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Feb 20 | 02:00 PM
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Whataburger Field
734 N Port Ave. Corpus Christi TX 78401
Ralph R. Zobell
| Posted: 20 Feb 2014 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (February 20, 2014)--Battery mates Desmond Poulson and Bronson Larsen combined for BYU's first victory of the season Thursday, but Texas A&M-Corpus Christi came back to win the nightcap.
BYU (1-5) achieved a 10-2 victory in the opener of the Kleberg Bank Classic at Whataburger Field, but the Islanders (3-4) claimed the second of a twin bill, 3-1.
Poulson threw eight effective innings on 106 pitches, including stellar third and fourth frames en route to his 15th career win at BYU.
“Desmond was fantastic today,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “He kept them off balance.”
The right-handed co-captain gave the Cougars a needed spark when he struck out an Islander for the first out after A&M-Corpus Christi tied the game 1-1 in the fourth. The next batter lined out to Poulson and he completed the double play to shortstop Hayden Nielsen for the tag.
Larsen, a freshman catcher, belted a three-run homer to left field, chasing the Islanders' starter from the game for a 5-1 cushion.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the second frame when Dillon Robinson led off with a single and scored on the third single of that inning.
Freshman center fielder Brennon Lund threw out a runner trying to advance to third base to end the third frame.
In the seven-run fifth inning BYU batted around its lineup. JC transfer Eric Urry led off with a walk and scored from second on a throwing errors by the Islanders' right fielder and third baseman to give BYU a 2-1 lead. Brock Whitney, who had gotten on with a fielder's choice, ended up at second in that skirmish and scored on Kelton Caldwell's ensuing single up the middle.
Nielsen delivered a one-out single up the middle and scored off Lund's single, also up the middle. Lund stole second and scored when Urry singled to left field. Urry went to second on Whitney's single and scored when Caldwell was safe on an error, putting BYU up 8-1.
“Other than the eight runs, we didn't do a whole lot before of after,” Littlewood said of the overall day. “I would like to see us apply more pressure and have better distribution.”
Tyler Kendrick scored in the third inning of BYU's loss to the Islanders for the Cougars only run in the nightcap. BYU held a 1-0 lead until the two-run sixth inning.
"(Matt)Danton did a great job throwing three pitches for strikes on both sides of the plate and that stymied us,” Littlewood said. “We just couldn't push across runs when needed and it gave them the momentum. We need to play nine innings both offensively and defensively.”
The Cougars next face No. 19 TCU on Friday afternoon in the Kleberg Classic.
Ralph R. Zobell
| Posted: 18 Feb 2014 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020
No. 19 TCU (3-1) highlights the four-team field in this week’s Kleberg Bank Classic at Corpus Christi where BYU baseball will play three teams from Texas.
BYU (0-4) is seeking its first victory of the season in the AA pro stadium Whataburger Field. The Cougars will first play a doubleheader against host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2-3) on Thursday before meeting No. 19 TCU on Friday. The Cougars close the tourney on Saturday against Texas San Antonio (3-1). The three Texas teams all had games on Tuesday night.
“We are excited to get back on the field and put the Kansas series behind us,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “We will use it as a building block to getting better. We understand our areas of weakness and we’ll fix them.
“I was happy with play of (Brennon) Lund who had 6 hits. He seemed like his at bats got better and better. It is pleasing for us to have him in the leadoff spot.“ The freshman centerfielder leads the team with a current four-game hitting streak this season, although teammate Jarrett Jarvis has a five-game hitting streak dating back to last year.
“I was happy with our hitters, “ Littlewood continued. “It’s tough when we don’t get leadoff guys on in early innings. Kansas made us earn everything we got.
“Our starting pitching was great. I told them it’s their game to win or lose. We expect them to go a complete game. We want them to go deep in the games.”
Senior co-captain Desmond Poulson (0-0, 3.60 earned run average) will start BYU’s opening game against A&M-Corpus Christi, followed by freshman Hayden Rogers in the nightcap. Sophomore Kolton Mahoney (0-1, 1.29) will be BYU’s starter against TCU. Junior Jeff Barker (0-1, 5.14) will start against UTSA. The Cougars’ starter on Monday at Texas Tech is TBA.
NOTE:
Here is a link for the tournament central page. There's a link to live stats and to live video for each game. Video will cost $7.95 a game and will only feature commentary for the games A&M - Corpus Christi plays in.
For more information, please see the multi-page PDF below:
