STOCKTON, California (February 23, 2017)—Shane Timmons’ walk-off home run in the 13th inning gave host San Jose State a 3-2 victory Thursday as BYU baseball split a doubleheader.

The Cougars, now 2-3, defeated Northern Colorado 6-0 earlier on Thursday in the San Jose Tournament, but the Spartans rallied to overcome 20 strikeouts by four BYU pitchers in the nightcap.

"We got two outstanding starting pitching performances today," BYU coach Mike Littlewood said.  "Maverik (Buffo) and Brady (Corless) were both dominant, we just didn't give Brady enough run support to get the win in game 2."

Brady Corless struck out a dozen in 7.2 innings against San Jose State and got the needed impetus when lefty reliever Rhett Parkinson struck out the batter with Spartans on first and second to bail him out of a jam in the eighth inning.

Keaton Kringlen singled in BYU’s go-ahead run in the ninth, scoring Daniel Schneemann from second with two on and two out. However, SJSU tied the score in the ninth before going on to win in the 13th inning.

The Cougars took the initial lead against San Jose State in the fourth inning when Kyle Dean led off with a double to right field, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Dean scored on Nate Favero’s groundout to second.

The Spartans tied the score, 1-1, in the sixth with a one-out double off Corless. David Clawson prevented SJSU from taking the lead, chasing down an errant pitch on a strikeout and throwing out the runner attempting first to end the frame.

Favero’s bat came up big by way of a three-run homer off the scoreboard in the five-run second inning in the day’s opener against Northern Colorado. Favero’s dinger, his second of the young season, was the third-consecutive hit of that inning after Brock Hale and Dean singled. 

Bronson Larsen singled after Favero and scored on Brennon Anderson’s sacrifice fly. Schneemann, who doubled in the first inning, got aboard on an error, then scored on Tanner Chauncey’s single to end the scoring in the second.

Larsen drove in Shaver in the third as both of them accounted for two of the three singles that inning.

Buffo was superb in six innings of work against the Bears, getting out of bases-loaded jams in the third and fifth innings.  Buffo evened his record to 1-1 and struck out eight before he was relieved by Bo Burrup, then by Keaton Cenatiempo.

The Cougars have a Friday rematch against the Bears, who bring a 2-4 record into the noon PST game. SJSU, now 1-2, plays UNC in the nightcap on Friday in the tournament before hosting BYU on Saturday.

On to the Pacific seaboard from the Atlantic piedmont, BYU’s baseball team hopes to reverse the tide in four games at San Jose, California this week.

The Cougars, 1-2 overall, begin on Thursday in a split doubleheader against Northern Colorado, 1-3,  on Thursday at  noon PST, followed by the 5 p.m. against host San Jose State, 0-2.

Single game rematches against the same teams are on Friday vs. UNC again at noon and on Saturday at 2 p.m. vs. SJSU. Thursday and Friday's games are at Billy Hebert Field in Stockton, California. Saturday's game is at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton.

Due to rain and field conditions the games have been moved from San Jose’s Municipal Stadium to turf fields in the area.  Game times and live streaming of those games depends on the venue.  Changes will be posted on www.byucougars.com.

Maverik Buffo (0-1, 7.20) will start for BYU in the opener, followed by Brady Corless  (1-0, 3.18) in Thursday’s nightcap.Connor Williams (1-1, 4.85 in 2016) is the Cougars’ probable starter for Friday Kendall Motes  (0-0, 9.00  in 2016) is scheduled to be on the mound on Saturday.

"We are looking forward to getting back on the West Coast after three tough games in Atlanta,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said.  “The guys played great last week and we look to build on the progress we made during the opening week of play.  Playing four games will give us an opportunity to get Connor Williams and Kendall Motes on the mound to see what they can do.”

BYU hopes to combine its anticipated hitting prowess with impressive pitching demonstrated in last week’s games at the Atlanta Challenge.  In the first two games at Georgia the Cougars out-hit their opponents with solid pitching.  In the 10-inning loss at Georgia State earlier this week, BYU’s hitting was shutdown, but pitching continued to rise to the occasion.

Sophomore Keaton Kringlen’s hitting streak ended at 13 games at GSU where the game could have finished in a tie due to travel restrictions.  Brock Hale’s four-game hitting streak leads BYU, followed by Kyle Dean, Nate Favero and Colton Shaver each with three-game hitting streaks.  Kringlen, Hale, Shaver and David Clawson each have knocked a home run this season.

Following this week’s four-game series, the Cougars return home for a couple days, then are back in California for a three-game series at Cal State Bakersfield next weekend.

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