Box Score

LMU (10-13, 3-2 WCC) plated four runs in the second, two in the third, and four more in the sixth to defeat #23 BYU (19-3, 3-2 WCC) by a score of 10-5 on Friday afternoon from Miller Field in Provo, Utah. With the victory, LMU evened a three-game series with the Cougars.

Junior Phil Caulfield led the way offensively for LMU, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBI out of the second spot in the order. Cassidy Brown also notched a pair of RBI, while Seaver Whalen had an RBI-double.

Sophomore Cory Abbott was the beneficiary of the offensive outpouring, earning the win and moving to 3-2 on the year after tossing 6.1 innings and allowing five runs on 11 hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Senior Michael Silva finished the game on the hill for the Lions, throwing the final 2.2 scoreless innings and allowing just one baserunner.

LMU chased BYU starter Maverik Buffo after just 1.2 innings, as the righty allowed four runs on one hit and four walks with a hit batter. The loss dropped Buffo to 4-1 on the season.

Buffo got himself in trouble in the second, walking three straight hitters with one out to load the bases and bring Whalen to the plate. With nowhere to put the hitter, Buffo hit Whalen -- one of three Lions hit by a pitch on Friday -- to force in the run. Spencer Erdman followed with a run-scoring ground ball before another walk, this one to Austin Miller, reloaded the bases. Caulfield made the most of the opportunity, shooting a two-RBI single down the left field line to cap the four-run inning.

BYU wasted no time responding, scoring three times in the home half of the inning to cut the deficit to one at 4-3. Nate Favero, Keaton Kringlen and Hayden Nielsen all had RBI-singles in the inning.

Sophomore Sean Watkins, who hit a team-high tying six homers a year ago, picked up his first homer of the season in the third for LMU, belting a two-run shot out to right centerfield to increase LMU's advantage to 6-3.

That lead held until the fifth when BYU responded with a two-run shot of its own. Colton Shaver delivered the blow, hammering a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left centerfield to bring home Tanner Chauncey who had reached with a leadoff double. The homer was Shaver's sixth of the year, and came as part of a 2-for-3 day.

LMU once again took advantage of free passes in the sixth en route to scoring four more runs. Watkins was hit by a pitch with one out to get the ball rolling before Whalen connected on a double to put runners at second and third. Erdman fouled out on the ensuing play, but a wild pitch and a pair of walks plated the first run and left the bases loaded for Brown. The Lion catcher did not let the chance go unfulfilled, lacing a two-RBI single back up the box to extend the lead to 9-5. LMU would capture the final run on the ensuing play, as Brown was caught in a rundown trying to steal second, but stayed alive long enough for Ted Boeke to scamper home.

Silva had no trouble finishing off the Cougars, allowing the only BYU baserunner on a two-out single from Chauncey in the ninth inning.

LMU will look to win the three-game series tomorrow when the Lions and Cougars meet for a 12 pm PT first pitch.