SANTA CLARA, California (May 6, 2017)—Nate Favero hit a pair of two-run homers in late innings to guide No. 22 BYU baseball to an 8-4 victory and sweep over Santa Clara on Saturday.

“On the first one I thought it was definitely going to go out,” Favero said. “On the second one there was enough backspin for it to go out."

Batting No. 8 in the order, Favero accounted for BYU's final five runs of the game and went 8-for-13 with nine RBI in the sweep over the Broncos. The junior’s eighth-inning shot on a 3-1 count proved to be the game-winning RBI and his ninth-inning dinger was on the first pitch again to right field.

Colton Shaver, who joined Favero with a team-leading three hits, scored from Favero’s strokes in the sixth and eighth innings. Overall, BYU tallied 14 hits on the afternoon, never trailing after taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Junior Hayden Rogers improved his record to a team-best six wins against one loss. Rogers struck out five in 5.2 innings and got stalwart relief from Keaton Cenatiempo for three innings and Riley Gates for the final out of the game.

"I couldn't be more proud of our effort this weekend," BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. "Hayden (Rogers) gave us a great start today and Keaton (Cenatiempo) and Riley (Gates) were very solid out of the pen. Nate (Favero) had a great weekend on the offensive and defensive side.  It's so nice to be able to get that kind of production out of the bottom of our order."

The Cougars strengthened their first place standing in the West Coast Conference, with a 17-4 record and 29-14 overall mark. Santa Clara dropped to 7-14 in the league and 11-35 overall.

BYU next hosts Utah to determine the Deseret First Duel on Tuesday at 6 p.m., then returns to league play hosting a three-game series starting Thursday against Portland.

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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