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BYU catcher Collin Reuter celebrates a strikeout during a Big 12 baseball game at West Virginia on Friday, March 8, 2024.

Jacob Farrar, BYU Athletics

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BYU's Taryn Lenon takes a swing in a Big 12 softball game against Texas Tech in Provo on Friday, March 8, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU's Maddie Bejarano makes a catch in the outfield during a Big 12 softball game against Texas Tech in Provo on Friday, March 8, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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MORGANTOWN, W.V. — BYU baseball split a doubleheader with West Virginia on Friday, wining Game 1, 4-1, before dropping the nightcap, 2-0, at Monongalia County Ballpark.

With the doubleheader split, BYU wins its first Big 12 Conference baseball game and is now 7-7 (1-2 in the Big 12) on the year, while West Virginia goes to 9-7 (2-1).

“I thought we pitched it lights out today,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “We couldn’t have scripted the pitching much better. Bryce (Robison) and Mason (Olson) were awesome in the first game, then Cutter (Clawson) pitched great, giving us 6 and 1/3 innings in game two. The difference was the first game we got some timely hits but in the second we just weren’t able to get it done. It’s hard to sweep a double header, and we had our chances, but I liked the way we competed today.”BYU took an early lead in Game 1, scoring runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to go up 2-0. With two outs in the fourth, Cooper Vest doubled to right center then advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by the WVU catcher.

In the fifth inning Brock Watkins walked, then moved to second on a ground ball and scored on a Keoni Painter single to right field.

WVU answered with a run in the sixth inning off a solo home run that puled the Mountaineers within a run at 2-1.

After a scoreless seventh inning, BYU scored an insurance run in the top of the eighth on a single by designated hitter Parker Goff that scored Collin Reuter who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. The Cougars then tacked on another run in the ninth on a single by Reuter to right center that scored Painter who had singled to lead off the inning.

Cougar starting pitcher Bryce Robison (2-1) picked up the win, going 6.1 innings while surrendering just one earned run and striking out four. The victory is Robison’s 24th of his career, tying him with Jeff Dusek (1970-72) for seventh place all-time at BYU. Lefty reliever Mason Olson went 2.2 innings allowing just one hit, while striking out six for his first save.

BYU scored four runs on eight hits for its first Big 12 Conference win, while WVU scored one run on six hits. The Cougars lost a tough pitching duel in the second game of the doubleheader. The Mountaineers picked up a run in the second inning on a walk and two hits for a 1-0 lead. After five-straight scoreless innings, WVU added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on three walks and a single for the 2-0 win.

The Cougars had runners in scoring position in each of the final four innings, including loading the bases in the top of the ninth inning, but couldn’t deliver a key base hit to capitalize.

BYU heads home to play four games in Utah next week. On Tuesday, the Cougars will travel 42 miles north to take on the Utes in the first of three midweek games between the two rivals. The game will be played at Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City with the first pitch schedule for 6 p.m. MDT. The game will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Network and can be heard on the BYU Radio App and locally on BYU Radio 107.9 FM.

The Cougars then host Houston in the first-ever Big 12 home series at Miller Park. The Thursday and Friday games are set for 6 p.m. MDT, with the Saturday game scheduled for 11:30 a.m. All three games will air live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and can also be heard on the BYU Radio App and locally on BYU Radio 107.9 FM.

BYU softball gets roughed by Texas Tech

The BYU softball team is finding the Big 12 pretty tough going so far.

The Cougars fell to 0-2 in league play after a 15-0 five-inning shutout at the hands of Texas Texas Tech at Gail Miller Field on Friday.

In its first two Big 12 games, BYU has been outscored by the Red Raiders 25-5 and on Friday fell to an onslaught of a 17-hit attack from the visitors, which scored 10 runs alone in the top of the fourth inning.

Ailana Agbayani was 2-3 with a double and Huntyr Ava 1 of 2 with a double. The Cougars managed six hits but left all of the runners on base.

It was the first mercy-rule loss for BYU since a 10-2 decision to No. 12 LSU on March 31, 2023.

Violet Zavodnik hit one to center field in her first at bat for the Cougars. She then stole second on the next pitch but was ultimately left on base to finish the first inning at zeros.

A Red Raider double from Abbie Orrick brought in two runs at the top of the second inning. After Orrick grabbed the extra base, she was batted in to bring the score to 3-0 for Texas Tech.

Right-handed pitcher Kaysen Korth came in at the top of the third, shutting down Texas Tech without a run. Agbayani’s double down the left field line brought her to second, but the Cougars were unable to get on the board.

The Red Raiders sent 15 batters to the plate as it scored 10 runs in the fourth inning on four doubles, four singles, two walks and a home run, ballooning their lead to 13-0.

Alyssa Aguilar came in to pitch for the Cougars at the top of the fifth, where two more Red Raiders were batted in, bringing the score to 15-0.

Despite hits from Taryn Lennon and Agbayani, the Cougars were unable to get on the board as the run rule was enforced at the bottom of the fifth. The Cougars finish play against the Red Raiders in the final game of their series on Saturday at 12 p.m. MT. Coverage is streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

UVU baseball loses heartbreaker at Sacramento State

The Wolverines led 3-1 in the eighth inning but couldn’t hold the lead, losing 4-3 when the Hornets scored on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday in both team’s Western Athletic Conference opener.

Burke Camper hit a solo homer in the top of the third for a 1-0 UVU lead. Luke Iverson had RBI singles in the sixth and eighth innings to push the Wolverines out to a 3-1 lead. But Sacramento State (6-7 overall, 1-0 WAC) cut the deficit to 3-2 with a run in the eighth inning. In the bottom of the ninth, Ryan Christiansen walked with one out, went to third on a single by Jose Ruiz and then scored on a fielder’s choice to third base by Jacob Cortez that resulted in the game-winning run.

Camper, Iverson and Calyn Halvorson each had two hits for Utah Valley (3-9, 0-1). Gray Bailey took the loss in relief for the Wolverines.

The same two teams meet again on Saturday at 7 p.m. MT at John Smith Field and Game 3 of the series is Sunday at 1 p.m. MT.

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