2014 BYU Cougars baseball team

The 2014 BYU Cougars baseball team represented Brigham Young University in the 2014 NCAA Division I baseball season. Mike Littlewood acted in his 2nd season as head coach of the Cougars. The Cougars came off a season where they exceeded expectations. After being picked to finish sixth, the Cougars finished in a 3-way tie for second and eliminated regular season champion Gonzaga in the WCC tournament.[2] The Cougars would finish 32–21.[3]

2014 BYU Cougars baseball
Conference	West Coast Conference
2014 record	22–31 (12–15 WCC)
Head coach	Mike Littlewood (2nd season)
Assistant coaches	Trent Pratt (2nd season) Brent Haring (2nd season) Jeremy Thomas (2nd season)
Captains	Brock Whitney (2nd year) Hayden Nielsen (1st year) Chris Howard (1st year) Desmond Poulson (2nd year)
Home stadium	Larry H. Miller Field (8 series) Bruce Hurst Field (1 series) Brent Brown Ballpark (1 game)

2014 West Coast Conference baseball standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 11 Pepperdine  ‍†‍‡‍^y	18	–	9		.667			42	–	16		.724
Loyola Marymount  ‍‍‍	17	–	10		.630			32	–	24		.571
Gonzaga  ‍‍‍	17	–	10		.630			26	–	29		.473
Santa Clara  ‍‍‍	16	–	11		.593			26	–	30		.464
San Diego  ‍‍‍	16	–	11		.593			34	–	20		.630
Pacific  ‍‍‍	15	–	12		.556			26	–	27		.491
BYU  ‍‍‍	12	–	15		.444			22	–	31		.415
San Francisco  ‍‍‍	11	–	16		.407			25	–	29		.463
Saint Mary's  ‍‍‍	8	–	19		.296			16	–	39		.291
Portland  ‍‍‍	5	–	22		.185			11	–	41		.212
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship As of June 7, 2014[1]; Rankings from Collegiate Baseball

For 2014 the Cougars were picked to finish sixth in the WCC 2014 Pre-season rankings.[4] The Cougars played most of their home games at Larry H. Miller Field. However Bruce Hurst Field hosted one BYU home one series in late February, early March, and Brent Brown Ballpark hosted one BYU game. This was the second consecutive year the Cougars used Bruce Hurst Field for one series due weather concerns.[5] The Cougars ended the season 22–31, 12–15 in conference play, and finished 7th in the WCC Standings.

2014 Roster

2014 BYU Cougars Roster[6]
	Pitchers 6 James Lengal – Junior 9 Chunner Nyberg – Senior 11 Kolton Mahoney – Sophomore 17 Chris Howard – Senior 19 Desmond Poulson – Senior 23 Hayden Rogers – Freshman 25 Jeff Barker – Junior 27 Arik Mack – Freshman 29 Brandon Kinser – Junior 34 Rhett Nelson – Junior 37 Hayden Parker – Freshman 38 Brendon Erickson – Sophomore XX Michael Rucker – Sophomore		Infielders 3 Brock Whitney – Senior 5 Hayden Nielsen – Sophomore 7 Parker Starr – Junior 8 Dillon Robinson – Junior 13 Bret Lopez – Senior 22 Dallen Reber – Sophomore 26 Trace Hansen – Sophomore 28 JC Snyder – Junior 36 Wyatt Padget – Sophomore 38 Brendon Erickson – Sophomore 41 Matt Crowder – Sophomore 42 Mackav Jacobsen – Freshman 43 Tyler Kendrick – Freshman		Catchers 10 Dakota Hernandez- Junior 14 Bronson Larsen – Freshman 16 Jarrett Jarvis – Junior 40 Bo Fisher – Junior Outfielders 2 Brennon Lund – Freshman 4 Eric Urry – Sophomore 12 Kelton Caldwell – Senior 24 CJ Latham – Freshman 32 Andy Isom – Junior 35 Bryan Heward – Junior 36 Wyatt Padget – Sophomore

Schedule

2014 BYU Cougars Game Log[7]
Regular Season
February Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record WCC Record February 14 vs. Kansas – Peoria Sports Complex 4–10 Wes Benjamin (1–0) Chris Howard (0–1) None 273 0–1 – February 15 vs. Kansas – Peoria Sports Complex 0–2 Robert Kahana (1–0) Kolton Mahoney (0–1) Jordan Piche' (1) 267 0–2 – February 15 vs. Kansas – Peoria Sports Complex 10–11 (10) Dakota Smith (1–0) James Lengal (0–1) None 281 0–3 – February 17 vs. Kansas – Peoria Sports Complex 1–10 Drew Morovick (1–0) Jeff Barker (0–1) Jordan Piche' (2) 277 0–4 – February 20 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – Whataburger Field 10–2 Desmond Poulson (1–0) Gavin Williamson (0–1) None N/A 1–4 – February 20 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – Whataburger Field 1–3 Matt Danton (1–1) Hayden Rogers (0–1) Kaleb Keith (1) 2,043 1–5 – February 21 vs. #19 TCU – Whataburger Field 0–10 Brandon Finnegan (2–0) Kolton Mahoney (0–2) None N/A 1–6 – February 22 vs. UTSA – Whataburger Field 1–7 Nolan Trabanino (2–0) Jeff Barker (0–2) None N/A 1–7 – February 24 at #26 Texas Tech – Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park 2–4 Dylan Dusek (1–0) Michael Springer (0–1) Ryan Moseley (1) 1,863 1–8 – February 27 Seattle – Bruce Hurst Field 7–3 Desmond Poulson (2–0) Connor Moore (1–1) None 307 2–8 – February 28 Seattle – Bruce Hurst Field 8–2 Kolton Mahoney (1–2) Andrew Olson (0–3) None N/A 3–8 – February 28 Seattle – Bruce Hurst Field 4–2 Jeff Barker (1–2) Mac Acker (2–1) Brandon Kinser (1) 403 4–8 –
March Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record WCC Record March 4 Utah – Larry H. Miller Field 20–3 Desmond Poulson (3–0) Tanner Banks (1–2) None 1,904 5–8 – March 6 at Nicholls State – Ray E. Didier Field 5–0 Kolton Mahoney (2–2) Brandon Jackson (1–1) None 157 6–8 – March 7 at Nicholls State – Ray E. Didier Field 7–6 (12) Brandon Kinser (1–0) Marc Picciola (0–2) None 221 7–8 – March 7 at Nicholls State – Ray E. Didier Field 2–10 Taylor Byrd (2–1) Chunner Nyberg (0–1) None 227 7–9 – March 8 at Nicholls State – Ray E. Didier Field 1–6 Grant Borne (2–1) Desmond Poulson (3–1) None 421 7–10 – March 10 at Dallas Baptist – Joan and Andy Horner Ballpark 3–8 Cory Taylor (1–0) Brandon Kinser (1–1) None 624 7–11 – March 13 San Diego* – Larry H. Miller Field 7–14 PJ Conlon (3–0) Desmond Poulson (3–2) None 844 7–12 0–1 March 14 San Diego* – Larry H. Miller Field 1–5 Troy Conyers (3–0) Jeff Barker (1–3 Lucas Long (1) 1,139 7–13 0–2 March 15 San Diego* – Larry H. Miller Field 8–17 Louie Lechich (4–1) Kolton Mahoney (2–3) None 1,173 7–14 0–3 March 19 at Fresno State – Pete Beiden Field 1–2 Jake Shull (1–1) Michael Springer (0–2) Jordan Brink (1) 1,243 7–15 – March 20 at San Francisco* – Dante Benedetti Diamond at Max Ulrich Field 7–8 Houston Hibberd (3–0) Brandon Kinser (1–2) None 72 7–16 0–4 March 21 at San Francisco* – Dante Benedetti Diamond at Max Ulrich Field 7–5 Jeff Barker (2–3) Christian Cecilio (2–4) Kolton Mahoney (1) 150 8–16 1–4 March 22 at San Francisco* – AT&T Park 2–5 Grant Goodman (2–2) Kolton Mahoney (2–4) Houston Hibberd (3) 200 8–17 1–5 March 25 at Utah – Smith's Ballpark 4–3 Brandon Kinser (2–2) Nick Green (0–1) None 2,249 9–17 – March 27 at Saint Mary's* – Louis Guisto Field 3–10 Ryan Brockett (4–2) Desmond Poulson (3–3) None 91 9–18 1–6 March 28 at Saint Mary's* – Louis Guisto Field 4–3 Kolton Mahoney (3–4) Brad Nease (1–1) Brandon Kinser (2) 116 10–18 2–6 March 28 at Saint Mary's* – Louis Guisto Field 1–6 Cameron Neff (5–2) Jeff Barker (2–4) None 116 10–19 2–7
April Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record WCC Record April 1 Utah Valley – Larry H. Miller Field 3–8 Devin Nelson (2–4) Michael Springer (0–3) None 783 10–20 – April 3 Pacific* – Larry H. Miller Field 10–1 Desmond Poulson (4–3) Michael Benson (0–4) None 395 11–20 3–7 April 4 Pacific* – Larry H. Miller Field 9–3 Kolton Mahoney (4–4) Mike Hager (2–4) None 931 12–20 4–7 April 5 Pacific* – Brent Brown Ballpark 7–11 Jake Jenkins (3–2) Jeff Barker (2–5) None 350 12–21 4–8 April 8 at Washington State – Gesa Stadium 3–0 Hayden Rogers (1–1) Sam Triece (1–2) Brandon Kinser (3) 3,360 13–21 – April 10 at #24 Pepperdine* – Eddy D. Field Stadium 1–0 Brandon Kinser (3–2) Corey Miller (6–2) None 345 14–21 5–8 April 11 at #24 Pepperdine* – Eddy D. Field Stadium 4–6 Matt Maurer (4–1) Kolton Mahoney (4–5) Eric Karch (10) 297 14–22 5–9 April 12 at #24 Pepperdine* – Eddy D. Field Stadium 1–9 Aaron Brown (7–1) Desmond Poulson (4–4) None 502 14–23 5–10 April 14 at #14 UC Santa Barbara – Caesar Uyesaka Stadium 5–9 Andrew Vasquez (1–0) Hayden Rogers (1–2) None 290 14–24 – April 17 Loyola Marymount* – Larry H. Miller Field 0–2 Colin Welmon (6–2) Desmond Poulson (4–5) None 857 14–25 5–11 April 18 Loyola Marymount* – Larry H. Miller Field 6–2 Jeff Barker (3–5) Sean Buckle (1–4) None 1,531 15–25 6–11 April 19 Loyola Marymount* – Larry H. Miller Field 4–2 Kolton Mahoney (5–5) J.D. Busfield (0–1) Brandon Kinser (4) 1,668 16–25 7–11 April 29 at Utah Valley – Brent Brown Ballpark 6–4 Hayden Rogers (2–2) Devin Nelson (3–5) Brandon Kinser (5) 4,122 17–25 –
May Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record WCC Record May 1 Gonzaga* – Larry H. Miller Field 11–4 Jeff Barker (4–5) Kenny Smith (1–5) Hayden Rogers (1) 989 18–25 8–11 May 2 Gonzaga* – Larry H. Miller Field 3–4 Brandon Bailey (5–5) Chris Howard (0–2) Karl Myers (4) 1,290 18–26 8–12 May 3 Gonzaga* – Larry H. Miller Field 4–6 Will Abram (3–1) Hayden Rogers (2–3) None 1,139 18–27 8–13 May 6 Utah – Larry H. Miller Field 10–12 Josh Chapman (3–0) Brandon Kinser (0–3) None 1,065 18–28 – May 8 Santa Clara* – Larry H. Miller Field 6–8 Jason Seever (2–2) Chris Howard (0–3) Reece Karalus (11) 721 18–29 8–14 May 9 Santa Clara* – Larry H. Miller Field 16–2 Jeff Barker (6–5) Peter Hendron (6–4) None 1,112 19–29 9–14 May 10 Santa Clara* – Larry H. Miller Field 1–5 Jacob Steffens (2–4) Kolton Mahoney (5–6) None 1,169 19–30 9–15 May 13 at Utah – Smith's Ballpark 4–5 Josh Chapman (4–0) Hayden Rogers (2–4) None 3,800 19–31 – May 15 at Portland* – Joe Etzel Field 11–1 Jeff Barker (6–5) Colin Feldtman (2–8) None 333 20–31 10–15 May 16 at Portland* – Joe Etzel Field 6–3 Kolton Mahoney (6–6) Jackson Lockwood (3–3) Brandon Kinser (6) 343 21–31 11–15 May 17 at Portland* – Joe Etzel Field 6–1 Desmond Poulson (5–5) Chad Kjemhus (1–4) None 373 22–31 12–15 Rankings from Collegiate Baseball. Parenthesis indicate tournament seedings. *West Coast Conference games

TV & Radio Information

All home and conference games as well as select non-conference road games (at Utah and at UC Santa Barbara) were broadcast on KOVO with Brent Norton (play-by-play) calling the games for his 25th consecutive season. A rotating selection of analysts will be used. Most of the games were simulcast on BYU Radio.

BYUtv broadcast 9 home games: Mar. 13 & 15 vs. San Diego, Apr. 3 vs. Pacific, Apr. 17 vs. Loyola Marymount, May 1–3 vs. Gonzaga, and May 8 & 10 vs. Santa Clara. Sister station KBYU aired the May 6 home game vs. Utah. BYUtv/KBYU used Spencer Linton and Dave McCann as their play-by-play men. Gary Sheide returned as the analyst. An additional six games aired on the WCC's online station- TheW.tv: Mar. 4 vs. Utah, Mar. 14 vs. San Diego, Apr. 1 vs. Utah Valley, Apr. 18 vs. Loyola Marymount, May 9 vs. Santa Clara, and May 16 at Portland. TheW.tv games were the conference's first non-basketball broadcasts outside the state of California and the first game featuring a non-conference opponent in baseball. Both games at Utah, Mar. 25 & May 13, aired on Pac-12 Network (the Mar. 25 game being a Pac-12 Mountain exclusive), the game at Utah Valley, Apr. 29, aired on UVU's YouTube channel, the 3-game series at Pepperdine will air on TV-32 Malibu and be simulcast online by WavesCast, and the game at Fresno State aired on the Mountain West Network powered by Campus Insiders. Had the Cougars returned to the WCC baseball tournament, the games would have aired on TheW.tv.

2014 MLB Draft

Two BYU Cougar players were selected in the 2014 MLB Draft. Both have the option of coming back to BYU should they not sign a contract. Sophomore Pitcher Kolton Mahoney, who just completed his second full year at BYU after serving a church mission to Santa Rosa, California from 2012–13, was selected in the 23rd Round, 686th overall pick, by the Milwaukee Brewers. Shortstop Tanner Chauncey, who was serving a church mission in the Brazil João Pessoa Mission from 2013–14 and would be back for the 2015 season as a sophomore, was selected in the 35th Round, 1,059th overall pick, by the Los Angeles Dodgers.[8]

References

1. "West Coast Conference Standings". d1baseball.com. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
2. "Bozars Predicted 2013 WCC Finish". sjswacwccbaseball.blogspot.com. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
3. http://byucougars.com/schedule/m-baseball/2013
4. "WCC Unveils 2014 Baseball Preseason Poll and Preseason Team: San Diego picked to win 2014 Title; Four WCC programs earn first-place votes". Wccsports.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
5. "Jays Baseball Off to Utah to Face BYU". Jays Baseball. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
6. http://byucougars.com/roster/m-baseball
7. http://byucougars.com/schedule/m-baseball/2014
8. "MLB draft: BYU pitcher Kolton Mahoney among players from Utah taken in final day of the draft". Deseret News. Retrieved 2014-06-07.