Cougars to host Saint Mary’s for three-game series

PROVO, Utah — BYU continues its current homestand with a three-game series versus West Coast Conference foe Saint Mary’s, March 23-25, at Miller Park. 

First pitch for the Thursday game is scheduled for 3 p.m. MDT, with a double-header on Saturday slated to begin at noon MDT. 

BROADCAST PLANS. All three games will be broadcast live on the BYUtv App and online at BYUtv.org with Dave McCann and Gary Sheide providing play-by-play and analysis. The games will also air live on the BYU Radio App with the Voice of the Cougars Greg Wrubell on the call. 

Ticket information for all three games can be found at BYUtickets.com.

COUGARS-GAELS HISTORY.  Thursday marks the 39th meeting between BYU and Saint Mary’s. The Cougars are 26-12 all-time and have won seven of the last nine contests. The first game between the two schools was played on March 14, 1969 and ended in a 12-4 Cougar victory. SMC won the most recent contest 4-3 in Moraga, California, on April 2, 2022.

SAINT MARY’S RECAP. The Gaels are 6-11 (1-2 WCC) in 2023, with a road record of 2-3 at UTSA (1-3) and San Jose State (1-0). They are currently 3-7 at home and 1-1 at neutral sites. 

GAELS PROJECTED STARTERS. Senior righthander Ryan Taurek (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will start on Thursday for the Gaels, with senior righty Connor Linchey (1-1, 2.25 ERA) slated to start on Friday. Saturday’s starter for SMC has yet to be determined. 

SCOUTING SMC. Bill Ralston leads the Gaels in hitting (.323) and hits (20), while Christian Almanza leads Saint Mary’s in runs (16), RBI (14), total bases (34) and home runs (5). 

BYU REVIEW. The Cougars enter the weekend series with a 7-12 record (1-2 WCC) and are 3-2 over the past five games. BYU defeated in-state rivals Utah (7-0) and Utah Valley (15-7) in back-to-back Tuesday games and opened WCC play last weekend at LMU winning on Friday (8-0) but dropping the Thursday (12-2) and Saturday (10-9) contests. 

COUGARS ON THE HILL. Junior left hander Mason Olson (1-1, 3.24 ERA) is scheduled to start on Thursday for BYU, while junior righty Bryce Robison (2-1, 4.91 ERA) will start Friday. The Cougars starter on Saturday will be determined later. 

AT THE PLATE. Offensively the Cougars are led by Austin Deming, Cooper Vest and Ozzie Pratt. Deming is a returning first-team All-WCC performer who leads the team in multiple offensive categories including average (.370), RBI (22), hits (27), HRs (7) and 2B (9). Vest is second on the team in average (.364) and home runs (4). Pratt leads BYU in at bats (61), doubles (8) and is second in hits (18) and triples (1) and is tied for the team lead in walks (12).

UP NEXT. Following the weekend series with SMC, the Cougars will hit the road again for five straight road contests including UVU (March 28), Gonzaga (March 30-31, April 1) and Washington State (April 3).