SANTA CLARA, California—Nate Favero, Tanner Chauncey and Mason Marshall helped lead No. 22 BYU baseball to a series-clinching 13-7 victory over Santa Clara on Friday.

“This was a strange game, but we did what we needed to get the win,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “Mason did a great job in an extended relief appearance; he was very sharp tonight.

“Thank goodness our hitters showed up tonight because we needed every run possible. I thought Nate's (Favero) two-strike, two-out single up the middle was one of the key hits of the night for us.”

Favero led the team with a double and a pair of singles, including the one to centerfield in the sixth inning to plate Colton Shaver and Keaton Kringlen for an 11-6 lead.

Chauncey knocked a two-run homer in the first inning for the initial lead. He extended his hitting streak to eight games and has not struck out in his past 83 at bats, as he remains the nation’s toughest batter to punch out.

Chauncey also made a key defensive play in the third inning in addition to his second homer of the season. Chauncey prevented Santa Clara from taking a 4-3 lead when he alertly threw home, catching Bronco Jake Brodt in a rundown. He then backed up in the ensuing relay to tag him out going to the plate.

Freshman catcher David Clawson accounted for the game-winning RBI in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly to score Shaver. Clawson joined Chauncey with two hits and three RBI on the night.

Shaver belted his 11th home run of the season with a leadoff long ball in the eighth, his second against SCU in the series.

Marshall pitched 5.2 innings and struck out five in relief for his second win of the season.

“Whether I close or pitch in the middle of the game, I just want to win games.” Marshall said. “As long as we are winning, I’m happy. I threw fine,  but the run support is what really does it. Our pitching is good and our hitting has really come along.

The game ended when Santa Clara batted out of order in the ninth.

BYU remained in first place in the West Coast Conference, improving to a 16-4 with a 28-14 overall record. Santa Clara is now 7-13 in the WCC and 11-34 overall.

The Cougars attempt to go for their fourth sweep of the season in Saturday’s game starting at 1 p.m. PDT.

Attention is increasing for No. 22 BYU baseball after it regained first place in the West Coast Conference, and now the focus is on Tuesday’s game at Utah Valley University.

“We have a big week ahead beginning with Utah Valley on Tuesday and then a huge league series at Santa Clara,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “We have a great opportunity to solidify our position in the top four and make a run at the league title. Santa Clara is playing well right now after taking three games at Pepperdine, so we really have our work cut out.”

The Cougars (25-14 and 14-4 WCC) also swept their opponent last weekend against San Francisco at home and are ranked for the first time this season at No. 22 by Collegiate Baseball. Santa Clara (11-31 and 7-11) also has a Tuesday game against No. 19 Arizona prior to hosting BYU.

Utah Valley brings a 15-26 record into the UCCU Crosstown Clash when it hosts the Cougars on Tuesday at 6 p.m. BYU will start Brady Corless (5-0, 4.50) as he hopes to get some work in before his Friday start at Santa Clara.

First baseman Tanner Chauncey is No. 1 in the nation in the category of toughest to strike out. In the month of April, Chauncey did not strike out at all in 67 at bats with 28 hits (.418 batting average), five walks and twice was hit by pitches. This season Chauncey has only struck out five times, the last being at Loyola Marymount.  His other strikeouts came vs. Kennesaw State, Georgia State, San Jose State and UC Santa Barbara. He last struck out on March 25 in the final at bat of a 2-0 loss when Cory Abbott threw his perfect game. Had he not struck out at LMU, Chauncey would have extended his 18-game streak by seven more games.

Maverik Buffo (5-5, 4.99) will start for the Cougars on Thursday against Santa Clara at 6 p.m. PDT. Corless is scheduled to start on Friday at 6 p.m. and Hayden Rogers (5-1, 3.41) will start against the Broncos in Saturday’s finale at 1 p.m.

After the Santa Clara series BYU hosts Utah to start a five-game home stand and conclude the home season.

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