Cougars drop game one to Pepperdine

PROVO, Ut. — BYU baseball dropped the first game of a three-game series with Pepperdine, 6-3, at Miller Park on Thursday. 

“Tip your hat to Pepperdine, they came in and did what they needed to do to get the win,” said BYU head coach Mike Littlewood. “We were close. We had our changes."

The Waves outscored the Cougars with the help of home runs in the top of the second, fifth, and seventh innings. The BYU scoring came from a double in the second and a home run in the fifth. 

After Pepperdine took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, the Cougars answered with two runs off three hits. Peyton Cole doubled to centerfield, driving home Brock Watkins and Joshua Cowdon who had singled. 

The Waves threatened in the bottom of the third, but BYU first baseman Freddy Achecar made a great defensive stretch to get an out and starter Easton Walker picked off a Pepperdine runner at second to end the inning.

Following scoreless third and fourth innings, Pepperdine scored three runs in the fifth off a single, followed by a walk and a three-run homer to left center by Wave third baseman Aharon Modlin to take the lead, 4-2.

In the bottom half of the fifth Cougar left fielder Mitch McIntyre crushed a two-out home run over the fence in right field to bring BYU within one run, 4-3.

The waves stretched their lead to 6-3 with a run in the sixth and a solo home run in the seventh. 

In the bottom of the eighth, the Cougars had an opportunity to cut into the Waves' lead with two on and two out, but Pepperdine second baseman John Peck made an incredible defensive play extending over the railing near the bullpen to make a catch to end the inning. 

BYU had bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the ninth but the were unable to capitalize with a timely hit. 

Player Notes
Mitch McIntyre: 2-4, 1 HR
Cole Gambill: Double, 2 RBI
Joshua Cowden: 2-4, 1 R

The Cougars will wrap up the 2021 baseball season with the rest of the Pepperdine series on Friday, May 21 at 6 p.m., and the final game on Saturday at 1 p.m. MT. 

Both games will be broadcast live on the BYUtv App. Audio broadcasts will also be available on the BYU Sports Network—BYU Radio FM 107.9, BYUCougars.com and the BYU Cougars app. Ticket information can be found at BYUtickets.com.