Gonzaga Bulldogs behind productive bats and the arm of junior righthander Michael Rucker on Thursday night at Miller Park.
Rucker, a former Zag, gave up one earned run in the first but settled down to deliver six scoreless frames after that start. He fanned six and scattered six hits over his seven innings to improve to a nation-best 9-0 mark on the season. He was tied for No. 1 in wins in the NCAA entering the game.
"[Rucker] is just a calm guy," coach Mike Littlewood said. "He’s calm out there. He’s calm when we’re talking in my office. He’s calm in the clubhouse. He’s calm on the bus. Sometimes you have to check him for a heartbeat. He just doesn’t show his emotions. That’s what makes him really good. And at this level when you can do that, it’s pretty special.
"He’s got a great future. We sure wish we’d have him back next year, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. I think he’s going to have a really good chance of playing pro ball next year."
With the win, BYU (29-9, 11-5) moves within one-half game of West Coast Conference leader Gonzaga (24-14, 12-7) in the opener of a three-game series with the Bulldogs.
Freshman Keaton Kringlen went 3-for-4 with three RBI and juniors Tanner Chauncey and Bronson Larsen each homered for the Cougars. Seniors Hayden Nielsen and Eric Urry, along with junior Brennon Lund each collected two hits and two runs.
Gonzaga took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first. After stringing together back-to-back infield hits to start the game, Zags’ outfielder Jeff Bohling roped a two-out double with runners at the corners to plate outfielder Sam Brown for the early edge.
BYU answered quickly when Lund doubled to lead off the bottom of the first on a soft liner down the right-field line. After Nielsen took a pitch off the back, Lund stole third and sophomore Colton Shaver walked to load the bases with one out. Urry hit a sharp single through the left side to score Lund and Nielsen to go ahead 2-1. A hard-hit grounder from Kringlen went off the Gonzaga shortstop Dustin Breshear's face for an infield hit and Shaver came in to score, giving BYU a 3-1 lead.
The bats continued to add insurance, coming up with at least one run in each of the final five innings BYU came to the plate.
Sophomore Brennon Anderson picked up a one-out single in the bottom of the fourth. Lund walked and Nielsen singled to left, scoring Anderson to add to make it 4-1.
The Cougars extended the lead to 5-1 in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Kringlen after Urry doubled to lead off the inning and took third on an error by the right fielder.
BYU escaped a jam in the top of the sixth with two on and one out by Nielsen snagging a ground ball up the middle, stepping on second base and throwing to first for an inning-ending double play.
Chauncey made it 6-1 when he took a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall for a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, his first of the season and second as a collegian.
The longball was working again the bottom of the seventh with Larsen going deep to center with Urry on base for a two-run blast to push the lead to 8-1 after seven innings.
Lund tripled to lead off the eighth and scored easily from third on Nielsen’s single to left for a 9-1 mark. Back-to-back singles from Chauncey and Shaver scored Nielsen and BYU led 10-1. The Cougars got one more on the sacrifice fly from Kringlen to score freshman outfielder Danny Gelalich who came in to run for Chauncey.
The Bulldogs picked up a run in the top of the ninth but BYU went on to win it 11-2.
BYU and Gonzaga play game two of the series Friday at 6 p.m. MT at Miller Park. The game will be televised live on BYUtv and available on ESPN 960 AM and BYU Radio - Sirius XM 143.
No. 30 BYU at UVU Tuesday prior to hosting Gonzaga

PROVO, Utah--After stumbling against No. 25 Creighton, No. 30 BYU baseball hopes to regain its balance at Utah Valley University on Tuesday night prior to hosting Gonzaga.
Southpaw sophomore Riley Gates (2-0, 4.50) gets the nod as the Cougars’ (28-9) starting pitcher against the Wolverines (22-18) in Tuesday’s tilt at 6 p.m. That game will be broadcast live by Robbie Bullough and former Cougar pitcher Marc Oslund on BYU Radio—Sirius Satellite 143.
This is the second of three games this season against UVU, with BYU prevailing 6-1 last month in Provo.
On Thursday BYU returns to West Coast Conference action, starting a three-game series against league frontrunner Gonzaga (24-13). The Zags (12-6) have a one-and-a-half-game lead over BYU (10-5) in the WCC standings.
“We control our own destiny,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “There’s so much parity in this league and most everyone is getting better and better as the season progresses.”
The nation’s winningest pitcher Michael Rucker (8-0, 2.81) will start for the Cougars on Thursday at 6 p.m. MDT, followed by Hayden Rogers (4-1, 2.98) on the mound at that same time on Friday. Rucker is tied for the lead at eight wins in the latest NCAA statistics. For the Saturday game at 1 p.m., BYU’s starter is yet to be named.
The Cougars dropped out of most the national polls after losing two of three to Creighton, but continue to be ranked for the seventh-consecutive week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
All of the BYU-Gonzaga games will be televised live by BYUtv.
Location: Provo, Utah
Time: Date: 4/28/2016
Attendance: 748
Box Score
Linescore | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | LOB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GON | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 8 |
BYU | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | X | 11 | 14 | 1 | 9 |
Gonzaga 24-14
Batting/Fielding | AB | Runs | Hits | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | SF | SH | HBP | AVG | SLG | OBP | PO | A | E | FLD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BROWN, Samlf | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.200 | 0.200 | 0.200 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
CHUNG, Patrickdh | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
BROOKS, Nickph | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
JONES, Taylor1b | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
FROST, Tylercf | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.500 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
BOHLING, Jeffrey3b | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.500 | 0.250 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
HARRIS, Joeyc | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.500 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0.857 |
KRAUEL, Jackpr | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
BRESHEARS, Dustinss | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
ROBERTS, Jake2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
VANDEBRAKE, Jacerf | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.750 |
Batting Totals | 35 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.257 | 0.286 | 0.297 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 0.931 |
Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | 2B | 3B | HR | BF | AB | WP | HBP | BK | SFA | SHA | AVG | ERA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BAILEY, Brandonp | 4.0 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.400 | 11.250 |
VERNIA, Justinp | 4.0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.375 | 13.500 |
Pitching Totals | 8.0 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 44 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.389 | 12.375 |
Brigham Young Univ. 29-9
Batting/Fielding | AB | Runs | Hits | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | SF | SH | HBP | AVG | SLG | OBP | PO | A | E | FLD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LUND, Brennoncf | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.667 | 1.667 | 0.800 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
NIELSEN, Haydenss | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 0.600 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
CHAUNCEY, Tannerdh | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.400 | 1.000 | 0.400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
GELALICH, Dannypr | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
SHAVER, Colton1b | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 0.400 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
FAVERO, Natepr/1b | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
URRY, Ericlf | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.750 | 0.600 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
KRINGLEN, Keatonrf | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.750 | 0.750 | 0.600 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
LARSEN, Bronsonc | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 1.000 | 0.400 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
SCHNEEMANN, Daniel3b/2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.200 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
ANDERSON, Brennon2b | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0.889 |
CLUFF, Jackson3b | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Batting Totals | 36 | 11 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.389 | 0.667 | 0.477 | 27 | 11 | 1 | 0.974 |
Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | 2B | 3B | HR | BF | AB | WP | HBP | BK | SFA | SHA | AVG | ERA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RUCKER, Michaelp | 7.0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.240 | 1.286 |
BURRUP, Bop | 1.1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.167 | 6.750 |
WALKER, Eastonp | 0.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.000 |
Pitching Totals | 9.0 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 35 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.257 | 2.000 |
Play By Play
Inning 1
Play | Outs | GON | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
BROWN, S. singled up the middle (1-1 KB). | 0 | - | - |
CHUNG, P. singled to pitcher (1-1 KB); BROWN, S. advanced to second. | 0 | - | - |
JONES, T. grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b (0-1 K); CHUNG, P. out on the play; BROWN, S. advanced to third. | 0 | - | - |
FROST, T. walked (3-2 BBKBFFFFB). | 2 | - | - |
BOHLING, J. doubled to left field, RBI (0-1 K); FROST, T. advanced to third; BROWN, S. scored. | 2 | 1 | 0 |
HARRIS, J. grounded out to 2b (2-2 BKBS). | 2 | - | - |
LUND doubled down the rf line (1-2 FKB). | 0 | - | - |
NIELSEN hit by pitch (1-2 FFB). | 0 | - | - |
LUND stole third. | 0 | - | - |
CHAUNCEY struck out swinging (3-2 BBKKBFFS). | 0 | - | - |
SHAVER walked (3-2 BBKSFFBB); NIELSEN advanced to second. | 1 | - | - |
URRY singled through the left side, 2 RBI (2-1 BBF); SHAVER advanced to second; NIELSEN scored; LUND scored. | 1 | 1 | 2 |
KRINGLEN singled to shortstop, RBI (0-1 S); URRY advanced to third; SHAVER scored. | 1 | 1 | 3 |
LARSEN struck out swinging (3-2 BBKSBFFS); KRINGLEN stole second. | 1 | - | - |
SCHNEEMANN walked (3-2 BBBKFB). | 2 | - | - |
ANDERSON struck out looking (2-2 BKSBFK). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 2
Play | Outs | GON | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
BRESHEARS, D struck out swinging (1-2 BSFS). | 0 | - | - |
ROBERTS, J. struck out swinging (1-2 KBFS). | 1 | - | - |
VANDEBRAKE struck out swinging (2-2 KFFBFBFS). | 2 | - | - |
LUND fouled out to c (1-2 FKFFFB). | 0 | - | - |
NIELSEN flied out to lf (3-2 KBKBFB). | 1 | - | - |
CHAUNCEY flied out to cf (3-1 BBFB). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 3
Play | Outs | GON | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
BROWN, S. lined out to ss (0-2 FK). | 0 | - | - |
CHUNG, P. struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b (1-2 KBSS). | 1 | - | - |
JONES, T. lined out to 2b (2-2 SFBB). | 2 | - | - |
SHAVER flied out to rf (2-2 KFBB). | 0 | - | - |
URRY lined out to p, bunt (0-0). | 1 | - | - |
KRINGLEN singled to shortstop (0-2 KS). | 2 | - | - |
LARSEN flied out to rf (2-2 BFBK). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 4
Play | Outs | GON | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
FROST, T. grounded out to 2b (2-0 BB). | 0 | - | - |
BOHLING, J. grounded out to 2b (0-0). | 1 | - | - |
HARRIS, J. singled to right field (3-2 KBBFBF). | 2 | - | - |
BRESHEARS, D grounded out to 3b (3-2 FBSBB). | 2 | - | - |
SCHNEEMANN grounded out to 2b (0-0). | 0 | - | - |
ANDERSON singled to right center (0-0). | 1 | - | - |
LUND walked (3-2 KBSBFBB); ANDERSON advanced to second. | 1 | - | - |
NIELSEN singled to left field, RBI (1-1 FB); LUND advanced to second; ANDERSON scored. | 1 | 1 | 4 |
CHAUNCEY flied out to rf (1-0 B). | 1 | - | - |
SHAVER popped up to 2b (3-1 BBBK). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 5
Play | Outs | GON | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
ROBERTS, J. struck out looking (1-2 FFBFFK). | 0 | - | - |
VANDEBRAKE grounded out to 2b (0-0). | 1 | - | - |
BROWN, S. flied out to cf (2-2 BBKF). | 2 | - | - |
URRY doubled, advanced to third on an error by rf (0-0). | 0 | - | - |
KRINGLEN singled to left field, RBI (1-0 B); URRY scored. | 0 | 1 | 5 |
VERNIA, J. to p for BAILEY, B.. | 0 | - | - |
LARSEN flied out to lf (3-1 BBBK). | 0 | - | - |
SCHNEEMANN struck out swinging (3-2 BBBKFS); KRINGLEN stole second. | 1 | - | - |
ANDERSON flied out to cf (1-1 FB). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 6
Play | Outs | GON | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
CHUNG, P. grounded out to 3b (0-0). | 0 | - | - |
JONES, T. singled up the middle (1-1 KB). | 1 | - | - |
FROST, T. singled through the left side (3-2 BBKFB); JONES, T. advanced to second. | 1 | - | - |
BOHLING, J. grounded into double play ss to 1b (2-2 KBBK); FROST, T. out on the play. | 1 | - | - |
LUND walked (3-2 BFFFBFBB). | 0 | - | - |
LUND out at second c to 2b, caught stealing. | 0 | - | - |
NIELSEN grounded out to 3b (3-2 BBFBSF). | 1 | - | - |
CHAUNCEY homered to left field, RBI (1-0 B). | 2 | 1 | 6 |
SHAVER flied out to cf (2-2 BBKS). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 7
Play | Outs | GON | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
HARRIS, J. struck out swinging (2-2 KBBSS). | 0 | - | - |
BRESHEARS, D popped up to 2b (3-2 BKBBK). | 1 | - | - |
ROBERTS, J. flied out to rf (2-2 BFBF). | 2 | - | - |
URRY walked (3-2 KKBBBFB). | 0 | - | - |
KRINGLEN flied out to cf (1-0 B). | 0 | - | - |
URRY advanced to second on a throwing error by c. | 1 | - | - |
LARSEN homered to center field, 2 RBI (3-1 BBBK); URRY scored. | 1 | 1 | 8 |
SCHNEEMANN flied out to lf (3-2 BBFBK). | 1 | - | - |
ANDERSON lined out to ss (1-1 KB). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 8
Play | Outs | GON | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
BURRUP to p for RUCKER. | 0 | - | - |
VANDEBRAKE struck out swinging (0-2 KSS). | 0 | - | - |
BROWN, S. reached on an error by 2b (1-2 BKF). | 1 | - | - |
BROOKS, N. pinch hit for CHUNG, P.. | 1 | - | - |
BROOKS, N. singled through the left side (0-0); BROWN, S. advanced to second. | 1 | - | - |
JONES, T. flied out to cf (1-2 KBS); BROWN, S. advanced to third. | 1 | - | - |
FROST, T. struck out swinging (2-2 KBBFS). | 2 | - | - |
LUND tripled to left field (0-0). | 0 | - | - |
NIELSEN singled to left field, RBI (1-0 B); LUND scored. | 0 | 1 | 9 |
NIELSEN advanced to second on a wild pitch. | 0 | - | - |
CHAUNCEY singled to center field (2-0 BB); NIELSEN advanced to third. | 0 | - | - |
GELALICH pinch ran for CHAUNCEY. | 0 | - | - |
SHAVER singled up the middle, RBI (3-2 BKBBK); GELALICH advanced to second; NIELSEN scored. | 0 | 1 | 10 |
FAVERO pinch ran for SHAVER. | 0 | - | - |
URRY grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-1 S); FAVERO advanced to second; GELALICH advanced to third. | 0 | - | - |
KRINGLEN flied out to cf, SF, RBI (0-1 K); GELALICH scored. | 1 | 1 | 11 |
LARSEN walked (3-1 BBBKB). | 2 | - | - |
SCHNEEMANN flied out to lf (2-1 BFB). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 9
Play | Outs | GON | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
FAVERO to 1b. | 0 | ||
SCHNEEMANN to 2b. | 0 | ||
CLUFF to 3b for ANDERSON. | 0 | ||
BOHLING, J. flied out to lf (0-0). | 0 | ||
HARRIS, J. walked (3-2 KBBSBB). | 1 | ||
WALKER to p for BURRUP. | 1 | ||
KRAUEL, J. pinch ran for HARRIS, J.. | 1 | ||
BRESHEARS, D reached on a fielder's choice (0-1 K); KRAUEL, J. out at second ss to 2b. | 1 | ||
ROBERTS, J. singled up the middle (0-0); BRESHEARS, D advanced to second. | 2 | ||
ROBERTS, J. advanced to second on a wild pitch; BRESHEARS, D advanced to third. | 2 | ||
VANDEBRAKE singled through the left side, RBI (2-2 FBKB); ROBERTS, J. advanced to third; BRESHEARS, D scored. | 2 | ||
BROWN, S. flied out to cf (0-1 K). | 2 |