The last time we checked in with the BYU baseball team, they had just come off a 3-0 win against Washington State. The Cougars started of their next seven games with a shut out win, 1-0, against the 24th ranked Pepperdine Wave but then went on a four game losing streak. The four losses were not surprising as two of them were against the ranked Pepperdine team, and another was against the 14th ranked Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara. The Cougars came home after a six game road swing, hoping to put to rest another losing streak in the friendly confines of Miller Park.
LMU vs BYU Game 1
With BYU on a three game losing streak, and the Lions on a six game winning streak, the Lions came into Provo confident that they could walk out with a series win. BYU was able to put up six hits against on of the better pitchers in the WCC, but couldn't get them across the plate when needed. The score stayed scoreless into the sixth inning before the Lions scored on an RBI double to center and then an RBI blooper to right. The Lions pitcher, Colin Welmon, continued his strong pitching as he finished with a complete game to shut out the Cougars 2-0.
LMU vs BYU Game 2
Trying to put an end the the Lions winning streak, the Cougars sent out the previous weeks WCC pitcher of the week in Jeff Barker. After shutting out the 24th ranked Wave the previous week, Barker was looking to provide another good outing for the Cougars as they faced a possible five game losing streak. The Lions struck early with an RBI single in the first inning, but the Cougars tied it up in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly with bases loaded. The Cougars took their first lead in the bottom of the third. BYU gained some insurance runs in the fifth and sixth and seventh innings, before giving up another Lion run in the ninth. Barker went eight innings and only gave up one earned run in the 6-2 win.
LMU vs BYU Game 3
In the rubber-match game of the home series, the Cougars found the scoreboard first when a double, single, walk and wild pitch in the third inning plated Brennon Lund. Kolton Mahoney was the starting pitcher for the Cougars and he started strong as he retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced in the first five innings. In the sixth the Lions came back to tie the game after a double and a triple. BYU was not going to allow the Lions to fight back as they three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Mahoney wouldn't last much longer as he hit a batter that was then followed by three straight wild pitches to make the score 4-2 for the Cougars. The Cougars pitching did the rest as they held the Lions scoreless for the rest of the game for the win.
Next Game
Due to finals and graduation, the next game will be on Tuesday, April 29th at Brent Brown Ballpark against Utah Valley University. Following this they will stay home for seven straight games starting with Gonzaga on May 1st.