SEATTLE — Ben Saylor had a home run for BYU but the rest was all Washington as the Cougars lost Game 3 in the series Saturday, 12-1.
After going 0-for-7 in the first two games of the series, Saylor was one of the few Cougars who got into a groove on a rain-soaked afternoon, hitting 2-for-4 with a single to go along with his homer.
Saylor helped BYU's cause in the top of the sixth when he drove an offering from Husky reliever Nick Hagadone deep into the fierce wind coming in from the outfield for his eighth round-tripper of the season. The run pulled the Cougars within five runs of Washington, 6-1.
BYU managed to get a runner in scoring position in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings but couldn't score any of them as the Cougars struggled to get into an offensive rhythm against the Huskies. Rain and wind were the only constants for BYU on the afternoon as they fell to 15-20 on the season with the loss. With the win, Washington improves to 24-14.
Brandon Christiansen (3-3, 7.09) kept BYU close through 3 2/3 innings, but either the rain or the Husky lineup was too much for the senior right-hander as he allowed five runs on six hits while striking out just one.
BYU plays four games at Larry H. Miller Field next week with a Tuesday game against Utah Valley State before a three-game set against TCU on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.