BYU entered Saturday's game with Utah in full control of its fate. If the Cougars beat Utah, then swept its three-game series with Grand Canyon next week, they would win the Northern Division and earn a berth in the WAC Tournament.
Yep, BYU had total control. Too bad the Cougar pitchers didn't.Utah beat the Cougars 19-13 on Saturday, sweeping the three game series, despite being outhit 17-11. The Utes were able to capitalize on 18 walks, six of which came from being beaned, and seven Cougar errors to wallop the Cougars for the fourth straight time this season.
At one point Utah had 10 runs on only four hits. That's how ugly the Cougar pitching staff and defense looked.
"We hit the pitches we could, but we didn't have a lot of chance to hit in the first few innings," said Utah coach Tim Esmay. "We were patient, and if they were going to walk us, we were going to let them."
After jumping out to a 5-0 lead after 1 1/2 innings, the Cougars surrendered nine runs in the bottom of the second, on only three Utah hits.
The inning started with Jed Chrisman reaching first on an infield single. BYU pitcher Jeremy Thomas then walked three straight Utes, which brought Chrisman in to score. Nate Forbush then singled in a pair on a shot down the right field line, which John Summers followed up with an opposite field three run homer. That gave the Utes a 6-5 lead, and they never looked back.
"The third game of a series becomes a mental game rather than a physical game," said Esmay. "We kept ourselves under control, and they got frustrated. That leads to mistakes, and we took advantage of all theirs."
Utah built the lead to 12-6 after the sixth, but BYU had one more rally left in it. Troy Farnsworth homered to lead off the seventh, while Brad Winget and Ryan Pond both singled in runs to cut the deficit to 12-9. But the Utes would have none of it.
Ben Marziale hit a two out, two strike Will Waldrip curve ball out of the park for a three run homer that solidified the win. The ball looked like a pebble flying out of sling shot when it came off the bat, leaving the yard before Waldrip could turn his body around and bid it farewell.
"I'd never hit a home run in (Franklin Quest) and I'd never hit a home run against BYU," said Marziale. "I said before the game that I dreamt of doing that in my last home game and it came true, I guess."
It became a moot point, but Utah (19-30, 9-18 WAC) hit three more home runs just to be safe, and the Cougars (27-23, 11-16) left Salt Lake having lost the season series to Utah 4-2, and without a chance at a trip to the WAC Tournament.
"We're playing for pride, and now we can brag we're the best team in Utah," said Marziale. "We're playing the best out of any team in out division now, it's too bad we waited until now. It's sad to know we should be at the WAC Tournament, but lost too many close games early in the year."