Four-game venue change this week in California

On to the Pacific seaboard from the Atlantic piedmont, BYU’s baseball team hopes to reverse the tide in four games at San Jose, California this week.

The Cougars, 1-2 overall, begin on Thursday in a split doubleheader against Northern Colorado, 1-3, on Thursday at noon PST, followed by the 5 p.m. against host San Jose State, 0-2.

Single game rematches against the same teams are on Friday vs. UNC again at noon and on Saturday at 2 p.m. vs. SJSU. Thursday and Friday's games are at Billy Hebert Field in Stockton, California. Saturday's game is at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton.

Due to rain and field conditions the games have been moved from San Jose’s Municipal Stadium to turf fields in the area. Game times and live streaming of those games depends on the venue. Changes will be posted on www.byucougars.com.

Maverik Buffo (0-1, 7.20) will start for BYU in the opener, followed by Brady Corless (1-0, 3.18) in Thursday’s nightcap.Connor Williams (1-1, 4.85 in 2016) is the Cougars’ probable starter for Friday Kendall Motes (0-0, 9.00 in 2016) is scheduled to be on the mound on Saturday.

"We are looking forward to getting back on the West Coast after three tough games in Atlanta,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “The guys played great last week and we look to build on the progress we made during the opening week of play. Playing four games will give us an opportunity to get Connor Williams and Kendall Motes on the mound to see what they can do.”

BYU hopes to combine its anticipated hitting prowess with impressive pitching demonstrated in last week’s games at the Atlanta Challenge. In the first two games at Georgia the Cougars out-hit their opponents with solid pitching. In the 10-inning loss at Georgia State earlier this week, BYU’s hitting was shutdown, but pitching continued to rise to the occasion.

Sophomore Keaton Kringlen’s hitting streak ended at 13 games at GSU where the game could have finished in a tie due to travel restrictions. Brock Hale’s four-game hitting streak leads BYU, followed by Kyle Dean, Nate Favero and Colton Shaver each with three-game hitting streaks. Kringlen, Hale, Shaver and David Clawson each have knocked a home run this season.

Following this week’s four-game series, the Cougars return home for a couple days, then are back in California for a three-game series at Cal State Bakersfield next weekend.