The BYU Baseball team will travel to Salt Lake to take on the rival Utah Utes in game three of this year’s Deseret Duel baseball series.
“We know how important that game is for instate bragging rights and recruiting and a number of the things,” head coach Mike Littlewood said. “It’s a game we want to win.”
The teams have split the series so far this season, with the Cougars taking the last game in Provo 9-3 and Utah winning the first in a 5-4 nail biter in extra innings.
Keaton Cenatiempo (2-2, 5.15) will get his fifth start of the season for the Cougars. Littlewood plans to pitch multiple pitchers and use this game to prepare his team for the rest of the season.
“We obviously want to win the game but we also want to use it to keep our pitchers sharp,” Littlewood said.
BYU (24-18, 10-8 WCC) is in the thick of a close race for a WCC tournament berth. The Cougars are clinging to a one-game lead over Pepperdine and St. Mary’s for fourth place in the conference and the final spot in the tournament.
Utah (16-26, 5-19 PAC 12) currently sits in last place in the Pac-12 in just their second season in the conference.
The Cougars will conclude the season series against Utah next Tuesday in Provo.
On the line is standing in the Deseret Duel. The Utes currently hold a lead in the duel 25-22, with each baseball game worth three points. The final two games will be key in deciding who takes home the duel trophy this year.
The Cougars hold a 223-109-2 record all-time against Utah. BYU returns home to host second place San Francisco in a crucial conference series this weekend.
Tonight’s game will be broadcast on KOVO Radio 960 AM.
