Santa Clara takes game one over BYU

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara defeated BYU, 11-6, in game one of a three-game baseball series at Stephen Schott Stadium on Thursday. 

With the win SCU improves to 17-11 (7-6 WCC) on the year, while BYU falls to 12-20 (5-8 WCC). The Cougars will face the Broncos in game two of the WCC series on Friday at 6 p.m. PDT. 

“Give Santa Clara a lot of credit,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “They came up with big hits when they needed to tonight and Blake Hammond was tough on the mound. I thought we played a pretty good baseball game, and had chances all night, but we just couldn’t get the big hit when we needed it.”

Game Summary
  •  Broncos scored 11 runs on 13 hits, while BYU had six runs on nine hits
  •  SCU was 5-10 (.500) with runners in scoring position, while BYU went 3-12 (.250)
  •  Six of Santa Clara’s 10 RBIs came with two-outs

BYU Highlights
  •  Luke Anderson: 2-3, 2 RBI, BB
  •  Ryan Sepede: 2-3, Run
  •  Parker Goff: 1-3, 2 Runs

BYU jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the first on a RBI single by Ryan Deming to right that scored Ozzie Pratt, who had lead off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a walk by Luke Anderson. 

Santa Clara evened the score, 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning on a double, wild pitch and a balk. The Broncos tacked on four runs in the bottom of the third on a hit by pitch, a walk and four hits to take a 5-1 lead. 

The Cougars answered in the top of the fourth on a wild half inning that included a hit by pitch, two walks, a wild pitch and two singles. Chad Call drove in the first run on a fielder’s choice that scored Ryan Sepede. Pratt picked up an RBI on a 3-1 count that scored Jacob Wilk. Call then scored on a sacrifice fly by Anderson and Parker Goff scored on a wild pitch to tie the score at 5-5. 

The Broncos retook the lead, 7-5, in the bottom of the fifth on a Cougar error and a home run to right center by first baseman Robert Hipwell, who finished the night 4-5 with 5 RBI. 

BYU got a run back in the top of the sixth on an Anderson single that scored Goff who had singled to lead off the inning. Santa Clara answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the frame to push the lead to 8-6. 

Two Bronco runs in the seventh and another insurance run in the eighth gave SCU an 11-6 win in game one of the series. 

Blake Hammond (3-1) got the win for Santa Clara, going 5.2 innings in relief, while Mason Olson (2-3) took the loss for BYU.

The Cougars and Broncos will face-off in game two of the series on Friday at 6 p.m. PDT at Stephen Schott Stadium in Santa Clara. The game will be broadcast live on the BYU Radio App and simulcast on 107.9 in the northern Utah market. The voice of the Cougars, Greg Wrubell, will have the call. Santa Clara will also broadcast the game on the WCC network.