Baseball falls in a shootout at Utah Tech

ST. GEORGE, Utah — BYU baseball lost an offensive shootout to Utah Tech, 10-9, in a Tuesday night game at Bruce Hurst Field in St. George. 

The Cougars are now 4-8 on the year, while the Trailblazers improved to 5-8. BYU travels to Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday for a three-game series with Creighton, March 9-11, at Charles Schwab Field.

Game Summary
  •  BYU scored 9 runs on 9 hits
  •  Utah Tech had 10 runs on seven hits
  •  Cougars hit .265 (9-34) vs the Trailblazers at .206 (7-31)

BYU Highlights
  •  Cooper Vest: 1-2, 3 RBI, HR, Run
  •  Ryan Sepede: 2-4, 2 RBI, 2 Runs
  •  Ozzie Pratt: 2-4, RBI, Run
  •  Mason Olson: 5.1 Innings, 7 SO, 0 ER

BYU jumped out to a big lead with six runs on three walks and three hits in the top of the first inning. A walk by Ozzie Pratt, a hit by Tate Gambill and back-to-back walks by Austin Deming and Cole Gambill brought home the first run of the game. With bases loaded, Ryan Sepede promptly doubled down the third base line for a 3-0 lead. Cooper Vest then homered to left center scoring Cole Gambill and Sepede for a 6-0 advantage. 

The Trailblazers responded with six runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning on five walks, four wild pitches, a hit batter and a single to tie the game at 6-6.

After four scoreless innings, BYU retook the lead in the sixth with a run on two hits. Easton Jones led off the inning with a single to center and immediately stole second base. Bryant Ball moved Jones to third on a sac bunt, where he scored on a single to left by Pratt for a 7-6 lead. 

Utah Tech took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runs on a hit and a Cougar fielding error for 8-7 advantage.

Cole Gambill led off the seventh inning with a walk and advanced to third on a Sepede single to centerfield. He then tied the game at eight on a passed ball. A double to center by Jacob Wilk scored Sepede, giving BYU a 9-8 lead.

The Trailblazers tied the game, 9-9, in the bottom of the seventh on a passed ball. Three singles in the bottom of the ninth gave Utah Tech a walk-off win, 10-9. Jacob Porter took the loss for BYU, while Brett Porthan got the win for Utah Tech. 

BYU’s three-game series at Creighton includes Thursday and Friday games scheduled for 6 p.m. CST and a Saturday finale at 1 p.m. All three games will be broadcast live on the BYU Radio App and BYU Radio 107.9 FM in the northern Utah market.