Strong Seventh Inning Clinches Win Over Utes

PROVO -- Andrew Law’s base-clearing double contributed to five Cougar runs in the seventh inning, securing an 11-3 win over rival Utah on Saturday.

With the win the BYU baseball team improves to 10-7, 2-1 and 2-1 in the Deseret First Duel series with the Utes.

Righthander Adam Miller was credited with the win, improving to 2-0 on the season. The freshman notched five strikeouts, throwing 102 pitches over seven innings.

“Adam’s is a very good pitcher and learning all the time,” said BYU head coach Vance Law. “He’s got enough velocity to keep guys honest but then throws that curveball. He’s so coachable and wants our team to be successful.”

It was a scoreless defensive battle in the first two innings before the Utes recorded a run off a grounded out in the third. The Cougars responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning as Law’s sacrifice fly to center field brought in Michael Bowen. Bryce Ayoso scored off Kent Walton’s single to left field before BYU extended its lead to 4-1 with a two-run homer by Steve Parker.

Law’s attempt to steal second proved useful as a Utah throwing error helped him advance to third in the fifth inning. Walton’s single to right field brought Law home for the score.

BYU improved to a 6-1 lead after Bowen stole third in the sixth inning and capitalized on a fielding error on Law's sacrifice bunt to score.

The Utes recorded two runs at the top of the seventh, but the Cougars continued to notch runs of their own. With two BYU outs, Thomas Bills ran home off a Stetson Banks hit. Next at bat, Law doubled to left field, the ball falling just short of a home run, but giving Banks, Ayoso and Bowen time to score. The Cougars jumped out to an 11-3 lead as Walton made almost an identical hit, sending Law back to home plate.

“For us to come back and answer was really helpful to make it a lot more comfortable,” said coach Law.

Pitcher Justin Shutt came in the ninth inning, striking out the side and ending the Utes’ hopes of a comeback.

“It’s fun to have a few different pitching options,” said coach Law. “We’ve had to develop some depth there because of the number of games we’ve been playing, but they’ve all done a great job adjusting.”

Up next the Cougars travel to take on Cal State Northridge on March 17 at 2 p.m. PT.

Univ. of Utah at BYU
Mar 14, 2009 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Univ. of Utah 3 (7-8,1-2 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BELTRAN, Michael ss......  4  0  1  0   0  0  0  2   0
CORNU, Rick rf...........  4  0  0  0   0  2  2  0   2
SHIMADA, Corey 2b........  4  0  0  0   0  1  1  1   0
CRON, C.J. dh............  2  0  1  0   2  0  0  0   0
JONES, Austin 1b.........  4  0  1  0   0  0  7  0   2
YAGI, Tyler 3b...........  4  1  1  0   0  0  1  2   2
 CHRISTENSEN, Austin 3b..  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
BLANC, Cooper cf.........  3  2  1  0   0  2  3  0   0
SHARRAR, Jo Jo c.........  2  0  0  0   1  0  9  0   0
 GREEN, Gavin ph.........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
HUSSEY, Kevin lf.........  3  0  0  1   0  1  1  0   0
 REED, Josh ph...........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
WHATCOTT, Jordan p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 POND, Joe p.............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 ANDERSEN, Tyler p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 KRAUSE, Greg p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 ASKEW, Bennett p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 32  3  5  1   3  8 24  7   6
BYU 11 (10-7,2-1 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BANKS, Stetson cf........  3  1  0  0   1  1  0  0   2
LAW, Andrew 2b...........  3  2  2  5   0  0  2  4   0
WALTON, Kent dh..........  5  1  3  3   0  1  0  0   0
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  4  1  2  2   1  1  1  2   3
McNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  4  0  0  0   0  3  0  0   0
 NIELSEN, Dane ph/lf.....  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
KO, Kasey 1b.............  3  0  0  0   0  1  8  0   0
 BILLS, Thomas 1b........  2  1  0  0   0  1  6  0   0
RELF, Brandon ss.........  4  0  0  0   0  1  3  7   3
 VARGAS, Dan ph/ss.......  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
BOWEN, Michael rf........  3  3  3  0   1  0  0  0   0
 SLOAN, Kevin rf.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
AYOSO, Bryce c...........  2  2  1  0   1  0  5  0   0
 NACAPOY, Chad c.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  2  1   0
MILLER, Adam p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 WORTHAM, Jake p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 SHUTT, Justin p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 35 11 11 10   4  9 27 14   8
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Univ. of Utah....... 001 000 200 -  3  5  5
BYU................. 004 011 50X - 11 11  3
-------------------------------------------
E - YAGI 2(2); SHARRAR(2); WHATCOTT(1); ANDERSEN(1); LAW, An.(2); RELF(8);
MILLER, A.(1). DP - Cougars 2. LOB - UT 6; Cougars 8. 2B - CRON(3); LAW,
An.(6); WALTON(2); BOWEN(7). HR - PARKER(3). HBP - BLANC; AYOSO. SH -
BANKS(4); LAW, An.(2). SF - LAW, An.(1). SB - BOWEN(1).
Univ. of Utah          IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
WHATCOTT, Jordan....  5.0  6  5  4  3  5 19 25  94
POND, Joe...........  0.0  1  1  0  1  0  1  2   7
ANDERSEN, Tyler.....  1.2  1  2  0  0  3  7  8  27
KRAUSE, Greg........  0.1  3  3  0  0  0  5  5  11
ASKEW, Bennett......  1.0  0  0  0  0  1  3  3  12
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
MILLER, Adam........  7.0  4  3  0  3  5 25 29 102
WORTHAM, Jake.......  1.0  1  0  0  0  0  4  4  17
SHUTT, Justin.......  1.0  0  0  0  0  3  3  3  10
Win - MILLER, A. (2-0).  Loss - WHATCOTT (2-1).  Save - None.
HBP - by MILLER, A. (BLANC); by WHATCOTT (AYOSO). Pitches/strikes: WHATCOTT
94/54; POND 7/2; ANDERSEN 27/20; KRAUSE 11/6; ASKEW 12/8; MILLER, A. 102/68;
WORTHAM 17/13; SHUTT 10/9.
Umpires - HP: Randy Upton  1B: Ray Leible  3B: Rich Padilla
Start: 1:07 pm   Time: 2:46   Attendance: 1594
Weather: 47 degrees, sunny
Game notes:
POND faced 2 batters in the 6th.
Play-by-Play
Univ. of Utah 1st - BELTRAN grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-2). CORNU
lined out to 3b (1-0). SHIMADA struck out swinging (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 1st - BANKS walked (3-2). LAW, An. flied out to cf (1-0). BANKS out
at first p to 1b, picked off. WALTON struck out looking (3-2). 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 2nd - CRON grounded out to ss (0-0). JONES, A. singled to
center field (1-1). YAGI grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b, interference
(0-0); JONES, A. out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 2nd - PARKER walked (3-2). McNAUGHTON popped up to 2b (1-0). KO
struck out swinging (2-2). RELF flied out to rf (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 3rd - BLANC hit by pitch (2-2). SHARRAR reached on a
fielder's choice (0-0); BLANC advanced to second on a throwing error by p,
advanced to third. HUSSEY grounded out to 3b, RBI (3-2); SHARRAR advanced to
second; BLANC scored, unearned. BELTRAN grounded out to ss (1-1); SHARRAR
advanced to third. CORNU struck out swinging (2-2). 1 run, 0 hits, 1 error,
1 LOB.
BYU 3rd - BOWEN singled to center field (1-0). AYOSO hit by pitch (2-2);
BOWEN advanced to second. BANKS grounded out to p, SAC, bunt (0-1); AYOSO
advanced to second; BOWEN advanced to third. LAW, An. flied out to cf, SF, RBI
(1-0); AYOSO advanced to third; BOWEN scored. WALTON singled to left field, RBI
(2-2); AYOSO scored. PARKER homered to left field, 2 RBI (0-0); WALTON scored.
McNAUGHTON struck out looking (2-2). 4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 4th - SHIMADA popped up to ss (0-1). CRON walked (3-2).
JONES, A. lined out to ss (0-0); CRON advanced to second on a throwing error by
ss. YAGI grounded out to 2b (0-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU 4th - KO grounded out to ss (0-0). RELF grounded out to 3b (1-1).
BOWEN walked (3-0). AYOSO reached on a throwing error by 3b (0-0); BOWEN
advanced to second. BANKS grounded out to 3b (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error,
2 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 5th - BLANC struck out swinging (1-2). SHARRAR walked
(3-2). HUSSEY grounded into double play ss to 1b (1-1); SHARRAR out on the
play. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 5th - LAW, An. singled up the middle (0-2). LAW, An. advanced to
second on a throwing error by p, advanced to third. WALTON singled to right
field, RBI (2-1); LAW, An. scored, unearned. PARKER singled up the middle
(0-1); WALTON advanced to second. McNAUGHTON struck out swinging (3-2). KO
reached on a fielder's choice (2-2); PARKER advanced to second; WALTON out at
third 3b unassisted. RELF struck out swinging (3-2). 1 run, 3 hits, 1 error,
2 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 6th - BELTRAN singled to left field (0-1). CORNU struck
out swinging (2-2). SHIMADA reached on a fielder's choice (1-2); BELTRAN out at
second ss to 2b. CRON walked (3-0); SHIMADA advanced to second. JONES, A.
grounded out to 2b (1-1). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 6th - POND to p for WHATCOTT. BOWEN doubled down the lf line (1-0).
AYOSO walked (3-1). ANDERSEN to p for POND. BOWEN stole third. BANKS struck out
swinging (0-2). LAW, An. reached on a fielding error by p, SAC, bunt, RBI
(0-0); AYOSO advanced to second; BOWEN scored, unearned. WALTON flied out to cf
(1-2). PARKER struck out swinging (2-2). 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 7th - BILLS to 1b for KO. YAGI singled to left field
(0-0). BLANC singled up the middle (0-2); YAGI advanced to second. SHARRAR
grounded out to 2b (3-2); BLANC advanced to second; YAGI advanced to third.
HUSSEY struck out swinging (1-2). BELTRAN reached on a fielding error by 2b
(1-1); BLANC scored, unearned; YAGI scored, unearned. CORNU grounded out to 3b
(0-2). 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU 7th - McNAUGHTON struck out swinging (2-2). BILLS reached on a
fielding error by 3b (1-1). RELF flied out to lf (1-0). BOWEN singled through
the right side (0-0); BILLS advanced to second. KRAUSE to p for ANDERSEN. AYOSO
singled to third base (1-0); BOWEN advanced to second; BILLS advanced to third.
BANKS reached on a fielding error by c (1-0); AYOSO advanced to second; BOWEN
advanced to third; BILLS scored, unearned. LAW, An. doubled to left field, 3
RBI (0-0); BANKS scored, unearned; AYOSO scored, unearned; BOWEN scored,
unearned. WALTON doubled to left center, RBI (1-0); LAW, An. scored, unearned.
PARKER grounded out to ss (2-1). 5 runs, 4 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 8th - WORTHAM to p for MILLER, A.. SHIMADA grounded out to
1b unassisted (1-2). CRON doubled to center field (3-2). JONES, A. grounded out
to ss (0-2). YAGI grounded out to ss (0-1). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
BYU 8th - ASKEW to p for KRAUSE. NIELSEN pinch hit for McNAUGHTON.
CHRISTENSEN to 3b for YAGI. NIELSEN flied out to rf (1-2). BILLS struck out
swinging (1-2). VARGAS pinch hit for RELF. VARGAS grounded out to 2b (2-0).
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 9th - NIELSEN to lf. VARGAS to ss. SLOAN to rf for BOWEN.
NACAPOY to c for AYOSO. SHUTT to p for WORTHAM. BLANC struck out swinging
(1-2). GREEN pinch hit for SHARRAR. GREEN struck out swinging, out at first c
to 1b (0-2). REED pinch hit for HUSSEY. REED struck out swinging (0-2). 0
runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.