PROVO, Utah – Senior Casey Jacobsen’s five RBIs and two home runs led a hot-hitting BYU baseball team to a 13-7 win over Pepperdine Thursday night at Larry H. Miller Field.

BYU vs. Pepperdine Box Score

"It's nice to get production one through nine," BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. "Hitting's contagious. I like to say that it's like free-throw shooting or putting–you see the guy make it in front of you making a couple it eases your mind a little bit." 

Game Summary

• Pepperdine scored four runs in the first inning, but BYU answered by scoring the next eight
• Casey Jacobsen hit a solo home run in the second and a three-run shot in the third
• The Waves closed to within one at 8-7 in the fifth before BYU scored for in the bottom half of the inning to again pull away
• The Cougars recorded a season-best 20 hits on the night

Player Highlights

• Casey Jacobsen: 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI
• Brock Hale: 4-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 RBI
• Reid McLaughlin: W (5-0), 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

In the first inning, the Waves (16-13, 7-6 WCC) got off to a quick start as a three-run homer with no outs on the board gave them an early advantage after a single to center field and an error put two runners on base. The BYU (23-8, 9-4 WCC) defense managed to record a double play, but Pepperdine answered with a solo home run to take a 4-0 advantage.

An impressive second inning by the Cougars evened the score at four-all despite having two outs already on the board. A home run by Jacobsen in the second inning gave BYU its first run of the game. Brock Hale earned an RBI as he singled to left field before a wild pitch advanced both runners to second and third. Jackson Cluff then singled through the right side, scoring two runs.

Three up and three down in the top of the third held Pepperdine scoreless before the Cougars doubled their score. A line drive to right field by Hobbs Nyberg sent Mitch McIntyre back to home plate and was followed by Jacobsen’s second homer of the game for three RBIs and an 8-4 lead.

A two-run home run by the Waves in the fourth and another run in the fifth brought Pepperdine within one, 8-7.

But the Cougars answered in the bottom of the inning as Hale hit a double down the left field line, sending Hsu home. Cluff, Deming and McIntyre recorded an RBI apiece to bring the score to 12-7.

Three strikeouts by Reid McLaughlin slowed down the Waves offense before Jacobsen scored his fifth RBI after a line drive to left field to add to BYU’s score, 13-7.

McLaughlin improved to 5-0 on the year, pitching a career-high 5.0 innings with five strikeouts, no walks and just one hit. 

The Cougars return to play game two in the series on Friday, Apr. 12, at 6 p.m. MDT. Live coverage will be available on TheW.tv while audio broadcasts can be heard on BYU Radio and ESPN 960.

PROVO, Utah - BYU baseball and Pepperdine will go head-to-head in a pivotal WCC series this weekend, April 11-13, at Miller Park.

The Cougars come into the series second in the league standings at 8-4, one game behind league leader LMU at 9-3. The Waves are tied for fourth just one game back of BYU at 7-5. Five of the conference’s 10 teams are currently within at least two games of the LMU for the league lead.

BYU vs. Pepperdine Game Notes

For the fourth-straight week, the Cougar rotation will consist of Jordan Wood (4-1, 3.99), Easton Walker (3-0, 0.49) and Justin Sterner (6-2, 2.41). 

Walker leads the nation with a 0.49 ERA in 36.2 innings, giving up his first earned runs of the season last Friday against San Diego. Walker is also ninth in the country with a 0.76 WHIP and 31st with just 5.40 hits allowed per nine innings.

This past week, sophomore infielder Jackson Cluff was named a Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week and WCC Player of the Week on Monday for his performances at Utah and San Diego. Cluff batted .538 on the week, totaling seven hits, seven runs, 10 RBIs and seven walks with two doubles and a grand slam. In game three against USD, Cluff went 4-for-4 with nine RBIs and a triple short of a cycle, including the grand slam.

Cluff’s National Player of the Week award comes a week after senior outfielder Brock Hale won the same award, marking the first time in program history two players have earned national honors in the same year.

Thursday's game will begin at 6 p.m. MT and will air on BYUtv's digital platforms. Friday's game will also start at 6 p.m. MT and will be shown on TheW.tv while Saturday's contest will begin at 1 p.m. MT and will be shown on BYUtv and BYUtv digital platforms. All games will also air on BYU Radio and ESPN 960.

Game 1
Thursday, April 11
6 p.m. MT
Miller Field
BYUtv Digital, BYU Radio, ESPN 960
$1 Drinks and Flavor Bar

Game 2
Friday, April 12
6 p.m. MT
Miller Field
TheW.tv, BYU Radio, ESPN 960
Sandlot Night, Fireworks, Free S'mores, $1 Ice Cream

Game 3
Saturday, April 13
1 p.m. MT
Miller Field
BYUtv, BYU Radio, ESPN 960
Family Day, Free entry for Rex Lee Run participants