Walker shuts down Gaels in 11-0 win

PROVO, Utah – Easton Walker pitched six shutout innings as BYU beat Saint Mary’s 11-0 Friday night at Larry H. Miller Field.

"We wanted to put the pressure on them early," BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. "We were hoping to just get on the board in the first inning but putting up five runs was nice."

BYU vs. Saint Mary’s Box Score

Game Summary

• The Cougars won their seventh-straight game, the longest streak of the season

• Brock Hale homered for the fourth time in the last three games

• Easton Walker continued his run as the nation’s only NCAA qualifying pitcher (at least one inning pitched per team game) with an ERA of 0.00

Player Highlights

• Easton Walker: W (3-0), 6 IP, 3 K, 3 H, 3 BB, 0 ER

• Brian Hsu: 3-4, BB, 3 R, RBI

• Brock Hale: 2-4, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI

For the second-straight night, BYU baseball scored five first-inning runs with a combination of hits and help from three Gael errors. Brian Hsu walked, Noah hill hit a bunt single and Brock Hale reached on an error to quickly load the bases. Jackson Cluff was hit by a pitch to bring in the first run, then Austin Deming reached safely off a dropped fly ball to center field to score a run.

After an Abraham Valdez sacrifice fly that scored Hale, Mitch McIntyre singled, then went to second on a bad throw by the Saint Mary's catcher that helped bring in two more Cougars.

BYU tacked on another in the second, with Hale doubling to score Hsu from first. In the third inning, Hsu drove home McIntyre on a single through the left side. Jackson Cluff scored on a passed ball in the fourth for an 8-0 BYU lead.

Walker preserved his 0.00 ERA, throwing six innings, allowing just three hits and fanning three before handing over the mound duties to Blake Inouye.

In the seventh, Hale launched a three-run shot over the left-field fence to make it 11-0 for the Cougars.

Inouye held Saint Mary's scoreless over two innings. Ayden Callahan came on to pitch the ninth and close out the shutout for BYU.

BYU looks for the series sweep Saturday at 1 p.m. MDT. The game will air on BYUtv, BYU Radio and ESPN 960.