Robinson's single and Marshall's relief give BYU 6-4 victory in 11 innings

STOCKTON, Calif. – Dillon Robinson singled in the go-ahead run and Mason Marshall threw five scoreless innings in relief as BYU won 6-4 over Pacific in 11 innings on Saturday.

Three straight hits to start the top of the 11th gave BYU (23-21, 12-9) the go-ahead run. Hayden Nielsen singled to center and Tanner Chauncey singled to right to put runners on the corners for BYU. Robinson singled to right field to score Nielsen for the 5-4 lead. The hit also extended Robinson’s hitting streak to nine games. Parker Starr singled past a diving shortstop to score Chauncey and make it 6-4 for the Cougars.

"The guys just gutted this one out today," BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. "I can't emphasize how much they came together and decided they weren't going to lose."

Marshall (3-1, 6.16) entered the game to finish off the sixth inning after Pacific (11-33, 8-13) tied the game at 4-4. He only allowed two runners to reach over the next 5.1 innings. He struck out six batters and earned his third win of the season. It was his fifth straight appearance without allowing a run and his six strikeouts are a career high.

Both teams scored their first two runs in the fourth inning. Jarrett Jarvis singled in two runs with a single to center with two outs and the bases loaded. Chauncey and Starr scored to take a 2-0 lead. The two runs driven in were Jarvis’ first in a month. Pacific tied it up with a two-run single of the Tigers’ own.

BYU took back its lead in the fifth on a one-run single from Nielsen and a Bronson Larsen double to right to make it 4-2. The double extended Larsen’s hit streak to 17 games. Brennon Lund’s double to begin the fifth also extended his hit streak to 24 games.

"Unlike the first two games our hitters stepped up and got big hits today," Littlewood said. "Jarvis came up big with a two-out hit and the top of our lineup got it done in the 11th."

The Tigers tied the game again in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and two out, Pacific right fielder McKay Koissian singled to left driving in two runs and ending the day for BYU starter Michael Rucker. Rucker (4-1, 3.42) finished the day with 5.2 innings pitched, nine hits, four runs, three walks and a career-high eight strikeouts.

"Ruck (Mike Rucker) gave us a solid start but missed a couple spots and it came back to hurt him a little bit," Littlewood said. "I'm happy for Mason Marshall and glad he's on our side."

The Cougars return to Provo to take on Saint Mary's Thursday, Friday and Saturday May 7-9. Thursday and Friday's games begin at 6 p.m. MDT, while Saturday's will begin at 1 p.m. MDT. 

BYU vs. Pacific, Game 3 Box Score