The win improves BYU to 19-8 overall and 6-4 in MPSF play.
The victory also gives BYU head coach Shawn Olmstead 206 career wins, passing his former coach and mentor, Carl McGown, for the most in program history. McGown reached 205 wins in 336 matches. Olmstead recorded his 206th win in 290 matches.
Trevor Herget led BYU with 10 kills, one assist, two aces, six digs and a career-high five blocks.
Connor Oldani added eight kills, two aces and one dig.
AJ Cottle had six kills and eight blocks, his second-highest total this season.
Ian Little made the start and recorded career highs with eight digs and four blocks.
BYU hit .287 for the match, while Vanguard hit .070.
BYU returns home to the Smith Fieldhouse next weekend for its final regular-season matches against No. 4 USC.
BYU loses pitching duel with Baylor
BYU lost a tough pitching duel, 3-1, to Baylor in game three of a Big 12 baseball series Saturday afternoon at Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark.
Baylor (18-13, 7-5) scored three runs on just four hits while stranding 11 runners. BYU (14-16, 5-7) scored one run on six hits while leaving three on base.
After three and a half scoreless innings, Baylor scored first in the bottom of the fourth, plating three runs on two walks, a single and a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 advantage.
BYU responded with a run in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 3-1. With two outs, Keoni Painter singled up the middle and scored on a double to left center by Patrick Graham. Bryker Hurdsman then singled to center but Graham was thrown out at the plate in a bang-bang pay to end the Cougar threat.
The Bears pitching then retired the final twelve Cougars of the game for the 3-1 victory and the 2-1 three-game series win. BYU pitchers Cayson Bell and Ashton Johnson combined to throw eight innings, surrendering just four hits while striking out seven in the loss.
BYU will face UVU on Tuesday, April 7 at 6:05 p.m. at UCCU Ballpark in Orem, Utah, before heading back to Texas for a three-game Big 12 series against the Houston Cougars April 9-11 at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park.
Cougars take series loss to No. 2 Texas Tech
BYU softball fell in its series finale at No. 2 Texas Tech, 12-4 in five innings at Tracy Sellers Field on Saturday afternoon.
BYU took its first lead of the series in the top of the first as Lily Owens smacked a solo home run just past the Texas Tech center fielder’s glove at the wall.
TTU answered back with a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 2-1 lead.
The Cougars responded in the second, retaking the lead after a Maddie Udall-Woolley single to shallow let, Rita Tavita full-count walk and Tristen Turlington double down the left field line for a 3-2 advantage.
The Red Raiders took the lead right back in the bottom of the inning on a single, walk, fielder’s choice, stolen base and BYU throwing error, going in front, 4-3.
Udall-Woolley tied things up at four in the fourth, launching a leadoff solo shot off the scoreboard netting in right center.
Texas Tech broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, batting around its order to go in front, 11-4 on five hits, including a home run, three walks, two wild pitches and stolen based, and a passed ball.
TTU closed things out in the bottom of the fifth on a walk, ground-rule double and fielder’s choice, taking game three, 12-4 via run-rule.
The Cougars will return to Provo and begin a nine-game homestand with a midweek contest against Utah Valley on Tuesday, Apr. 7 at 6 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
