Baseball: BYU uses strong pitching effort to defeat UVU in offensive struggle

OREM — Seven BYU pitchers combined to give up four hits and one run in a 6-1 win over UVU on Tuesday night at Miller Park in front of 2,002 fans.

It was the first of three games between the two schools and it is the fourth straight time that BYU has defeated UVU.

“You’ve got to give BYU a lot of credit. They are a good team and they did a lot of things well in this one,” said head coach Eric Madsen. “I was disappointed with our approach at the plate tonight. We have to be tougher. Even on the mound, we need to find a way to get the job done.”

The Cougars (11-1) struck first as they scored two runs in the first inning without recording a hit. BYU leadoff hitter Brennon Lund drew a walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an Eric Urry sacrifice fly to right field. Brennon Anderson also walked in the inning and later scored on an error by UVU (7-7) right fielder Justin Erlandsson to make it 2-0 after one.

UVU starter Danny Beddes had a no-hitter going into the bottom of the fourth inning. However, Colton Shaver singled to right-center to end the no-hit bid. Beddes loaded the bases by hitting Kyle Dean with a pitch and walking Bronson Larsen. He was able to record an out when he struck out BYU third baseman Jackson Cluff but he followed up the strike out by hitting Lund, which pushed across another run. Hayden Nielsen opened the game up with a two-run single to right field to push the lead to 5-o and end the night for Beddes. Marco Briones came on and gave up an RBI single to Anderson to make it 6-0 after four complete innings.

The Wolverines finally got on the board in the top of the seventh. Mark Krueger and Spencer Gothberg led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Krueger advanced to third when Craig Brinkerhoff grounded into a 5-4-3 double play and later scored on an errant throw from BYU catcher Bronson Larsen when he was trying to throw out Paul Estrada, who stole second base.

It was the only run the Wolverines could muster against seven BYU pitchers. Each team only had four hits in the contest but BYU drew seven walks and two batters hit by a pitch that were the difference in the game.

UVU second baseman Trevor Howell recorded the only extra base hit in the contest with a lead off double in the top of the eighth inning but BYU pitcher Keaton Centiempo retired the next three batters in order to get out of the jam.

The Wolverines are right back at it on Thursday in their home opener when they host the Portland Pilots at 6 p.m. MT at Brent Brown Ballpark.

“Portland has played well so far this season,” Madsen added. “We’re going to have to come in and play solid baseball. If you play good baseball, you definitely find ways to win games. We’ll look to improve in a couple of areas and be more consistent this weekend.”