Cougar baseball loses tight game to Texas Tech

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The Cougars came close to getting their second win of the season today in Lubbock, Texas when they lost to the Red Raiders 4-2 in Lubbock, Texas.

BYU outfielder Kelton Caldwell hit a two-run home run, allowing Brock Whitney to score as well. Whitney had walked with two outs in the sixth inning, chasing Matt Custred from the game.

“It (Caldwell’s home run) was a big deal,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “He hit that fastball about 400 feet and it was the spark we needed to get us going.”

Kelton Caldwell scored a home run on Monday in BYU's game against Texas Tech. Photo by Chris Bunker.
Kelton Caldwell scored a home run on Monday in BYU’s game against Texas Tech. Photo by Chris Bunker.

Caldwell’s home run gave CJ Latham and Eric Urry enough momentum to walk and hit a single, but they got stranded at the corners. Brock Whitney, JC Snyder and Hayden Nielsen singled in the fourth and fifth innings, stranding runners at first and second.

The Cougars’ efforts were not enough to counter Southpaw starter Dylan Dusek’s pitching for five innings. BYU left nine players on base, while Texas left five.

As the game ended, in the ninth inning, Jarrett Jarvis maintained his now eight-game hitting streak with a lead-off double to left field against right-hander Ryan Moseley. Moseley ended up with the save and Jarvis later advanced to third base.

“I thought our bullpen was the bright spot, they did a nice job shutting things down,” Littlewood said. “I told the team this was the first time I saw them with a passion to win.”

Brandon Kinser, a relief pitcher for the Cougars, had enough passion to strike out four players in three innings.

This game put the Cougars’ season record at 1-8 and Texas Tech’s at 7-1. All of BYU’s games so far have been out on the road.

“Although we lost, it was nice to play close and really compete,” Littlewood said. “We got behind in the third inning when we walked the first two batters.”

BYU will next host Seattle University at St. George in a three-game series, starting this Thursday at 1 p.m.

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