This was more like it.
After playing three uncharacteristic low-scoring games in Provo a month earlier, the Utah and BYU baseball teams engaged in one of their famous slugfests at Franklin Covey Field Thursday. In one afternoon, they combined for more runs than they did in all three games in Provo.This one went right to the bottom of the ninth before the Utes emerged with a 12-11 victory when Mike Goff scored all the way from first base on a double by Brit Pannier.
The victory moved the Utes to 10-12 in the Mountain West Conference standings, while the Cougars fell to 12-10. The two rivals are to play again this afternoon and again Saturday at noon. With a sweep, the Utes can catch the Cougars for third place in the MWC.
"That was a war today," said Ute coach Tim Esmay. "Those were two teams that weren't going to give in."
Indeed, the Utes were in control most of the game until the Cougars tied it with two out in the top of the ninth on a two-run single by Seth King.
In the bottom of the inning Goff reached first when he was hit by a pitch from Rusty Gray. Then Pannier, who enjoyed a brilliant day, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and a triple, saw the hit-and-run sign on. With Goff sprinting toward second, Pannier chopped a high bouncer down the first base line.
After it just cleared Craig Peterson's glove, it bounded toward the right field corner as Goff rounded second and headed toward third. He was surprised to see coach Todd Delnoce waving him home.
"When I saw him waving me home, I thought we were going to have a play at the plate," said Goff.
Instead Goff just loped across home plate with the winning run as teammates surrounded him in jubilation.
"We'll take a win against them anytime," said Goff.
"We lost three to them, so we really wanted this one," added Pannier. "We just tried to hit the ball hard every at bat."
The Cougs scored five in the top of the sixth as King hit his second home run of the day, a three-run shot with two out. The Utes added a pair of runs in the seventh, but the Cougars scored one in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth after loading the bases on Utes' stopper, Mitch Maio.
With two out and a full count, the runners were moving when King hit a roller between short and third. Ute shortstop Rob Stuart knocked the ball down, but Nick Day was still able to score from second and tie the game.
In the bottom of the inning, Esmay decided to be aggressive with the early hit-and-run, just hoping to get runners on first and third. Instead he got a victory out of it.
"You can't draw it up any better," said Esmay, who added with a smile, "We practice that every day."
Besides Pannier's 4-for-5 day, first baseman Nate Weese drove in four runs with a home run and a double, while Goff drove in two runs.