PROVO, Utah (Interstat) — BYU outlasted Utah 6-4 Thursday evening at Larry H. Miller Field, taking the series opener in a Big 12 contest that saw the Cougars rally from an early deficit.

Utah built a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a sacrifice fly, but BYU answered in the third with an RBI single from Ryder Robinson. The Cougars exploded for five runs in the fifth — highlighted by a two-run single from Ridge Erickson — to take a 6-4 lead. Daniel Arambula homered for Utah in the seventh, but the Utes could not close the gap.

BYU starter Wayland Crane earned the win, allowing one earned run on five hits over five innings with two strikeouts. Ashton Johnson tossed a scoreless ninth for the save. Cameron Nielson threw three hitless innings for Utah, striking out two.

The Utes fell to 21-19 overall, while BYU improved to 23-21. The teams meet again Friday for the second game of the series.