BYU falls to Dixie State 5-4

ST. GEORGE, Utah — An infield single with bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth gave Dixie State a 5-4 walk-off win over BYU on Tuesday at Bruce Hurst Field.

The Cougars took an early lead in bottom of the second inning. With one out, Cooper Vest walked to get things started and advanced to third on a single through the right side by Bryan Call. Andrew Pintar’s sack fly to centerfield scored Vest to give BYU a 1-0 lead.

Dixie State (2-10) got on the board in the fourth with a four-run inning that included five hits, a Cougar error and one left on base. At the end of four the Trailblazers led 4-1.

After scoreless innings in both the fifth and sixth, BYU (3-11) responded with three runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 4-4. Call and Mitch McIntyre led off the inning with back-to-back walks. With one out and a 3-2 count, Cole Gambill homered down the rightfield line to tie the ball game.

After a quick three up, three-down by DSU in the top of the seventh, BYU threatened again in the top of the eighth. A two-out infield single by McIntyre, followed by a single to right center by Josh Cowden put Cougars on the corners, but Trailblazer pitcher Zach Hansen got Gambill to ground out to end the threat. BYU stranded 13 runners on the night.

Dixie State catcher Tanner Harper was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the ninth. A single up the middle, followed by a fielder’s choice and an intentional walk loaded the bases with one out. With the infield in, Lane Pritchard’s infield single was the difference giving the Trailblazers a 5-4 win.

Player Highlights
• Gambill: 1-3, HR, 3RBI, 2BB
• McIntyre: 2-3, 1R, 2BB

The Cougars travel to Los Angeles for a three-game weekend series, March 18-20, at LMU to open West Coast Conference play.

The Thursday and Friday games are scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PT, with Saturday’s game at 1:00 p.m. PT. The opening game will be streamed live on the WCC Network. The BYU Sports Network will have all three games live on BYU Radio FM 107.9, BYUCougars.com and the BYU Cougars app. Live stats are available through StatBroadcast.com.