BYU defeats ASU 19-3, sweeps three-game series

PHOENIX — After coming from behind to win the first two games of the ASU series, BYU scored early and often on Saturday for a 19-3 win and a series sweep at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

“The thing I loved most about today is that we came ready to play,” said BYU head coach Mike Littlewood. “We got great at-bats all game and strung together a lot of hits. On the pitching side, Nate Dahle gave us three strong innings and Ryan Brady came in and did an incredible job for three-plus innings. This team has great chemistry, and they play for each other. It was a great team effort this week.”

The Cougars (5-2) scored four runs in the first inning and four more in the second for an 8-0 lead through two innings.

Singles by Mitch McIntyre and Andrew Pintar in the top of the first inning, followed by a hit-by-pitch on Cole Gambill, loaded the bases for Ryan Sepede. A single by Sepede to left field scored McIntyre and Pintar with no outs. Hayden Leatham doubled to left center to score Gambill and advance Sepede to third. Freshman catcher Collin Reuter drove in Sepede with a sacrifice fly to left field for 4-0 Cougar lead. 

BYU scored four more runs in the second on three hits and an ASU error. Freshman infielder Ozzie Pratt led off with a double down the right-field line. McIntyre was then hit by a pitch and Pintar doubled to deep center field to drive in Pratt. Gambill followed with a single to center to score Pintar and McIntyre. Gambill then advanced to second on a passed ball and on to third on a swinging bunt back to the pitcher. Leatham’s ground ball to shortstop scored Gambill for an 8-0 lead. 

The Cougars tacked on another run in the third with singles by Brock Watkins and Pratt, followed by a walk by McIntyre. Pintar then picked up his second RBI of the game with a groundball to short that scored Watkins. ASU (3-4) scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the third to make the score 9-1. 

BYU blew the game wide open in the eighth with six runs off two walks and four hits for a 15-1 lead. After a McIntyre double down the right-field line scored Pratt, Watkins and Austin Deming, Gambill homered to right field to score McIntyre and Pintar. 

Four more runs in the ninth brought the Cougar total to 19 with hits by Deming, Watkins, McIntyre, Gambill and Dawsen Hall. ASU scored two in the bottom half of the ninth for a 19-3 final. 

The Cougars improve to 5-2 on the season and have won five-straight games, including four in a row this week over Ohio State and Arizona State. BYU has also won the last six games versus ASU dating back to May 2011.

“We accomplished something historic this weekend,” Littlewood said. “We came to Arizona State—a national baseball powerhouse—and swept them on their home field. That’s a pretty-special accomplishment.”

Notables
•    Cole Gambill: 3-5, 4R, 6RBI, HR, HBP
•    Mitch McIntyre: 4-4, 4R, 3RBI, 2-2B, BB, HBP
•    Andrew Pintar: 2-4, 3R, 2RBI, 2B, BB, HBP
•    Ozzie Pratt: 3-5, 2R, 2B
•    Brock Watkins: 2-4, 3R, RBI, BB
•    Nate Dahle: 3.0 IP, 1H, 1ER (starter)
•    Ryan Brady: 3.2 IP, 2H, 3K, 1BB (win)

After seven road games to begin the season, BYU heads home to Miller Park for a three-game series with Milwaukee-Wisconsin March 3-5. The Thursday and Friday games are set for 3 p.m. MDT, with the Saturday matchup scheduled for Noon MDT.

All three games will be broadcast live on the BYUtv App as well as the BYU Sports Network—BYU Radio FM 107.9, BYUCougars.com and the BYU Cougars app. Ticket information can be found at BYUtickets.com.