Donovan Kelly/BYU Photo

BYU defeated Pepperdine, 13-7, in Game 1 of a three-game series at Miller Park on Thursday evening behind four home runs, including a grand slam by Cole Gambill in the eighth inning.

The Cougars tallied 11 hits as Gambill and Austin Deming recorded two apiece. With the victory, BYU improves to 23-27 (12-13 WCC) on the year as Pepperdine falls to 18-29 (7-18 WCC).

“We had to come out and win,” Deming said. “And that’s what we did tonight. It’s always good to have a few insurance runs no matter what the score is. We had some big swings today.”

Deming, Gambill, Jacob Wilk and Ozzie Pratt all hit home runs.

The Cougar bats came alive in the bottom of the seventh as Pratt blasted a solo homer to left center, followed by another solo home run by Deming to extend the lead to 8-5.

A two-run home run by the Waves third baseman Jack Basseer in the top of the eighth cut the Cougar lead once again to just one run at 8-7.

BYU responded in a big way in the bottom half of the inning. Following two walks by Goff and Pratt, Luke Anderson singled through the left side scoring Goff. With two outs and runners on the corners, Pepperdine intentionally walked WCC RBI leader Deming to load the bases. Facing a 2-1 count, Gambill blasted a towering grand slam over the right-field wall for a commanding 13-7 advantage that would prove to be the final score. The grand slam marked Gambill’s first of his BYU career and his 14th home run of the year.

The Cougars will resume the three-game series with the Waves on Friday at 6 p.m. MDT at Miller Park. The game will be broadcast live on BYUtv, the BYUtv app, and BYU Radio (107.9).

Deming named to Dick Howser Trophy semifinal list

DALLAS — BYU third baseman Austin Deming has been named a semifinalist for the prestigious Dick Howser Trophy, awarded annually the nation’s top college baseball player.

The 2023 semifinalist list consists of 60 candidates from 17 conferences and 42 different schools. Deming is one of seven third baseman to make the semifinalist list and the only semifinalist representing the West Coast Conference in 2023.

Deming currently leads the WCC in batting average (.408), RBI (57), home runs (16), total bases (130) and slugging percentage (.850). He is second in doubles (21), on base percentage (.469) and hits per game (1.63).

The senior from Santa Clara, Utah, leads BYU in nearly every offensive category, including batting average, hits (64), RBI, doubles, home runs, total bases (136), slugging percentage and on base percentage.

The Dick Howser Trophy, presented by The Game Headwear, is awarded in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager, who died of brain cancer in 1987. The award is regarded as baseball’s most prestigious honor.

Criteria for consideration of the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser’s life.

BYU softball advances to NISC semifinals

FORT COLLINS, Co. — BYU softball weathered a Maryland comeback en route to a 6-4 second-round victory in the NISC at Horsetooth Field on Friday afternoon.

The Cougars (34-16, 11-4 WCC) blew the game open in the opening frame after receiving home runs from Huntyr Ava and Maddie Udall for the second time in as many games. They added another run in the second to take a 6-0 advantage through two innings before outlasting the Terrapin attack down the stretch.

The Cougars will now face South Dakota State, who beat Tarleton State in an elimination game on Friday afternoon, in Saturday morning’s semifinal, slated to have a 9 a.m. MDT first pitch. The game will be streamed on Triple Crown Sports’ YouTube channel.

UVU baseball beats up UT Arlington, 13-3

ARLINGTON, Texas – Utah Valley defeated UT Arlington in the first game of a three-game weekend series at Clay Gould Ballpark. UVU (30-21, 15-11) scored ten runs in the opening frame to set the tone as UTA (25-26, 15-13) could not rally. Calyn Halvorson and Matthew Schwarz finished 3-for-5 in the game to help UVU to the 30th win. It marks the first time UVU has won 30 games since 2016 and the fifth most wins in a season in the D1 era.

“That was a great effort by the entire team tonight. We were able to come out and attack, then really played the rest of the game well after a unique delay,” said UVU head coach Eddie Smith.

Daniel Dickinson and Cole Jordan started the game with singles before a walk to Patrick Mills loaded the bases. UVU then cashed in with a single by Halvorson to make it 1-0. Luke Iverson was hit by a pitch before a single from Garrett Broussard made it 3-0 Wolverines. Schwarz singled two runs in a single before Brandon Luna singled to load the bases.

The Wolverines started the second time through the order with only one out. Dickinson and Mills doubled home two runs to make it 10-0. UVU made it 11-1 after an RBI double from Burke Camper in the top of the third inning.

The Mavericks scored a run in the first and third innings against UVU starter Ethan Fowlks who finished going 4.0 innings on three hits, two walks, and two strikeouts. At the end of the fourth inning, multiple panels of lights went out, and the game was delayed for close to an hour.

After the delay, Colton Kennedy (3-0) came in relief and went 3.0 innings on four hits, one run, and four strikeouts. He earned his third win of the season in the outing. UVU used the strong outing to push across a pair of runs in the eighth. Nate Bach led off and was hit by a pitch before Camper drew a walk. The runners advanced on a wild pitch before scoring on a single from Halvorson to make it 13-3.

UVU has now won three of its last five games by the run rule.

The Wolverines and Mavericks will play the second game of the weekend at noon MT tomorrow before finishing up the series on Saturday at 11:05 a.m. MT.

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