


PROVO, Utah – Bret Lopez hit a deep double to right field to spark a three-run fifth inning and give BYU a 3-1 upset over No. 21 UC Irvine Friday at Larry H. Miller Field.
The Cougars (9-6) got their second upset in as many days over the Anteaters (11-4), even though they were out-hit 9-7 in the game. The game lasted one hour and 55 minutes, the shortest game that BYU has played this season.
Highlights and Interviews Here.
Brock Whitney and Kelton Caldwell smacked one-out singles in that fifth inning. Lopez followed with a deep fly to the right-field warning track that Kris Paulino misplayed. Whitney capitalized on the miscue to score from second and put the Cougars up 1-0. Then Dakota Hernandez swung at strike three but the UCI catcher was distracted by that wild pitch/swing and Caldwell scored from third to extend the lead to 2-0. Next, Hayden Nielsen laid down a perfect safety-squeeze bunt to score Lopez from third and give the Cougars a 3-0 lead going into the sixth inning.
“You know, we were at the right time in our lineup there in the fifth inning,” BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. “We ran a couple of safety squeezes and we work on that all the time before practice. It was good we were able to use and execute them.”
The Anteaters responded in the top of the sixth, scoring one run. Taylor Sparks singled to right- center to plate Dominique Taylor. After UCI loaded the bases with one out; starting BYU pitcher, Adam Miller got an assist from a pitcher’s best friend, turning a (1-2-3) double play to end the inning.
James Lengal came in for the ninth on the heels of Matt Milke’s two innings of relief and got his second save in as many days, fanning the last two batters of the game to give him his fourth save of the year.
“We aren't going to make any adjustments, we are just going to come out and play our game and concentrate on the things we can control,” Littlewood said. “We want to play our style of game and I think we did that today.”
Miller recorded his first win on the year, pitching six innings, striking out two while only giving up one walk. He pitched five scoreless innings, consistently keeping the Anteaters from generating an offense. The junior hurler set the side down in order in the second and third frames.
“It was nice to get some run support by the offense today,” Miller said. “The past few games I had pitched, they had struggled to get some runs so it was nice they scored some today.”
Miller escaped danger in the fourth inning, when UCI’s Connor Spencer hit a “seeing-eye” single up middle. Ronnie Shaeffer reached first when Miller bobbled the slow dribbler. After Spencer advanced to third, Miller coaxed an infield fly to Adam Law to end the inning and keep the score 0-0.
The final game of the three-game series between BYU and UC Irvine will be tomorrow at noon MST from Larry H. Miller Field. The game can be heard live on KOVO Radio 960 AM.
No. 21 UC Irvine opens Cougar season in Provo

No. 21 UC Irvine plays a three-game series in Provo this week to become BYU baseball’s official home opener.
The Cougars (7-6) host UC Irvine (10-2) after having last week’s scheduled home opener moved to St. George because of playing conditions at Larry H. Miller Field.
“UC Irvine is a great challenge for us because they are a solid baseball team that has beat up some good teams thus far,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “We want to set a precedent to win home series, so we need to go about our game plan, throw strikes, get timely hitting and continue not beating ourselves.”
Junior co-captain Desmond Poulson (2-0, 1.23 earned run average) is scheduled to start for BYU on the mound in Thursday’s game, which starts at 3 p.m. MST. On Friday, also at 3 p.m., junior Adam Miller (0-3, 4.66) will be BYU’s starter. And on Saturday at noon, sophomore Jeff Barker (2-1, 1.89) is scheduled to start for the Cougars.
The Anteaters’ scheduled pitcher for game three on Saturday is the nation’s leading pitcher Andrew Morales who brings a 4-0 record and a 2.60 ERA into the afternoon contest.
The Anteaters bring the nation’s No. 3 batting average of .337 and No. 3 fielding percentage of .991 into the series. The Cougars are No. 2 in the nation in double plays turned.
All three games will be broadcast live locally over KOVO Radio 960 AM.
Location: Provo, Utah
Time: Date: 3/8/2013
Attendance: 325
Box Score
Linescore | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | LOB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UCI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
BYU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
UC Irvine 11-4
Batting/Fielding | AB | Runs | Hits | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | SF | SH | HBP | AVG | SLG | OBP | PO | A | E | FLD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stephens, Jefflf | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
Taylor, Dominiquecf | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.750 | 0.500 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
Spencer, Connor1b | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.750 | 0.750 | 0.750 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
Shaeffer, Ronniec | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
Sparks, Taylor3b | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
Paulino, Krisrf | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.250 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
Rabago, Chrisss | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
Cooper, Ryandh | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Duarte, Mikey2b | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.667 | 0.333 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
Batting Totals | 35 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.257 | 0.314 | 0.278 | 24 | 11 | 0 | 1.000 |
Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | 2B | 3B | HR | BF | AB | WP | HBP | BK | SFA | SHA | AVG | ERA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whitehouse, Mattp | 8.0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.241 | 3.375 |
Pitching Totals | 8.0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.241 | 3.375 |
Brigham Young Univ. 9-6
Batting/Fielding | AB | Runs | Hits | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | SF | SH | HBP | AVG | SLG | OBP | PO | A | E | FLD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HANNEMANN, Jacoblf | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
ANDERSON, Brennon2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
LAW, Adam3b | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
BRUGMAN, Jaycobcf | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
WHITNEY, Brock1b | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.667 | 0.667 | 0.667 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
CALDWELL, Keltonrf | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
LOPEZ, Bretdh | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.667 | 0.333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
HERNANDEZ, Dakotac | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
NIELSEN, Haydenss | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
Batting Totals | 29 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.241 | 0.276 | 0.241 | 27 | 14 | 1 | 0.976 |
Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | 2B | 3B | HR | BF | AB | WP | HBP | BK | SFA | SHA | AVG | ERA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MILLER, Adamp | 6.0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 1.500 |
MILKE, Mattp | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.286 | 0.000 |
LENGAL, Jamesp | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.000 |
Pitching Totals | 9.0 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.257 | 1.000 |
Play By Play
Inning 1
Play | Outs | UCI | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
Stephens struck out swinging (0-2). | 0 | - | - |
Taylor doubled down the lf line (0-0). | 1 | - | - |
Spencer out at first 1b to p (1-1); Taylor advanced to third. | 1 | - | - |
Shaeffer grounded out to 2b (2-2). | 2 | - | - |
HANNEMANN struck out swinging (1-2). | 0 | - | - |
ANDERSON, B. flied out to rf (0-0). | 1 | - | - |
LAW grounded out to ss (3-2). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 2
Play | Outs | UCI | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
Sparks struck out swinging (0-2). | 0 | - | - |
Paulino grounded out to 2b (0-0). | 1 | - | - |
Rabago grounded out to ss (1-2). | 2 | - | - |
BRUGMAN struck out swinging (0-2). | 0 | - | - |
WHITNEY flied out to rf (2-1). | 1 | - | - |
CALDWELL grounded out to ss (1-1). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 3
Play | Outs | UCI | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
Cooper grounded out to p (1-1). | 0 | - | - |
Duarte flied out to rf (1-2). | 1 | - | - |
Stephens grounded out to 2b (0-2). | 2 | - | - |
LOPEZ lined out to 3b (2-2). | 0 | - | - |
HERNANDEZ singled to left center (2-1). | 1 | - | - |
HERNANDEZ out at second c to ss, caught stealing. | 1 | - | - |
NIELSEN fouled out to 1b (2-2). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 4
Play | Outs | UCI | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
Taylor grounded out to ss (0-0). | 0 | - | - |
Spencer singled up the middle (0-1). | 1 | - | - |
Shaeffer reached on a fielding error by p (2-1); Spencer advanced to second. | 1 | - | - |
Sparks reached on a fielder's choice (1-1); Shaeffer out at second ss to 2b; Spencer advanced to third. | 1 | - | - |
Paulino popped up to 3b (0-0). | 2 | - | - |
HANNEMANN fouled out to rf (2-1). | 0 | - | - |
ANDERSON, B. grounded out to p (1-2). | 1 | - | - |
LAW struck out swinging, grounded out to c unassisted (2-2). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 5
Play | Outs | UCI | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
Rabago grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-1). | 0 | - | - |
Cooper popped up to ss (0-0). | 1 | - | - |
Duarte doubled to center field (1-2). | 2 | - | - |
Stephens grounded out to 3b (0-0). | 2 | - | - |
BRUGMAN flied out to lf (3-1). | 0 | - | - |
WHITNEY singled to left field (0-0). | 1 | - | - |
CALDWELL singled to right field (0-1); WHITNEY advanced to second. | 1 | - | - |
LOPEZ doubled to right field, RBI (2-1); CALDWELL advanced to third; WHITNEY scored. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
HERNANDEZ struck out swinging, reached first on a wild pitch (0-2); LOPEZ advanced to third; CALDWELL scored. | 1 | 0 | 2 |
NIELSEN singled to pitcher, RBI (0-0); HERNANDEZ advanced to second; LOPEZ scored. | 1 | 0 | 3 |
HANNEMANN grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt (0-0); NIELSEN advanced to second; HERNANDEZ advanced to third. | 1 | - | - |
ANDERSON, B. grounded out to p (2-1). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 6
Play | Outs | UCI | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
Taylor singled to right field (0-2). | 0 | - | - |
Spencer singled to center field (0-0); Taylor advanced to second. | 0 | - | - |
Shaeffer flied out to rf (0-0); Taylor advanced to third. | 0 | - | - |
Sparks singled to right center, RBI (0-0); Spencer advanced to second; Taylor scored. | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Paulino walked (3-2); Sparks advanced to second; Spencer advanced to third. | 1 | - | - |
Rabago grounded into double play p to c to 1b (2-2); Spencer out on the play. | 1 | - | - |
LAW singled to right center (0-0). | 0 | - | - |
BRUGMAN grounded out to p (0-0); LAW advanced to second. | 0 | - | - |
LAW out at third p to 3b, caught stealing. | 1 | - | - |
WHITNEY singled to center field (2-1). | 2 | - | - |
CALDWELL struck out swinging (3-2). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 7
Play | Outs | UCI | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
MILKE to p for MILLER. | 0 | - | - |
Cooper singled to pitcher (0-0). | 0 | - | - |
Duarte out at first 1b to 2b, SAC, bunt (1-0); Cooper advanced to second. | 0 | - | - |
Stephens flied out to rf (0-1). | 1 | - | - |
Taylor flied out to rf (1-1). | 2 | - | - |
LOPEZ flied out to cf (0-0). | 0 | - | - |
HERNANDEZ flied out to cf (2-1). | 1 | - | - |
NIELSEN grounded out to ss (1-0). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 8
Play | Outs | UCI | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
Spencer singled to right field (1-1). | 0 | - | - |
Shaeffer flied out to lf (0-0). | 0 | - | - |
Sparks fouled out to 3b (1-1). | 1 | - | - |
Paulino grounded out to 2b (2-2). | 2 | - | - |
HANNEMANN grounded out to 2b (0-1). | 0 | - | - |
ANDERSON, B. grounded out to ss (1-1). | 1 | - | - |
LAW struck out swinging (3-2). | 2 | - | - |
Inning 9
Play | Outs | UCI | BYU |
---|---|---|---|
LENGAL to p for MILKE. | 0 | ||
Rabago grounded out to ss (1-1). | 0 | ||
Cooper singled to left field (1-1). | 1 | ||
Duarte struck out looking (2-2). | 1 | ||
Stephens struck out looking (3-2). | 2 |