PROVO — In the days leading up to the West Coast Conference Tournament, BYU baseball coach Mike Littlewood underscored the importance of winning the first game.
“If we could win the first game, I would use all 10 of our pitchers if we had to,” he said. “If you go to the loser’s bracket, it’s a tough, tough road. It’s an uphill battle if you lose Game 1. Not that it can’t be done. But it’s easier when you win the first game.”
So things looked bleak Thursday night when the Cougars fell 3-2 to Loyola Marymount in their first game of the tournament.