SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara baseball lost to BYU on Friday night by a score of 13-7. The Cougars had five errors on the night but their potent offense was able to overcome the defensive miscues. Four Cougars had multi-hit games as the team tallied 13 total hits.
BYU (28-14, 16-4 WCC) scored in six of the nine innings and were able to outlast Santa Clara (11-34, 7-13 WCC) as it scored in four of the first five innings. Although the Cougars were out-hit by the Broncos, BYU did have three sacrifice flies and reached base via base on balls 10 times.
Mason Marshall entered the game in relief for the Cougars and threw 5.2 innings, allowing just two unearned runs and zero walks while striking out four batters.
BYU took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a home run to left field by Tanner Chauncey and although the score was tied on two occasions, the Cougars never trailed in the game.
Santa Clara tied the game in the bottom of the first on a two-RBI single by junior first baseman Jake Brodt. Sophomore third baseman John Cresto and freshman center fielder Andre Nnebe both singled prior to being driven home by Brodt.
BYU reclaimed the lead in the top of the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Brennon Anderson to score Nate Favero. Once again, SCU tied the score with an RBI single by Nnebe to score junior shortstop Austin Fisher.
The Cougars put four runs on the board in the top of the fourth to take a 7-3 lead. They recorded six hits in the inning, including four singles and two doubles, and left one runner on base. Redshirt sophomore Eric Lex started for SCU and was handed the loss as he threw 4.0 innings and allowed seven runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 94 pitches.
John Cresto cut the lead to two in the bottom half of the fourth on a two-run home run, his ninth of the season.
BYU pushed the lead to 8-5 in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by David Clawson. Once again, SCU pulled a run back in the bottom half as junior second baseman Evan Haberle came around to score an unearned run because of two BYU errors.
The Cougars added four runs (three earned) in the top of sixth on a sacrifice fly, an RBI single and an error. BYU added a run off a solo home run in the top of the eighth.
Brodt hit an RBI single to score Nnebe on an unearned run and end the game's scoring at 13-7.
Up Next: Santa Clara and BYU are set to play the series finale at 1 p.m. PT on Sunday.
Connect with the Broncos on Social Media
Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Baseball: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Snapchat
Go Broncos!