BYU vs. UVU Game 1 Box Score

PROVO, Utah – David Clawson drove in BYU's first score and later the game-winning run to push the Cougars past UVU 9-3 in the UCCU Crosstown Clash Tuesday night at Larry H. Miller Field.

"We didn't panic," BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. "We battled through those first three or four innings and then got a couple of big hits that allowed us to relax."

Clawson went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBI on the night. A committee of seven BYU pitchers allowed three hits and three runs as Kenny Saenz (1-2) picked up the win. 

"Our last three pitchers were lights out tonight once we got our lead," Littlewood said.

The Cougars moved to 9-6 with their fourth-straight win. UVU fell to 5-10.

Blake Inouye started on the mound and worked an easy 1-2-3 first. After a scoreless bottom frame, Inouye again set the Wolverines down in order to cap a perfect two-inning effort. Bo Burrup took over pitching duties in the third for the Cougars.

Burrup also dealt six perfect outs from the rubber as the game headed into the bottom of the fourth.

UVU drew first blood in the fifth inning off BYU pitcher James Barker. A pair of doubles and a wild pitch made it 2-0 for the visitors before Barker could finish the inning.

The Cougars responded with two runs of their own, as Clawson doubled down the right field to score Brian Hsu, who reached by being hit by a pitch. Brennon Anderson then singled through the 5.5 hole to even the score at 2-2.

With BYU’s Justin Sterner on the mound in the sixth, UVU scraped another run across on an error, walk and single.

In the bottom half, the Cougars threatened with a single and double from the bats of Kyle Dean and Brock Hale, respectively.  After Nate Favero was beaned, Hsu hit a towering sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Dean. With two outs, Clawson punched one through the right side to score Hale and give BYU its first lead at 4-3. Jarrett Perns gave the Cougars a cushion by drilling a 3-1 pitch into the right-center gap for a two-run triple and 6-3 lead.

BYU’s Saenz retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to end his night on the hill. Daniel Schneemann led off the bottom half by driving a pitch into the pine trees over the right field fence for his first home run of the season. Later in the inning, Hsu's RBI single made it 8-3 for the Cougars.

In the bottom of the eighth, Clawson doubled and Schneemann later drove him home on a sacrifice fly to left field to push across the final run. Jake Suddreth came on to throw a perfect ninth inning.

BYU will host Loyola Marymount for a weekend series, beginning Thursday at 6 p.m. MDT.

BYU vs. UVU, LMU Game Notes

Defending the West Coast Conference crown starts this week for the second-consecutive year by BYU’s baseball team as it hosts Loyola Marymount.

After hosting Utah Valley (5-9) on Tuesday in the non-league UCCU Crosstown Clash, the Cougars (8-6) have a three-game series in Provo against LMU.

“This is an exciting week for us as we host Utah Valley on Tuesday and then open up league play with Loyola Marymount on the weekend,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said.

“Coach Madsen has his team playing well right now and in-state games are always a priority for us. We really want to get the week started off on a positive note by playing solid baseball against UVU.”

Tuesday’s starter is junior Blake Inouye (1-1, 6.75) for BYU, junior Jordan Wood (1-1, 2.77) follows up on his first complete game last week and will start on Thursday. Friday's starter will be Alex Perron (0-0, 0.90). Saturday’s Cougar starter will be senior lefty Hayden Rogers (2-1, 4.24).

The games Tuesday, Thursday and Friday will be at 6 p.m., while Saturday’s game begins at 1 p.m. The Cougars are in the front end of an 11-game home stand after sweeping Omaha in the home opener last week.

The games Tuesday and Saturday are scheduled to be televised live on BYUtv. BYU will play at UVU on March 27 in its other meeting against the Wolverines.

Five Cougars are batting over .300: Brian Hsu at .475, Jarrett Perns at .353, Brennon Anderson at .327, Casey Jacobsen at .313, and Brock Hale at .308.

Tuesday’s game promotional centers around the theme of Baseball & Chill, Friday will be Millennial Night and Saturday will be Cosmo Bobblehead Giveaway to the first 400 fans (additional Cosmo Bobbleheads will be on sale for $20 apiece).