Joseph Hovey | Posted: 20 May 2023 | Updated: 14 Jun 2023

Baseball closes season with senior day loss to Pepperdine

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Eleven BYU baseball seniors are recognized on May 20, 2023 versus Pepperdine.

PROVO, Utah — BYU baseball recognized 11 seniors prior to a 19-6 season finale loss to Pepperdine at Miller Park on Saturday.

Among the Cougar seniors were third basemen, Howser Award semifinalist and newly minted West Coast Conference Triple Crown-winner Austin Deming. The Santa Clara, Utah, native closed out the 2023 regular season hitting .420 with 68 RBI and 19 home runs, overcoming runner-up Ryan Johnson of Pepperdine, who finished with 18 round trippers. 

With the 2-1 series win over the Waves, the Cougars finished the season 24-28 and 13-14 in WCC play with a 14-8 record at Miller Park. Pepperdine wraps its 2023 campaign at 19-30 (8-19).

Game Summary

  • BYU recorded six runs on 10 hits with 35 at bats. 
  • Pepperdine totaled 19 runs on 19 hits with 44 at bats. 

BYU Highlights

  • Austin Deming: 1-3, 2 RBI, Run, HR, BB
  • Cole Gambill: 2-4, 2 RBI, Run, HR, 2B
  • Cooper Vest: 3-4, 3 RBI, 2 Runs, 2 HR
  • Chase Peterson: 2-3, BB

A 13-0 Pepperdine run in the fourth and fifth innings blew the game open for the Waves as they stayed in front the rest of the way for the 13-run win.

“We didn’t pitch it well today,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “We have to get a lot better on the mound.”  

Ben Hansen started the day on the hill for the Cougars and recorded seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

    After a scoreless opening inning, Pepperdine’s bats got hot with a three-run shot in the top of the second to put the visitors up 4-0. The Waves’ Johnson added a run to that lead with a solo home run in the top of the third before BYU’s Hansen closed the inning with consecutive strikeouts.

    The Cougars closed the gap to 5-4 in the bottom of the third after Deming homered on a full count to score Dawsen Hall from second. Cooper Vest then added to the scoring with a 2-run homer.

    BYU pitching struggles in the fourth and fifth fed the Waves’ scoring and sapped the air out of the Cougars’ third-inning momentum. Cole Gambill and Vest scored the Cougars’ final two runs of the game and season with homers in the bottom of the eighth.

    Having been eliminated from the WCC Tournament contention, BYU now prepares to compete in the Big 12 in 2024 after officially joining the conference on July 1.

    Senior Recognitions

    Peyton Cole
    Pitcher, Infielder
    Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
    Major: Communications, Journalism Emphasis
    WCC All-Academic honoree (2021)
    Career Stats: 29 hits, 15 runs, 17 RBI, 47 games at pitcher with a 4-1 record, 63.1 innings and 45 strikeouts

    Josh Cowden
    Catcher, Outfielder, Designated Hitter
    Hometown: Payson, Utah
    Major: Exercise and Wellness
    Academic All-District honoree (2023), current Academic All-American candidate. 
    WCC All-Academic honoree (2021)
    Career Stats: 70 hits, 48 runs, eight home runs and 40 RBI

    Austin Deming
    Third Baseman
    Hometown: Santa Clara, Utah
    Major: Communications, Journalism Emphasis
    First Team All-WCC selection (2022)
    Three-time WCC Player of the Week
    Recognized as National Player of the Week by four different organizations on April 7
    Currently ranks top-20 nationally in batting average, hits, home runs, doubles, RBI and slugging. 
    Named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy on May 19

    Cole Gambill
    Center fielder 
    Hometown: Alpine, Utah
    Major: Finance
    Currently leads WCC in runs scored, ranks in the top-10 in home runs, doubles, hits, total bases and slugging percentage
    Two-time All-WCC honoree 
    Three-time WCC Commissioner's Gold Honor Roll recipient

    Reid McLaughlin
    Pitcher
    Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
    Major: Sociology
    Two-time NBCWA Preseason All-American 
    Named Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game (2019)
    BYU's all-time career saves leader with 21

    Chase Peterson
    Catcher
    Hometown: McKinney, Texas
    Major: Exercise Science
     Transferred to BYU from Salt Lake Community College in 2022. 
    Played in 25 games for the Cougars with seven starts

    Bryce Robison
    Pitcher
    Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
    Major: Exercise and Wellness
    All-West Coast Conference selection (2022)
    Tied for 10th all-time at BYU with 22 career wins. 
    Career Stats: 22-6 on the mound, 219 innings with 161 strikeouts

    Ryan Sepede
    Outfielder
    Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
    Major: Economics 
    All-WCC selection (2022)
    Led BYU in 2022 with 45 RBI and ranked top-four on the team in none offensive statistical categories. 
    Career Stats: 124 hits, 17 home runs, 85 RBI and 79 runs

    Carter Smith
    Pitcher
    Hometown: Lehi, Utah
    Major: Family Life, Family Studies Empasis
    All-WCC Selection (2021)
    Career Stats: Four wins, two saves, 89 innings and 84 strikeouts

    Jack Sterner
    Pitcher
    Hometown: Laguna Niguel, California 
    Major: Exercise and Wellness
    All-WCC selection (2022)
    Preseason All-WCC selection (2023)
    Career Stats: 2.76 ERA over 160 innings with 135 strikeouts

    Jacob Wilk
    First Baseman
    Hometown: Salado, Texas
    Major: Exercise and Wellness
    Played in 127 games for BYU
    Career Stats: 101 hits, 65 runs and 62 RBI

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