Brock Hale’s sacrifice fly drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning to lift Brigham Young to a 4-3 baseball victory over Hawaii on Friday night at Les Murakami Stadium.
A crowd of 1,544 saw the Rainbow Warriors lose for the first time in five games this season.
The Cougars loaded the bases with one out in the 10th when Mitch McIntyre singled, Brennon Anderson reached on an error and Keaton Kringlen walked.
Hale, who was hitless in seven previous at-bats this series, hit a pitch from Kash Kostermann to right field. McIntyre tagged up and scored from third to break a 3-all tie.
It was the first run the UH bullpen allowed in 141⁄3 innings this season.
In the bottom of the 10th, Dylan Vchulek hit a 3-2 pitch to left for a single. Chayce Ka‘aua, who entered an inning earlier to replace catcher Kekai Rios, popped out on a bunt attempt. Dustin Demeter then fanned for the second out.
Adam Fogel, who homered earlier in the game, was at the plate when reliever Ryan Gates appeared to suffer an injury while throwing a pitch. Jake Suddreth was summoned, and he walked Fogel.
But Eric Ramirez struck out to end the game.
The Cougars improved to 4-2. They are opening the season with 11 road games in 15 days.
The ’Bows missed a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth.
Designated hitter Logan Pouelsen, who is set to start on the mound in today’s doubleheader, drew a one-out walk. Pinch runner Daylen Calicdan replaced Pouelsen at first.
After Johnny Weeks popped out to short, left-hand-hitting Maaki Yamazaki faced the lefty Gates, BYU’s fourth pitcher. Gates’ second pitch to Yamazaki skipped in front of the plate and went to the backstop. Calicdan ran to second and stopped there, not noticing that catcher David Clawson’s throw went into center field. Gates’ next pitch also was wild and Calicdan went to third. But Yamazaki lined out to left for the final out of the ninth.
The ’Bows took the first lead with two runs in the second.
Fogel opened the second with a towering home run over the wall in left field that landed near a moped rider on Kalele Road. Of Fogel’s first seven hits this season, five have gone for extra bases — three doubles and two homers.
Ethan Lopez reached on a fielder’s choice, then scored on Pouelsen’s double. It was Pouelsen’s first plate appearance of the season.
The Cougars went ahead with a three-run third. After Dominic DeMiero retired the first six Cougars in order, Clawson lined an opposite-field single to left. Clawson advanced to second on a wild pitch and, one out later, McIntyre drew a walk. Brennon Anderson then doubled down the right-field line, scoring Clawson. McIntyre scored on a wild pitch to tie it at 2. Anderson, who had advanced to third on the wild pitch, came home on Daniel Schneemann’s safety squeeze.
The ’Bows evened it at 3 in the bottom of the third. Yamazaki walked on four pitches, went to second on Vchulek’s sacrifice and scooted to third on Demeter’s groundout to first.
Kendall Motes replaced freshman Ryan Brady, who lasted 22⁄3 innings and 56 pitches. But Motes’ first pitch — a fastball — deflected off Clawson’s mitt for a wild pitch, allowing Yamazaki to score the tying run.
