PROVO, Utah – Utah Valley University led twice but BYU rallied behind a four-run sixth inning to win, 9-3, in Tuesday night's UCCU Crosstown Clash at Larry H. Miller Field.
Jackson Overlund went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored for the Wolverines (5-10). David Clawson led the Cougars (9-6) with a 3-for-3 day that included a pair of doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored.
The Wolverines were without a baserunner until the fifth when Overlund led off with a double, moved to third on a fly ball and then came in to score the first run of the game when Pacen Hayes doubled him home. Hayes moved to third on a groundout and then scored on a wild pitch to give UVU a 2-0 lead.
The Cougars tied it in the bottom of the inning, getting an RBI double from David Clawson and a base hit that trickled into left off the bat of Brennon Anderson that allowed Clawson to score.
A lead-off error in the sixth came back to hurt the Cougars after Michael Beltran reached on a chopper to third that was mishandled. Later in the inning, with Beltran at third, Overlund delivered a two-out, RBI base hit to left to push the Wolverines back in front, 3-2.
The Cougars broke through with four runs in the sixth after loading the bases with nobody out. Brian Hsu then hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3 before a pair of two-out hits later in the inning gave BYU its first lead. Clawson chopped one through the right side for an RBI single and was followed by Jarrett Perns' two-run triple to give the Cougars a 6-3 lead.
UVU starter
Kaden Schmitt lasted five innings and struck out three, while allowing two runs on three hits and left as the pitcher of record and in line for the win. On in relief in the fifth inning, BYU's Kenny Saenz picked up the win with a strikeout and no runs allowed in 1.1 innings of work from the bullpen.
The teams will meet once more this season, in two weeks on March 27 at UCCU Ballpark in Orem.
Utah Valley will make its final road trip prior to opening conference play next weekend with a trip to UC Irvine for a three-game series starting Friday night. Next, UVU opens the WAC schedule on Friday, March 23 against Northern Colorado.
