Cougars split Saturday doubleheader with Saint Mary's

PROVO, Utah — BYU baseball won game-two of a Saturday doubleheader, 4-3, over Saint Mary’s at Miller Park. With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Jacob Wilk's line drive scored Tate Gambill for the win. 

Game 2 Summary (4-3 win)

• Cougars played an error-free game for the fifth time this season and are 5-0 in those games
• BYU has yet to lose a game (8-0) when holding a lead after eight innings
• All four BYU runs were unearned

Player Highlights

• Parker Goff: 2-4, 3B
• Chad Call: 0-3, 2 RBI, BB
• Jacob Wilk: 0-4, Run, RBI, BB
• Ben Hansen: 6.0 IP, 6 K, 2 ER

With no score in the second inning, Saint Mary’s had runners on first and second with no outs when Jared Mettam popped up to BYU starter Ben Hansen who threw to shortstop Chad Call for the second out. Call then fired to Wilk for out number three, recoding just the fifth double play in program history. The last triple play turned by the Cougars came on May 26, 2011, in a 6-4 win over San Diego State.

Saint Mary’s took an early 1-0 lead as they pushed a run across in the top of the third inning. BYU responded in the bottom half of the inning with three runs of their own. 

Gambill led off the inning with a walk, followed by Luke Anderson who earned a second-straight base-on-balls putting Gambill in scoring position. After Wilk reached on an error to load the bases, a wild pitch scored Gambill and advanced Anderson and Wilk into scoring position. Chad Call then reach on an error by the pitcher, scoring two more runs for a, 3-1, Cougar lead.

The Gaels drew within one in the fifth and tied the game, 3-3, in the top of the ninth off a single and double. Gambill led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Anderson. With two outs, Wilk's line drive down the right field line popped out of the SMC fielder’s glove, scoring Gambill for Wilk’s second walk-off of the season.

Game 1 Summary (6-4 loss)

Player Highlights

• Luke Anderson: 2-4, 2 2B
• Easton Jones: 2-3, RBI, Run, 2 2B
• Parker Goff: 1-3, RBI, Run, HBP

The Gaels threatened in the first inning with runners on the corners with one out, but starting pitcher Bryce Robison forced back-to-back line outs to escape the jam.

Coleman Schmidt hit his third home run of the series to open the scoring for Saint Mary’s in the top of the third for a 1-0 lead. 

BYU evened the score in the bottom of the third when Parker Goff was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a one-out double by Anderson. Cooper Vest then took a 1-1 pitch to deep right field that dropped in for a double, scoring Goff to knot the game at 1-1.

BYU took a 3-1 advantage in the fourth as Easton Jones doubled to left-center field to score Gambill who had reach on a leadoff walk. Jones then scored on a single by Goff to take a two-run lead. 

The Cougars increased their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth on Wilk's fifth home run of the season.

The Gaels responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to cut the BYU lead to one before tacking on three in the top of the eight for a final score of 6-4.

The Cougars will be back in action on Tuesday, March 28, as they travel across-town to take on Utah Valley at UCCU Ballpark at 6 p.m. MDT.