Cougars defeat Niagara 11-5 for sixth-straight win

PROVO, Utah – BYU baseball defeated Niagara 11-5 Tuesday afternoon at Miller Park to remain undefeated at home and run its win streak to six games. 

The Cougars have won 10 of 11 overall and are 12-3 on the season while Niagara falls to 1-12. BYU used a six-run fourth inning and limited the Purple Eagles to three runs over the final seven innings to secure the win.

“We came out a little flat and got off to a slow start,” BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. “You could feel it in the dugout – something clicked and the guys decided they wanted to play and we kind of rolled after that.”

BYU vs. Niagara Box Score

Game Summary

• Junior Mitch McIntyre started the game at DH, drawing three walks and two runs. He then went to the mound and pitched two scoreless innings to earn his first career win.
• Down 2-1, the Cougars totaled six runs to permanently take the lead
• BYU and Niagara played after scheduling the game just 26 hours earlier after Niagara had games against Utah cancelled.

Player Highlights

• Brian Hsu: 2-3, 2 RBI, SB
• Keaton Kringlen: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI
• Abraham Valdez: 1-1, 2 R, 2 RBI
• Mitch McIntyre: Pitching: W (1-0), 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 K; Hitting: 2 R, 3 BB

BYU totaled eight hits, including two doubles, and drew five walks at the plate. Senior Brian Hsu (2 for 3), senior Keaton Kringlen (2-4), sophomore DJ McNew (1-4) and junior Abraham Valdez (1-1) drove in two runs apiece and Kringlen, Valdez, sophomore Danny Gelalich and sophomore Mitch McIntyre each crossed the plate twice. 

It was a staff day on the mound as eight pitchers combined to allow five runs, including four earned, on 10 hits. McIntyre pitched a pair of scoreless innings and totaled two strikeouts and was credited with the win. Freshman Jake Porter made his BYU debut and pitched 2.0 innings and allowed one unearned run.

BYU fell behind 2-0, allowing a single run in the first and second innings. The Cougars cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Hsu. Valdez got things started with BYU’s first hit of the day and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. Hsu then stepped to the plate and cranked a single to right center to bring Valdez home.

The one-run third was a sign of things to come in the fourth as the Cougars put six runs on the board for a 7-2 lead.

BYU loaded the bases as Cluff walked, Kringlen singled and McIntyre walked to set the stage for McNew, who laced a single to center to score two. After a sac bunt by Valdez and a throwing error, McIntyre reached home on a wild pitch.

The Cougars maintained the pressure as McNew scored on a groundout and back-to-back hits to the same spot brought in two more. Gelalich doubled down the left field line to send Valdez home and, after stealing third, scored on a single by Hsu.

Niagara took advantage of four runs and one walk to tack on two runs and cut the deficit to 9-4.

BYU loaded the bases in the sixth as three-straight players were hit by a pitch. Kringlen hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Gelalich and give the Cougars a 10-4 advantage.

After Niagara notched another run in the top of the eighth, Kringlen and the Cougars manufactured one of their own in the bottom half. Freshman Hobbs Nyberg pinch hit for Hsu and led off with a double down the right field line. He advanced to third on a ground out and Kringlen sent him home on a ground out to third for an 11-5 advantage.

BYU stays home and opens West Coast Conference play this week with a three-game series against Gonzaga at Miller Park. Game one is scheduled for Thursday, March 14, at 6 p.m. MDT. A live video broadcast will be available on TheW.tv and live audio will available on BYU Radio.