Cougars edge Aztecs 7-6 in 11 innings

PROVO — There is no place like home. After losing five of its last six games on the road, the BYU baseball team returned to Miller Park and beat Mountain West Conference leader San Diego State 7-6 in an 11-inning affair in front of 1,247 fans.

Wade Vest scored the winning run on a walk-off double by Brandon Taylor with one out in the bottom of the 11th,

San Diego State opened the game by scoring a run in the first and third inning to take a 2-0 lead. BYU then scored a run in the third and fourth and two in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. Tim Law scored BYU's first run off a RBI single from Ryan Chambers.

In the fourth, BYU loaded the bases thanks to a double by Rob Itri, a single by Jeff Hiestand and a walk by Ben Saylor. One batter later, Law flew out to centerfield with Itri on third. Itri tagged and was thrown out at home but San Diego State catcher Jordan Swaydan dropped the ball allowing the run to score.

Vest, who had three hits on the night, started BYU's two-run fifth with a single. Chambers then doubled home Vest to put BYU on top 3-2. Taylor added to the Cougar lead by drilling an RBI single that allowed Chambers to score from second.

Prior to Thursday's affair, San Diego State pitcher Scott Shoemaker had given up only four runs in 35 innings. Shoemaker lasted six innings, gave up nine hits and allowed four runs.

The Aztecs retook the lead at 6-4 following a three-run sixth and one run in the seventh inning. Chad Corona sparked San Diego State with a two-run homer in the sixth. BYU rallied in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at six.

Taylor and Itri scored the two runs off RBI singles from Saylor and Kevin Bills.

BYU starting pitcher Patrick Wells lasted 5 1/3 innings before being relieved by Paul Jacinto. Jacinto tossed the remaining five innings and earned his first win of the season.

The series continues today at 7 p.m. at Miller Park and concludes Saturday at 1 p.m.