By sundown Saturday night, the baseball/softball complex at BYU that bears the names of Larry H. and Gail Miller, was quiet. Gone was the raucous ’80s music, the chances of chasing down a souvenir foul ball, and the opportunity to buy one more Cougar Tail. Even the weather had mellowed out.
The peace that blanketed both ball-adjoining venues was a far cry from the previous 72 hours where players, coaches and fans lived through the epitome of spring sports — the highest of highs and the lowest of lows while weathering through Jekyll and Hyde conditions that ranged from heat stroke to hypothermia.
Thursday
The threat of a stormy night prompted officials to move both the BYU-Iowa State softball and BYU-Arizona State baseball games to early afternoon starts. With the sun out and the breeze lightly blowing, the Cyclones proceeded to beat the Cougars 14-10 at Gail Miller Field.
A much different story played out next door at Larry H. Miller Park where BYU extended its five-game win streak by pounding the No. 23 Sun Devils 19-9. The Cougars hit seven doubles and Bryker Hurdman’s three-run home run fueled a 19-hit barrage that ended in the seventh inning by a Big 12 mandated 10-run rule.
As softball and baseball combined for a Miller Park record 52 runs, the weather turned ugly. The wind picked up as the temperatures dropped, leading to rain — and a fresh blanket of snow.
Friday
With night games scheduled, the storm’s residue melted away long before the respective first pitches at 6 p.m.; however, the clear skies harbored even colder conditions — except for Sun Devils pitcher Cole Carlon. He was red hot.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound sophomore, who is arguably the top Latter-day Saint pitcher in college baseball, stood even taller on the mound to face a program he had been connected to his entire life, but had never faced in Provo.
“It was really cool. I’ve never played here before,” said the Tempe, Arizona, native. “It was really cool to go and compete against them.”
With cool being the operative word, Carlon froze the BYU bats. Not only did the Cougars fail to score, but in his six innings of mastery, Carlon hit speeds of 101 miles an hour while striking out 11 batters without allowing a walk.
“That was my first time getting into triple digits,” he said. “I had a lot of adrenaline flowing. It was some of the most fun I’ve had pitching.”
One night after hammering the Sun Devils, Arizona State nailed BYU 13-0 in another game shortened by the 10-run rule.
“Carlon is the most Major League Baseball-ready pitcher that I’ve seen in the Big 12,” said Arizona State head coach and 14-year MLB veteran Willie Bloomquist. “He has the best slider in the country.”
Impressed by Carlon, but disappointed in the outcome, BYU’s baseball crowd wandered over to join the softball revelers as the Cougars mounted a comeback to tie Iowa State 5-5 in the seventh inning.
As if on cue, Maddie Udall-Woolley stepped into the batter’s box and with chilled fans hoping for a warming, walk-off home run, the senior launched a bomb to right-center to win the game 6-5.
Saturday
Thursday’s dominance for baseball and softball’s Friday night fireworks put both BYU teams in position to win their respective weekend series with a victory on a perfect, sun-splashed Saturday.
Softball (16-28, 6-12), which is madly trying to qualify for one of eight Big 12 tournament spots, fell behind early and could never catch up, losing 9-6 and surrendering the series to Iowa State.
The BYU baseball team (20-18, 9-9), which has emerged as one of the surprising stories in the Big 12, jumped out to a 7-0 lead on home runs by Luke Anderson, Ryder Robinson and Ezra McNaughton; however, Arizona State’s bullpen clamped down, and the Sun Devils’ bats fired up to outscore the Cougars 12-1 the rest of the way.
Disappointed, but determined, Pratt’s Cougars return to Miller Park on Monday when Utah Tech comes to Provo (6 p.m., ESPN+). Softball is back at it at Gail Miller Field Tuesday against Weber State (6 p.m, ESPN+).
The same goals apply for the teams — win and improve — but with a better forecast for the fans. Sunshine and temperatures near 80 are coming. The up and down weekend will soon be lost in a new playlist of music, spirited quests for another foul ball and a big bite into a Cougar Tail — with no chance for hypothermia.
See you at the ballpark.
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.