SALT LAKE CITY – Chandler Anderson’s third-inning grand slam lifted the Utah baseball team to a 6-3 victory over BYU on Tuesday evening, giving the Utes the series victory over the Cougars.
Down 1-0 after BYU scored in the top of the third with the help of two Utah errors, the Utes came roaring back in the bottom of the inning with five runs to take the lead. Shea Kramer led off the inning with a double down the left field line that just caromed off the third baseman’s glove. DaShawn Keirsey, Jr., and Rykker Tom were both hit by pitches to load the bases for Oliver Dunn, who walked to drive in the Utes first run. After a pitching change, Anderson stepped to the plate and hit his first home run of the year to give Utah a 5-1 lead.
BYU scored a run in the fourth after a leadoff walk and RBI triple as a fly ball was lost in the sun. The Utes added an insurance run in the sixth, after Dominic Foscalina doubled to lead off the inning and Wade Gulden and Matt Richardson both drew walks. Kramer hit a sacrifice fly to send home Foscalina as the Utes took a 6-2 lead.
BYU rallied in the top of the ninth with a pair of singles for a run with two outs before reliever Trenton Stoltz ended the game on a ground out.
Riley Pierce pitched the first inning for the Utes before yielding to Spencer Kevin Johnson, who had a career-high eight strikeouts over four innings in his second win of the season, allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits with two walks. Kyle Robeniol, who has spent most of the season sidelined with an injury, pitched two scoreless innings with one strikeout and one hit. Jacob Rebar allowed one run over 1 1/3 innings pitched while Stoltz threw the final 2/3 of an inning to close out win.
Utah (13-32) won three of the four games against BYU this season to win three points towards the Deseret First Duel rivalry series. The Utes clinched the overall victory earlier this season, with baseball’s three points putting the final score at 24.5-13.5.
Utah hits the road this weekend for a three-game series at Oregon beginning on Friday, May 11.
