Baseball closes season with senior day loss to 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