For the second week in a row, the Cougars give up a late lead to the Utes, dropping the final game of the season series, 5-4.
WIth a 4-2 lead going into the bottom half of the ninth inning, the Cougars were unable to finish off their rival. Utah third baseman Biss Larson hit a walk-off single that brought in the winning run and capped off a three-run comeback.
Kelton Caldwell slides into home plate during the game against Utah. (Photo by Ari Davis)
'It doesn’t matter what the batting average or records are in this rivalry,' BYU coach Mike Littlewood said, 'usually the team who gets the last at bat is going to win. It’s frustrating this year; I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s the same stuff, just a different day.'
BYU pitcher Desmond Poulson pitched six innings to start the game and was able to keep the Ute hitters off balance most of the evening. Ute catcher Konnor Armijo brought in the only runs against Poulson with a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
Outfielder Eric Urry paced the Cougars' offense with three hits and two runs scored, but the Cougars left runners on base in crucial spots throughout the contest.
In the top of the ninth inning, BYU scored a run to push the lead to 4-2, but they left a man on third — one of the eight base runners stranded in the game.
With the loss, the series record moved to 2-2, but the Cougars clinched the Deseret First Duel on run differential, 39-21. They join the women's soccer and volleyball teams as the only Cougar teams to beat the Utes this year in the duel.
The Cougars travel to Portland to take on the Pilots in the season's final series May 15–17.