Utah Baseball Defeats BYU On Walk-Off Single
Apr 20, 2022, 10:29 AM
(Photo courtesy of Bayleigh Schroeder/Utah Athletics)
(Photo courtesy of Bayleigh Schroeder/Utah Athletics)
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah baseball team needed a walk-off single to beat their rival BYU 8-7 at Smith’s Ballpark on Tuesday evening.
The game was tied at seven in the ninth inning when Kai Roberts singled to the left side, which sent Davis Cop home to give Utah baseball the win over BYU.
T.J. Clarkson flied out to center field in a sacrifice fly to send Roberts home in the first inning to put Utah up 1-0. BYU then scored with a RBI double to tie the game. The Cougars got another run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning. Then Brock Watkins hit a three-run homer to left center to give BYU a 5-1 lead in the second.
Utah earned three runs in the third inning with a two RBI double by Jayden Kiernan, followed by a RBI single from Alex Baeza. BYU had a 5-4 lead heading into the fourth inning. Another sacrifice fly for the Cougars gave them a 6-4 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Landon Frei walked with the bases loaded to put Utah within one run, 6-5. Chase Anderson had a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to tie the game at six.
HOW WE DOIN#BeatBYU #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/6LSnSMXKqt
— Utah Baseball (@utahbaseball) April 20, 2022
Kiernan gave the Utes a 7-6 lead with a single up the middle that sent Roberts home. BYU got their third sacrifice fly in the seventh inning from Austin Deming to send Ryan Sepede home. The game was tied at seven.
No one scored until the ninth inning when Roberts’ single sent Cop home for the walk-off.
Randon Hostert got the start for Utah and pitched one inning, giving up four hits, four earned runs and a strikeout. Micah Ashman got the win (2-0) after pitching two innings with three strikeouts against eight batters.
WALK OFF DUB#UtesWin | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/qtCbiURgJ1
— Utah Baseball (@utahbaseball) April 20, 2022
Reid McLaughlin was given the loss (1-2) for BYU after going 0.2 innings with a hit, earned run, a walk and one strikeout. Peyton Cole started for the Cougars, going 1.1 innings, allowing one hit, one run and two walks.
Utah improved their record to 21-14-1 on the season. They will hit the road for a three-game series against USC. Game one is Friday, April 22 at 7 PM MT on Pac-12 Mountain. The second game will be Saturday, April 23 at 6 PM MT on Pac-12 Networks and the final game on Sunday, April 24 at 2 PM MT on Pac-12 Networks.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.
