The crack of the bat echoed through Cougar Field like a cannon blast as sophomore slugger Jake “The Hammer” Hanley sent a moonshot over the left-field fence. It was the third home run of the evening for the Brigham Young University Cougars, who were locked in a fierce rematch against the Utah Valley Wolverines—a team they had already edged out just six days prior.
But this time, it wasn’t close.
Fueled by confidence and the kind of momentum only a mid-season groove can provide, the Cougars dismantled the Wolverines 9-3, racking up four home runs and stamping their second win over their in-state rivals in just one week. The win was more than just another tally in the W column; it was a statement.
From the opening pitch, the Cougars looked like a team on a mission. Senior ace Tyler Morales took the mound with fire in his eyes, mixing fastballs and curveballs with surgical precision. Morales struck out seven in six innings, allowing only two earned runs and scattering five hits. His dominance set the tone early and gave his team all the breathing room they needed.
And then the bats got hot.
First, it was cleanup hitter Mason Crandall, who launched a towering shot to dead center in the second inning, giving BYU a 2-0 lead. The crowd, mostly decked out in Cougar navy, erupted. Utah Valley responded with a solo homer of their own in the fourth, but any hope of a comeback evaporated when Hanley hit his two-run blast in the bottom of the same inning.
But the Cougars weren’t finished. In the sixth, freshman phenom Eli Watkins—hitting out of the eight-hole—turned on a 1-1 fastball and deposited it over the right-field fence. It was Watkins’ first career homer, and he rounded the bases with a grin stretching ear to ear.
The final nail came in the seventh, courtesy of senior third baseman Rico Delgado. After fouling off four straight pitches, Delgado got a hanging slider and didn’t miss. The ball soared high into the night sky before disappearing into the trees beyond left field. The bench exploded, and even the usually stoic head coach Mike Randle tipped his cap.
“We’re not trying to do too much,” Randle said postgame. “Just putting in good at-bats, one pitch at a time. The homers are a bonus.”
For Utah Valley, the loss stung. Their starter, sophomore right-hander Dylan Cross, was tagged for six runs over five innings. The bullpen fared no better, giving up another three before the final out.
With the win, BYU improves to 21-12 on the season and sweeps the two-game series. They’ll look to carry this fire into conference play next week.
One thing is certain: when the Cougars swing with this kind of power, they’re a force few teams can handle. And Utah Valley learned that the hard way—twice.
