BYU beats Milwaukee 14-6 in five innings

PROVO, Utah – BYU knocked 13 hits to beat Milwaukee 14-6 in a snow-shortened game Friday afternoon at Larry H. Miller Field.

"Our guys did a great job fighting through tough conditions today and bringing energy the entire game," BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. "There was no panic when we went down three runs in the first and we just kept battling back."

BYU vs. Milwaukee Box Score

Game Summary

• After spotting the Panthers three first-inning runs, the Cougars scored 10 unanswered through the first four innings

• In the third inning, Carson Matthews knocked in two runs with a triple, then stole home during the next at-bat

• The game was called in the top of the sixth after one pitch due to heavy snowfall. The second game of Friday's scheduled doubleheader was cancelled as well.

Player Highlights

• Brian Hsu: 4-4, 2 R, RBI

• Jackson Cluff: 3-3, 2B, R, 3 RBI

• Carson Matthews: 1-2, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB

• Jarod Lessar: W (2-1), 4.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 6 K

Milwaukee took advantage of three hits and a Cougar error to score three in the first inning. But BYU responded with a run in the bottom half on sophomore Jackson Cluff’s single that scored sophomore Danny Gelalich, who led off the inning with a base hit.

In the bottom of the second, the Cougars plated three to take the lead, 4-3. Sophomore Mitch McIntyre hit a double, then scored on a Milwaukee error. With two outs and two on, senior Noah Hill came home thanks to a balk, then senior Brian Hsu hit an RBI-single through the left side to again bring in Gelalich.

BYU continued the scoring in the third, with back-to-back doubles by Cluff and senior Keaton Kringlen. Three batters later, Carson Matthews hit a triple to score two more runs. After the Panthers subsequently made a pitching change, the freshman raced home on the first pitch of the next at-bat, diving under the tag to steal home plate and giving BYU an 8-3 lead.

BYU starter Jarod Lessar earned his second win of the year to go to 2-1, going 4.2 innings and fanning six, a career high. Sophomore Easton Walker then took the ball for the final out of the frame.

"Jarod did a nice job settling in after the first inning and Easton came in and got a key out for us," Littlewood said. 

In the bottom of the fifth, the Cougars scored four more. After senior Brock Hale walked with the bases loaded,  Cluff stayed hot with a single through the right side in the fifth to score senior Brian Hsu and Matthews. Kringlen then brought Hale home on a sacrifice fly to make it 14-6 for BYU.

Hsu finished 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI while Cluff also was perfect at the plate going 3-for-3 with a double, a run and three RBIs after collecting three hits, two runs and an RBI on Thursday against the Panthers.

"Jackson stepped up huge at the plate for us again today," Littlewood added.

Walker managed to throw one pitch in the top of the sixth inning, but a snowstorm ultimately halted the game. By rule, the game was called complete and a win for BYU due to the fact the two teams had played the minimum five innings.

BYU and Milwaukee will play for a third and final time on Saturday, March 9, at 11 a.m. MT.