SALT LAKE CITY — BYU relievers Hayden Coon and Ashton Johnson combined for four-and-a-third scoreless innings to close out a 9-8 win in the Big 12 series-opener versus rival Utah on Thursday night at Smith’s Ballpark.

BYU (17-14, 5-8 Big 12) scored nine runs on 13 hits, including a pair of two-run home runs by seniors Cooper Vest and Brock Watkins, while Utah (13-17, 2-11) scored eight runs on 12 hits with two errors.

“Our offense got off to an early lead again and our defense made some big-time plays tonight,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “Coon and Johnson really pitch well down the stretch and shut Utah down.”

BYU’s defense played error-free on the night with first baseman Cooper Vest recording 11 putouts along with four apiece from centerfielder Crew McChesney and shortstop Ryder Robinson.

Brock Watkins was 4 of 5 against the Utes, logging a double and a homer while driving in three runs. Vest also homered while going 3 for 5 and driving in three. Luke Anderson drove in two runs with a double and Robinson was 2 for 5 including a triple.

BYU broke out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning with four runs on four hits. McChesney earned a leadoff walk then came home as Vest took an 0-2 pitch with two outs over the right field wall for a two-RBI homer. Bryker Hurdsman reached base on a bunt single down the third base line then Watkins drove him home on the second two-RBI bomb of the inning.

Utah picked up two runs in the bottom of the first with a pair of two-out RBI doubles before BYU took a 9-2 lead with five runs on four hits in the top of the fourth.

Anderson started the fourth inning scoring with a two-RBI double down the leftfield line that scored McChesney and Robinson who had reached on a fielder’s choice and single, respectively. Anderson took third on an obstruction call assessed to the Utah shortstop at second base then scored on a Vest single to right for a 7-2 BYU lead.

Hurdsman reached on a hit-by-pitch and Watkins plated him and Vest with a two-RBI double to give the Cougars the 9-2 advantage.

The Utes answered with their own scoring outburst in the bottom of the fifth to climb within one at 9-8. Utah’s six runs came on four hits with a two-out RBI single, hit batter, walk and a two-RBI single.

The Utes put a man aboard to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning on a single to shallow center then looked to advance him to second on a sacrifice bunt, but BYU catcher Parker Goff collected the bunt and fired to Robinson at second for the first out. Robinson then picked up the second out on a liner to short before Johnson sealed the win with a swinging strikeout for his second save of the season.

BYU BASKETBALL

BYU assistant coach Tim Fanning has been named the head coach of the Netherlands men’s U18 team for this summer’s FIBA U18 EuroBasket Championship set to take place in Pitesti, Romania.

The Orange Lions will compete in Division B for a fourth consecutive championship and open play on July 26 against Slovakia before taking on Norway on July 27 and Montenegro on July 29. The 2018 Champions conclude group play on July 30 against Croatia.

In his first season at BYU, Fanning was instrumental in helping the Cougars reach their first Sweet 16 since 2011. Working under head coach Kevin Young, Fanning and the Cougars won 26 games which are the most by a first-year head coach in program history. After opening Big 12 play 2-4, BYU won 12 of its final 14 league games including its final eight to finish in a tie for third with Arizona and earn a No. 4 seed at the Big 12 Championship.

Prior to moving to the college ranks, Fanning spent three seasons at Overtime Elite where he worked with Alex Sarr (No. 2 pick in 2024 Draft), Amen Thompson (No. 4 pick in 2023 Draft) and two-time FIBA World Cup Most Valuable Player Izan Almansa.

The Oakland, Calif. native spent close to five years as an assistant coach for Maccabi Tel Aviv BC where he worked with former Cougar Elijah Bryant. He was part of a coaching staff that won four straight Israeli League titles.

Fanning was also on staff of the New Zealand National Team in 2014 where the Tall Blacks advanced out of the group stage of the FIBA World Cup with wins over Ukraine and Finland.

BYU SOFTBALL

The Cougars fell in its first matchup of a three-game series with UCF, 9-1 at Gail Miller Field on Thursday night.

BYU (24-11, 7-6 Big 12) scored on a Lindy Mikowski homer in the second, but UCF (24-17-1, 5-8 Big 12) recorded three runs in the first, second and fourth innings to win the five inning run-rule contest.

UCF scored three runs on three hits in the top of the first inning and three runs on four hits in the second inning. The Knights led 6-0 early.

Milkowski put the Cougars on the scoreboard with a homer to center field before three-consecutive outs ended the second frame.

BYU held UCF scoreless in the third before a triple to right and home run to left scored three Knights in the fourth.

The Cougars were held scoreless in the bottom of the fourth and fifth, and the game concluded in an 9-1 run-rule UCF win.