LOS ANGELES (March 25, 2017)—Right-handed junior Cory Abbott threw a perfect game to give Loyola Marymount a 2-0 victory over BYU baseball on Saturday afternoon.

Abbott struck out 13 Cougars to up his record to 4-1 as LMU improved to 13-10 and 4-2 in the West Coast Conference. Abbott’s no-hitter was the first perfect game against BYU and the first no-hitter since San Diego State blanked the Cougars in both 1966 and 1964.

“Cory Abbott just carved us up today,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “I feel bad for Hayden (Rogers) because he threw a gem as well.”

Lefty Hayden Rogers of BYU did not pitch a bad complete game either, throwing a two-hitter through five innings until LMU scored its first run from a pair of singles in the sixth frame. Rogers threw 89 pitches compared to Abbott’s 106 pitches, which included a combination of an 86 mph slider and 92 mph fastball all on the black corners of home plate.

While the Cougars were held hitless, they did turn a couple nice defensive plays.

Rogers made a high stab on the mound  in the second inning to throw out the LMU runner at first. Abbott duplicated that play to rob Brock Hale of a hit to end the seventh inning and keep his no-hitter intact.

Cougar left fielder Keaton Kringlen turned a double play when he caught a fly ball, then threw out the Lion runner heading back to second base to end the fourth inning.  Earlier in the fourth frame, Hale worked Abbott to a full count before striking out.

Other than Hale and Colton Shaver working to full counts in the second and fourh innings, respectively, pinch-hitter Tanner Chauncey was the only other Cougar batter who drew three balls from Abbott and got a full count before striking out to end the game.

BYU, now 10-11 overall and 1-2 in the WCC, takes a break from league action, next playing at Smith’s Ballpark against Utah in Salt Lake City on Tuesday evening.

League play begins Thursday for BYU baseball at Loyola Marymount University to start a three-game series.

The Cougars (9-9, 0-0) begin defending their West Coast Conference title  when they face LMU (11-9, 2-1).  The Lions got bookend wins last week in their WCC opener on the road and now readies for the Cougars at home.

“Despite our .500 record we feel good about how we've played overall,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “We've played quality opponents and had some very tough games; this has prepared us well as we open up league play this week at LMU.”

The Cougars also took two of three last week when they hosted UConn against quality pitching.

The pitching rotation remains the same this week for BYU with Maverik Buffo (2-3, 5.40) and Brady Corless  (2-0, 4.35) on the hill for the  6 p.m.  PDT games on Thursday and Friday. Lefty Hayden Rogers (1-0, 2.59) will start for the Cougars in Saturday’s game at 1 p.m. PDT.

Shortstop Daniel Schneemann leads the Cougars with a current 13-game hitting streak after posting a second game-winning home run for the season.  However, Schneemann remains day-to-day after a hamstring injury in game two against UConn.

Behind Schneemann with current hitting streaks are catchers Bronson Larsen at seven games and David Clawson with six games.

All three games at LMU will be broadcast live locally in Utah on ESPN 960 AM with Brent Norton calling the action.  That station’s website along with the site for BYU radio will stream his call. Video on all three games will be streamed on theW.tv on the Internet.

Following the LMU series, the Cougars return to play at Utah on Tuesday (March 28) before hosting Saint Mary’s College in a three-game series in WCC action.

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