Gambill’s third homer of the week helps BYU down Saint Mary’s

PROVO, Utah – BYU baseball took game two of its three-game series against Saint Mary’s, 4-2, en route to its second three-game winning streak of the season.

After two quick outs in the top of the first, the Gaels doubled to center, scored on a single and reached first on a hit by pitch. Back-to-back wild pitches by Cougar starter Jack Sterner brought in a second Saint Mary’s run while advancing another runner to third before a grounder kept the Cougars’ deficit at just two runs.

Peyton Cole broke up a no-hit bid with one down in the bottom of the fourth with a shot into right field. Andrew Pintar singled into left to put runners on the corner and the go-ahead run at the plate. Cole Gambill collected the Cougars’ third straight single, scoring Cole from third and again putting runners on the corners. Jacob Wilk knocked the fourth consecutive single, this one past the shortstop, to tie the game at two.

BYU scored again on a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth, starting with a walk by Mitch McIntyre followed by Cole’s second base hit of the game. Pintar singled up the middle to bring home McIntyre and advance Cole to third, but the inning ended as Pintar was thrown out trying to take second on a bang-bang play.

Gambill opened the bottom of the sixth inning with a first pitch no-doubter into the pine trees over the fence in right for his third homer of the week to put BYU up 4-2. Joshua Cowden drove a ball deep into right in the next at-bat, but Saint Mary’s right fielder Coleman Schmidt robbed a sure extra base hit with an outstanding catch while running into the wall.

Reid McLaughlin came in and closed out the game retiring three of four to pick up his sixth save of the season.

Player Highlights:

• Jack Sterner: 4.1IP, 4H, 2ER, 7K, 0BB
• Cole Gambill: 2-4, 2RBI, 1HR
• Andrew Pintar: 2-4, 1RBI
• Peyton Cole: 2-4, 1R

BYU will wrap up its series with Saint Mary’s tomorrow, May 1, at 1 p.m. MDT at Miller Park. The game will be broadcast live on BYUtv and the BYUtv app. Audio broadcasts will also be available on the BYU Sports Network: BYU Radio FM 107.9 FM, BYUCougars.com and the BYU Cougars app.