Three Kringlen home runs and a Rogers gem fuel sweep over Gaels

PROVO, Utah — Three home runs from Keaton Kringlen helped give BYU baseball a 14-1 win Saturday to complete the series sweep over Saint Mary’s at Larry H. Miller Field.

"It kind of all came together this series," BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. "Saint Mary’s caught us on a good week for us. Our pitchers executed the pitches. Keaton (Kringlen) plays the game the right way. It’s not just the power, but he has lightning hands. His attitude and the way he approaches the game is contagious. Maybe that is what this team has been looking for. It was also nice to have Chauncey and Shaver swinging it well."

Kringlen went 4 for 5 with three home runs and seven RBIs. The sophomore is the first Cougar to hit three home runs in a game this season. Kyle Dean accomplished the feat last season.

Hayden Rogers pitched eight innings for the Cougars (14-11, 4-2 West Coast Conference), striking out four and giving up just two hits and one earned run. Rogers moved to 2-1 on the year.

Kringlen ripped a solo home run to left center in the bottom of the second to give BYU the 1-0 early lead.

After Bronson Larsen singled to left field, Dean grounded out first, advancing Larsen to second. Shaver then stepped up to the plate and singled through the left side to score Larsen. The Cougars took the 2-0 advantage into the third inning.

Saint Mary’s (17-10, 3-3 WCC) pushed its first and only run across the plate as Kevin Milam doubled off the left field wall to score Joey Fiske, and close the gap to 2-1 in the third.

In the bottom of the fifth, Colton Shaver doubled to left field on a 3-2 count. Casey Jacobsen slapped a single through the left side to put runners on the corners with no outs. Brennon Anderson then layed down an RBI bunt to score Shaver, extending the Cougars’ lead to 3-1.

Daniel Schneemann grounded out to the Saint Mary’s second baseman, scoring Jacobsen from third in the bottom of the seventh.

With Tanner Chauncey and Noah Hill on base, Kringlen then crushed a ball to left center for his second home run of the game. Kringlen’s 2 RBI homer gave BYU the 7-1 lead heading into the eighth inning.

Shaver gave BYU its third home run of the game as the junior hit a bomb over the left field scoreboard. Shaver’s two-run home run scored Dean to give BYU the 9-1 advantage in the bottom of the eighth.

After Anderson doubled to right center, Chauncey singled to left field to score Anderson. Kringlen then rifled his third home run of the game to score three. Larsen then crossed the plate on a Gaels’ error to make the score 14-1.

The Cougars plated seven runs in the bottom of the eighth.

BYU baseball will return to action on Monday, April 3, at Larry H. Miller Field. The Cougars will take on Oregon at 2 p.m. MDT. The game will be broadcast on BYUtv and simulcast on BYU Radio (XM 143).