Designated hitter Ezra McNaughton hit a three-run homer to lead BYU to a 5-2 win over Cincinnati Friday, breaking the Bearcats' seven-game win streak.
It marked the first conference game of the season for both BYU and Cincinnati.
Defensively, the Cougars employed the controversial Boudreau shift throughout the game. The Boudreau shift is when the shortstop is positioned to the right of second base. The strategy was made popular during Barry Bonds’ MLB career, but is now illegal in the MLB.
Offensively, the Cougars scored in two innings, picking up two runs in the fourth and three runs in the seventh.
In the fourth inning, shortstop Ryder Robinson hit a single to shallow left field.
Center fielder Crew McChesney followed him at the plate, and hit a homer over the center field wall. The ball sailed well over the trees and landed on the street between Miller Park and the Marriott Center.
In the seventh inning, catcher Ridge Erickson was hit on his left shoulder and took first base. Left fielder Ryker Schow was then walked on four straight pitches.
Luke Anderson followed with a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third. McNaughton then came up to the plate and hit a three run blast out of the park. McNaughton was 2-for-4 on the day.
Starter Garrison Sumner got himself out of a jam in the top of the fifth, striking out the hitter with two outs and runners on the corners. Justis Reiser relieved Sumner in the sixth, giving up a run that was charged to Sumner, and ended the inning with runners on second and third.
Sumner pitched well and threw 89 pitches in five and ⅓ innings work. He gave up four hits, one run and netted six strikeouts. Sumner started the game with an ERA over 8, but his ERA dropped to 7.06. He picked up the win and his season record is 1-1.
Later, Ashton Johnson replaced Reiser and finished out the game. In the top of the ninth, he gave up a lead off double, followed by a single. The Bearcats then scored a run when Schow was charged with an error by dropping a fly ball in left field. From there, Johnson shut down the Bearcats by striking out the tying run at the plate.
BYU continues to show improvement and promise for the rest of the season. The Cougars are now 8-8 on the season and 1-0 in Big 12 play. They finish their three-game home series against Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday at Miller Park.