The BYU baseball team split Friday’s doubleheader against Creighton University with a 9-0 win and a 5-1 loss, then pummeled the Blue Jays in Saturday’s 14-5 win.
“It was a total team effort,” coach Mike Littlewood said about the series win. “This team has a lot of character.”
Outfielder Jaycob Brugman and infielder Adam Law hit home runs against the Blue Jays on Saturday, earning a combined seven points for the Cougars.
“(The pitcher) threw me the same pitch two times in a row,” Brugman said. “I didn’t see where (the ball) went, if it goes over that is all that matters.”
Saturday’s game lifted the team’s spirits after Friday’s win-loss split ended BYU’s winning streak.
“We have to win home series, so this set a nice tone and precedent,” Littlewood said.
Friday’s 9-0 shutout was largely attributed to BYU pitcher Desmond Poulson’s 98 pitches in eight innings with six Blue Jay strikeouts.
“I threw four different pitches, but my slider was working the best,” Poulson said.
Littlewood was quick to complement Poulson’s pitching as well.
“I liked what Desmond brought,” Littlewood said. “(He) did a great job and we’re going to rely on him. To hold a team to zeros is a great accomplishment.“
Creighton took home a win at Friday’s nightcap game, defeating the Cougars 5-1. BYU relieved pitcher Adam Miller at the mound after he walked six batters in six innings.
“Adam Miller had great stuff, but we need to do a better job supporting him on the offensive side because it puts too much pressure on him if we don’t,” Littlewood said.
This weekend’s series was held in St. George due to unplayable fields at Miller Park in Provo.
“We’re extremely grateful to Dixie State and Coach (Chris) Pfatenauer for allowing us to play here,” Littlewood said. “We appreciate their field maintenance. It is a nice gesture on their part.”
The Cougars will face UC Irvine this week at Miller Park in a three-game series starting Thursday. Thursday and Friday’s game will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday’s game begins at 12 p.m.
