Cougars drop season opener to Indiana State

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — BYU baseball lost a pitching duel to Indiana State, 3-2, on Friday in the season opener for both teams at the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Florida.

"The final result wasn’t what we wanted, but I thought it was a great baseball game,” said BYU head coach Mike Littlewood. “Indiana State is a really good team. They got a big two-out hit in the first inning and it felt like we were digging ourselves out of hole, but I was happy with the way we competed and didn’t give up. I really like our team and saw a lot of good things today.”

After two quick outs in the first inning, Indian State strung together three hits and a walk to score two runs and take a 2-0 lead, before Cougar starter Jack Sterner struck out ISU centerfielder Sean Ross to end the threat. 

BYU got on the board in the top of the sixth when shortstop Brock Watkins led off the inning with a triple to right center. A groundball to second base by Cougar centerfielder Mitch McIntyre scored Watkins and cut the Sycamores’ lead to 2-1.

Indian State responded in the bottom half of the inning with two hits and a stolen base to score a run of its own and push the lead to 3-1. 

The Cougars made it a one-run game in the seventh thanks to a leadoff double by freshman catcher Collin Reuter, a single up the middle by left fielder Hayden Leatham and a single to left field by pinch hitter Ryan Sepede to make it a 3-2 game.

BYU freshman pitcher Justis Reiser struck out the side in the seventh inning to keep it a one-run game. The lefthander from South Jordan, Utah, then struck out two more in the eighth before an error allowed ISU second baseman Josue Urdaneta to reach first. Reiser then picked off the runner at first to retire the side. 

The Cougars were unable to even the score in the top of the ninth, giving ISU a 3-2 victory. 

Notables

• Sterner: 4.2 IP, 5 K, 1 BB, 7 H, 2 ER (starter)
• Reiser: 2.0 IP, 5 K, 0 BB, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 pickoff
• Leatham: 2-3, HBP
• McIntyre: 2-4, RBI
• Sepede: 1-1, RBI

BYU will take on Marshall of Conference USA in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 19, with game one scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST and the nightcap to follow at approximately 6:00 p.m. 

Both games from the Snowbird Classic will be broadcast on the BYU Sports Network and can be heard live on BYUcougars.com/LiveRadio and the BYU Cougars App. Game one of the doubleheader will also be broadcast locally on BYU Radio 107.9 FM.