BYU baseball got their 2026 season started this month. After splitting their opening series against Western Kentucky with a 2-2 record, BYU baseball headed to Southern California, where they would stay for the remainder of the opening month of the 2026 college baseball season. After a loss to San Diego State, the 2-3 Cougars took on UC San Diego.
After taking two of three on their first weekend in sunny California, BYU would play Long Beach State twice and Washington State twice. The Cougars would fall to LBSU in their first game this past Wednesday, 10-7. The men from Provo would rebound strongly in the Battle of the Cougars against Washington State on Thursday and Friday. BYU would win game one, 6-4, on Thursday. Friday, BYU got a second victory this time in dramatic fashion. Junior shortstop Ryder Robinson would hit an RBI double that would give BYU the walk-off win.
The walk-off moment 🤝 pic.twitter.com/25TaFLiajp
— BYU Baseball (@BYUBaseball) February 28, 2026
While Robinson was the star on Friday, BYU has been led this season by sophomore first baseman Ezra McNaughton and junior center fielder Crew McChesney. McChesney has two home runs, six RBIs, and three stolen bases. McNaughton is the best BYU has. His batting average is .400, and he has 18 hits, three home runs, and 12 RBIs. The 6-4 Cougars will finish their SoCal road trip with their second game against Long Beach State.
BYU will look to continue their quest to improve on their 28-27 (11-20) 2025 season. The Cougars will have a long homestand, including their home opener this week, starting with three games against Cal Baptist starting on Thursday.
The Cougars will play in-state foe Utah Tech on March 10th, before they open Big 12 play at home against the Cincinnati Bearcats of my native Southwest Ohio. The Bearcats are fresh off a 33-26 2025 season in which they made the NCAA Tournament. UC proves, though, that the Big 12 is a competitive baseball league that can get its teams to the NCAA Tournament.