BYU takes down Santa Clara 5-1 on Thursday

PROVO, Utah — BYU opened its three-game series with Santa Clara on Thursday night with a 5-1 win at Miller Park. 

The Cougars scored five runs on seven hits, with Brock Watkins and Collin Reuter scoring two runs each. Dawsen Hall recorded the other run for BYU, while Ozzie Pratt added two hits and an RBI. 

“It was a great team win,” said BYU head coach Mike Littlewood. “I thought our effort on the mound and at the plate was excellent tonight. We also made some great plays defensively. I was real proud of the way we came ready to play tonight with a lot of energy.”

The Cougars (15-12, 4-6) got on the board first in the bottom of the third with three runs on three hits. BYU loaded the bases with a Reuter single, a Hall walk and Watkins hit-by-pitch. Pratt then singled to shortstop for an RBI as Reuter scored the Cougars’ first run of the game. Mitch McIntyre then reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Hall and advancing Watkins to third. Jacob Wilk then singled through the left side, scoring Watkins for a 3-0 lead. 

Santa Clara (17-11, 6-4) picked up a run in the top of the fourth inning with back-to-back doubles that put the score at 3-1. BYU answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Reuter scored again on a single by Watkins after a Hall walk had moved him to second. Pratt then singled and advanced to third on a Santa Clara error, while Watkins scored again, pushing the Cougar lead to 5-1.

Starter Jack Sterner, along with relievers Nate Dahle and Cooper McKeehan, held the Broncos scoreless over the final five innings for the 5-1 victory. Sterner scattered five hits over 5.1 innings for the win to improve to 3-1 on the season. The three Cougar hurlers combined for 17 strikeouts, a new season high and tied for the fourth highest total since 1979. BYU has now won six of its seven series openers in 2022. 

The Cougars and the Broncos will face off again again on Friday night at Miller Park, with the game time scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT. The game will be broadcast live on BYUtv and the BYUtv app, while the radio broadcast can be heard on the BYU Sports Network—BYU Radio 107.9 FM, BYUcougars.com and BYU Cougars App.