By BRENDAN BURKE
Early deficits destroyed BYU baseball as it lost three straight to San Jose State University last weekend in San Jose, Calif.
“We dug ourselves into a hole in each game and couldn’t get out,” said pitching coach Bob Noel.
SJSU beat the Cougars 14-3 Friday, 10-4 and 11-3 Saturday in a doubleheader.
“The beginning of Friday’s game killed us,” Noel said. “They had 12 runs in the first inning.”
The Cougars tried to fight back with an RBI double from senior first baseman Brad Winget in the fourth inning and a two-run triple from freshman catcher Mike Tejada in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough.
Junior Cougar pitcher Jeremy Thomas gave up four hits and walked three Spartan batters in just one-third of the first inning.
“He just wasn’t playing sharp,” Noel said.
Senior Mark Kenner subsequently pitched six and two-thirds innings in relief and, according to Noel, played outstanding.
Kenner struck out four Spartans, gave up eight hits and walked four batters.
In Saturday’s opener, BYU took the lead with a solo home run from Winget in the second. The tide turned quickly thereafter as SJSU leftfielder Jon Lauderdale hit a grand slam in the third.
Junior catcher Justus Gilmore contributed to the Cougars’ tally by knocking a two-run homer in the seventh inning.
SJSU pitcher Brian Green threw a complete game.
Winget bashed another homer in the seventh inning of the nightcap.
Following Winget’s lead-off homer, Tejada tripled and scored off Gilmore’s sacrifice fly.
Noel said the Cougars underestimated SJSU.
“We were kind of surprised they hit as well as they did against our pitching,” Noel said.
BYU is still searching for consistency in all aspects of its play.
Noel said some players will do well while others don’t and vice versa. He said the ultimate goal will be to get everyone playing well consistently.
Sophomore center fielder Troy McNaughton, who is currently hitting .391 and has 10 home runs this season, went 0-10 in San Jose.
BYU’s record falls to 18-14 overall and 4-7 in the WAC.
The Cougars host the University of Utah in a three-game series beginning Friday at 2 p.m., followed by a noon doubleheader Saturday.
