The BYU baseball team improved their record-setting start to 10-1 with a three-game series sweep over the University of Kansas.
Five home runs from the Cougar batters lifted the team over Kansas on Thursday, March 3 with an 11-10 victory. Freshman right fielder Kyle Dean led the way with three homers while left fielder Eric Urry and catcher Bronson Larsen each added home runs of their own.
“The bottom half of our lineup got 13 hits (in the game) and that’s what makes this team different,” said head coach Mike Littlewood. “(It’s) our ability to put quality at-bats together one through nine.”
BYU took a comfortable six-run lead into the bottom of the ninth inning but Kansas nearly completed the comeback with a five-run rally. Junior reliever Keaton Cenatiempo was able to hold off the Jayhawks and was rewarded with the save. Freshman left-hander Bo Burrup recorded the win for the Cougars.
“We faced adversity throughout the game and still found a way to win,” Littlewood said.
The series continued on Friday with an 8-2 win for BYU. Sophomore Maverik Buffo struck out five in just over five innings to earn his second win of the season.
“It was a gutsy performance by Mav today,” Littlewood said. “He didn’t have his best stuff but battled his tail off for five innings.”
Center fielder Brennon Lund went 2-3 with an RBI and infielder Brennon Anderson went 2-4 with 3 RBIs in the win.
The series concluded on Saturday with a back-and-forth battle between the teams. In the end it was the Cougars who finished on top 7-6 thanks to a go-ahead two-run homer from sophomore Nate Favero in the ninth inning.
The rest of the Cougar offense came from Urry who recorded two RBIs and designated hitter Colton Shaver who knocked a three-run home run in the win.
Cenatiempo earned his first win of the season for the Cougars and junior right-hander Mason Marshall recorded the save.
BYU’s 10-1 record is the best start in program history.
The Cougars will look for another win on Tuesday, March 8 as they take on Utah Valley University in their first home game of the season.
