Big innings back Wood’s solid start to beat Milwaukee

PROVO, Utah – Senior pitcher Jordan Wood turned in a quality outing at the Cougar bats came alive in BYU baseball’s 11-8 series-opening win Thursday at Larry H. Miller Field.

"Jordan was as solid as I've ever seen him," BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. "An M.O. of our team over the years is to have good at-bats one through nine, so it was nice to see our hits so spread out."

BYU vs. Milwaukee Box Score

Game Summary

• BYU scored four runs in the seventh inning and three in both the third and fourth

• The Cougars recorded a season-high 15 hits

• Six extra-base hits came from five different players, including three doubles, two triples and a home run

Player Highlights

• Jordan Wood: W (2-0), 6.2 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 7 K

• Brock Hale: 2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI

• Jackson Cluff: 3-5, 2B, 2 R, RBI

• DJ McNew: 1-4, HR, R, 3 RBI

Wood (2-0) didn’t allow an earned run in 6.2 innings, fanning seven Panthers and allowing no earned runs.

The Cougars (9-3) scored three runs in both the third and fourth innings to cushion Wood’s effort. In the third, senior Brock Hale tripled to score sophomore Danny Gelalich and freshman Carson Matthews, then scored from third on a wild pitch. After a second Cougar triple, this time from sophomore Mitch McIntyre, sophomore DJ McNew smacked his first career home run beyond the left-center fence to score a pair in the fourth. A double by sophomore Danny Gelalich brought home senior Noah Hill for another run.

BYU tacked on another run to go up 7-0 in the fifth when sophomore Mitch McIntyre’s single up the middle scored sophomore Jackson Cluff who had previously doubled to left-center.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, an error loaded the bases for the Panthers. A double scored three runs for Milwaukee to cut into the BYU lead.

The Cougars answered with four runs to lead 11-3 in the bottom half of the inning, sparked by a double down the left-field off the bat of Hale. Cluff, McNew and Hill all picked up RBIs in the frame.

The Panthers slugged four doubles and scored four in the eighth to cut BYU’s lead to 11-7. After a quick bottom of the eighth, freshman Reid McLaughlin took over mound duties for the Cougars. He allowed one run before ending the game with a strikeout to strand runners on second and third.

BYU hosts Milwaukee for a doubleheader on Friday, with starting times at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. MT.