BYU secured a 5-4 walk-off win over Washington State at Blair Field on Friday night, with shortstop Ryder Robinson delivering a double down the left field line in the bottom of the ninth inning. The hit allowed Ezra McNaughton to score from first base, clinching the victory for BYU.
Starting pitcher Wayland Crane went 5 2/3 innings for BYU, allowing two runs and striking out four batters before leaving with a no decision. Dan Brousseau pitched the final two innings without giving up a run and earned his first win as a Cougar.
“Can’t say enough about Dan Brousseau coming in and pounding the strike zone,” said BYU head baseball coach Trent Pratt. “He did a great job giving us a chance to win. This team just keeps playing no matter what. They will fight until the last out. That mentally led to the wins last night and tonight.”
Washington State took an early lead, scoring one run in each of the first two innings. BYU responded in the second inning when Matt Hansen walked and Easton Jones hit a home run to tie it at 2-2.
After several scoreless frames, BYU moved ahead in the sixth inning by scoring two runs on Cooper Jones’ single after loading the bases, making it 4-2. Washington State tied things up again in the eighth with two walks, a double steal, and an RBI single.
Brousseau kept Washington State off the scoreboard in their half of the ninth inning before Robinson’s game-winning double ended it for BYU.
BYU finished with five runs on nine hits while leaving five runners stranded; Washington State had four runs on eight hits but left eleven men on base.
The series continues Saturday as BYU faces Long Beach State at Nick Denes Field, with live coverage available through BYUradio.org and its app.
