BYU baseball beats WCC favorite Gonzaga in 2020 season opener

BYU baseball beat WCC preseason favorite Gonzaga 7-1 in the Cougars’ season opener in Arizona at the Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic.

The game won’t count as a conference game as BYU will travel to Spokane later this season in a three-game series.

The game was a scoreless tie through the first six innings before both teams each scored one run in the seventh.

But a big eighth inning from the Cougars gave them a 7-1 lead on four singles, a double and two walks.

Justin Sterner started for the Cougars and didn’t allow a run through the first six innings. Reid McLaughlin came on in relief for Sterner, with Jarod Lessar finishing the game.

BYU plays New Mexico twice Saturday in Arizona and will complete the weekend Monday against Oregon State.