BYU baseball takes game two from Pacific, 9-2

PROVO, Utah — BYU defeated Pacific, 9-2, in game two of a three-game series at Klein Family Field on Friday evening behind a seven-inning pitching gem by right-hander Bryce Robison. 

The junior from Las Vegas threw 112 pitches, holding the Tigers to just one run, while scattering nine hits and recoding four strikeouts as BYU improves to 22-26 (11-12 WCC) on the year, while Pacific falls to 13-31 (5-21). The Cougars will face the Tigers in the final game of the three-game West Coast Conference series on Saturday at 1 p.m. PDT. 

“Bryce gave us exactly what we needed on the hill tonight,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “He kept getting better as the game went along. Offensively we did a good job of hitting the ball hard all night. It was a solid team effort.”

Game Summary
  •  BYU was 10-of-37 at the plate, while Pacific was 11-of-37
  •  The Tigers stranded 16 runners on base to 10 by the Cougars
  •  Robison threw 112 pitches over seven innings surrendering just one run

BYU Highlights
  •  Deming 3-5, 3 RBI, Run, 3B, 2B
  •  Vest: 2-3, 3 Runs, 2B
  •  Ryan Sepede: 1-5, HR, RBI

The Tigers got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first inning off a walk, a hit batter, three hits and a Cougar error for 1-0 lead. 

BYU tied the game in the top of the second on a solo home run by Ryan Sepede over the right-center wall to knot the game at 1-1.

After a scoreless third inning, the Cougars struck again with three runs in the fourth for a 4-1 advantage. Deming tripled to center field to lead off the inning and scored on a Cole Gambill ground ball. Cooper Vest was then hit by a pitch and Jacob Wilk walked. Vest scored on single by Dawsen Hall and Wilk then scored on a wild pitch for the third run of the inning. 

BYU broke open the game in the top of the sixth inning with four runs on two hits. Vest led off the inning with a double. Three straight walks of Parker Goff, Ozzie Pratt and Luke Anderson scored Vest. With two outs, Deming then doubled to right center clearing the bases for a 8-1 lead. 

After a scoreless seventh inning Pacific scratched out a run in the bottom of the eighth on hit batter and a single to make the score 8-2.

The Cougars got the run back in the bottom of the ninth on a single by Goff that scored Vest who had reached on a hit by pitch.

Cougar reliever Sam Beck held the Tigers scoreless in the bottom of the ninth for a 9-2 final score. Bryce Robison (6-3) got the win for BYU, while Tiger reliever Tyler Stout (3-3) took the loss. 

“It's important for us to win this series,” said Robinson. “I’m proud of what we did tonight as a team. We are fighting for a post-season playoff spot, so every game is critical for us down the stretch.”

Saturday’s broadcast of game three of the series can be heard live on the BYU Radio App and will be simulcast on 107.9 in the northern Utah market. Jason Shepherd will have the call. Pacific will also broadcast the game on the WCC Network.