BYU comes from behind to defeat Pepperdine 6-3

MALIBU, Calif. — A four-run sixth inning gave BYU a 6-3 come-from-behind victory over Pepperdine in game two of a three-game WCC series at Eddy D. Field Stadium on Friday. 

“Our relief pitching was outstanding again today,” said interim head coach Trent Pratt. “They threw strikes, kept hitters off balance and gave us the opportunity to come back and win. It was great to see Collin (Reuter) come through with the big hit in the sixth inning. He and Ozzie (Pratt) had clutch hits for us today when we needed it the most.”

BYU (26-18, 10-10) scored first in the top of the third inning on a Mitch McIntyre single with two outs and two on. Josh Cowden, who had singled to open the inning, advanced to second when Ozzie Pratt was hit by a pitch and scored on the McIntyre base hit for 1-0 lead. 

Pepperdine (20-21, 8-12) scored three runs in the bottom of the third on two walks and two hits, including a three-run home run by second baseman Cam Conley for a 3-1 advantage.  

After both teams went scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, the Cougars retook the lead with a four-runs in the sixth. A single by Cole Gambill, combined with back-to-back walks by Austin Deming and Jacob Rogers loaded the bases with two outs. Cougar catcher Collin Reuter then drove a 2-1 pitch into the right-center gap to clear the bases. Pratt singled up the middle to score Reuter for the 5-3 lead.

The Cougars tacked on an insurance run in the seventh when McIntyre scored from third on a Gambill groundball to increase the lead to 6-3.

BYU relievers Ayden Callahan, Cooper McKeehan and Reid McLaughlin surrendered just three hits while striking out seven and holding the Waves scoreless over the final six innings. Senior pitcher Callahan (2-0) got the win, while closer McLaughlin picked up his eighth save of the season.

Notables
  •  Collin Reuter: 1-3, 3 RBI, 2B  
  •  Josh Cowden 2-2, BB, 2 Runs
  •  BYU Relievers: 5.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 7 K
  •  In 2022, BYU has outscored its opponents 46-9 in the sixth inning

BYU and Pepperdine will play the final game of the three-game series on Saturday at 1 p.m. PDT at Eddy D. Field Stadium in Malibu. The game will be broadcast live on the WCC Network as well as the BYU Radio Network—107.9 FM, BYU Radio App, BYU Cougars App and BYUCougars.com.