Irvine, Calif.- Despite swinging hot bats Friday and out-hitting No. 19 UC Irvine, BYU dropped game two of a three game set with the Anteaters, 9-6.

The Cougars (1-1) were unable to take full advantage of 18 hits, and hold two early leads, dropped a close game to UCI (6-2). BYU left 12 runners on base in the contest.

There was more offense in game two of the three-game series with UCI. The Cougars jumped on the Anteaters early, starting the game with a Sean McNaughton single and Ryan Chambers' double. McNaughton scored on a wild pitch and Chambers scored on a Jeff Hiestand RBI groundout.

The game turned into a see-saw battle with the Cougars losing the lead in the bottom of the third only to gain it back with a three-run fourth inning capped by a Hiestand two-run single.

BYU's lead was short-lived. UCI scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth, regaining the lead 6-5 and it never looked back.

The Cougars added another run in the eighth inning on a RBI single by Brandon Taylor after McNaughton and Chambers led the inning off with back-to-back singles. The Cougars rally ended as Hiestand struck out and Apana Nakayama grounded out.

The three-game series concludes Saturday at 1 p.m. (PST). The Cougars will send junior college transfer Brandon Christiansen (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound against lefty Glenn Swanson (1-0, 3.00).

Brigham Young Univ. at UC Irvine
Feb 18, 2005 at Irvine, California (Anteater Ballpark)
Brigham Young Univ. 6 (1-1)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
McNAUGHTON, Sean 2b......  5  3  4  0   0  0  2  4   0
CHAMBERS, Ryan cf........  5  2  4  1   0  0  3  0   2
TAYLOR, Brandon 3b.......  5  0  3  1   0  1  0  3   0
HIESTAND, Jeff 1b........  5  0  2  3   0  1 14  1   0
NAKAYAMA, Apana dh.......  5  0  2  0   0  0  0  0   2
SAYLOR, Ben rf...........  4  0  0  0   1  2  0  0   3
KNELL, Kory lf...........  5  0  0  0   0  2  0  0   2
VILLEZCAS, Marcos ss.....  5  0  2  0   0  3  1  6   2
NELSON, Casey c..........  3  1  1  0   0  0  3  0   0
 AYOSO, Bryce ph/c.......  2  0  0  0   0  2  0  0   1
WELLS, Patrick p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  2   0
 TORGERSON, Blake p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BARRETT, Joshua p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 44  6 18  5   1 11 24 17  12
UC Irvine 9 (6-2)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
JOHNSON, Erik cf.........  4  2  1  1   0  0  1  0   0
DALTON, Brett 2b.........  5  1  3  3   0  1  2  3   1
WAGNER, Mark c...........  5  1  1  0   0  0 10  3   2
ANDERSON, Matt 3b........  4  2  2  0   0  0  1  1   0
MARTINEZ, Jaime 1b.......  4  0  2  0   0  0  9  0   1
STEWART, Tim dh..........  3  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PETERSEN, Bryan ph......  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
MIRAMONTES, Daniel rf....  4  1  3  2   0  0  2  0   1
LUNDAHL, Chad ss.........  4  1  2  0   0  0  1  3   1
DUDREY, Gary lf..........  2  1  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
 BROWN, R.J. ph..........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 AMARA, Andy lf..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
CASSEL, Justin p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 SCHROER, Steve p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 ERICKSON, Blair p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 37  9 14  6   0  1 27 11   6
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ.. 200 300 010 -  6 18  2
UC Irvine........... 012 300 21X -  9 14  1
-------------------------------------------
E - CHAMBERS; TAYLOR; ANDERSON. DP - BYU Cougars 1; CI Anteaters 1. LOB -
BYU Cougars 12; CI Anteaters 6. 2B - CHAMBERS; VILLEZCAS; ANDERSON;
MIRAMONTES; LUNDAHL. 3B - DALTON. HBP - DUDREY. SF - JOHNSON. CS - KNELL.
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
WELLS, Patrick......  4.1  8  6  4  0  1 21 23
TORGERSON, Blake....  1.2  4  2  2  0  0  9  9
BARRETT, Joshua.....  2.0  2  1  0  0  0  7  7
UC Irvine              IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
CASSEL, Justin......  5.1 13  5  5  0  4 29 29
SCHROER, Steve......  2.0  3  1  1  1  3  8  9
ERICKSON, Blair.....  1.2  2  0  0  0  4  7  7
Win - CASSEL (2-0).  Loss - WELLS (0-1).  Save - ERICKSON (2).
WP - CASSEL 2; SCHROER 2. HBP - by WELLS (DUDREY).
Umpires - HP: Michael Gilmore  1B: Rich Padilla  3B: Dan Perugini
Start: 6:05   Time: 3:15   Attendance: 468
Game notes:
Game 2 of 3
TORGERSON faced 3 batters in the 7th.
Play-by-Play
Brigham Young Univ. at UC Irvine - Play-by-Play
Feb 18, 2005 at Irvine, California (Anteater Ballpark)
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ.. 200 300 010 -  6 18  2
UC Irvine........... 012 300 21X -  9 14  1
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 15/2b McNAUGHTON; 22/cf CHAMBERS; 3/3b TAYLOR;
   16/1b HIESTAND; 24/dh NAKAYAMA; 25/rf SAYLOR; 12/lf KNELL; 10/ss
   VILLEZCAS; 8/c NELSON; 4/p WELLS;
UC Irvine starters: 15/cf JOHNSON; 6/2b DALTON; 32/c WAGNER; 17/3b ANDERSON;
   35/1b MARTINEZ; 24/dh STEWART; 3/rf MIRAMONTES; 4/ss LUNDAHL; 2/lf
   DUDREY; 25/p CASSEL;
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 1
   McNAUGHTON singled up the middle. CHAMBERS doubled to right center;
   McNAUGHTON advanced to third. CHAMBERS advanced to third; McNAUGHTON
   scored on a wild pitch. TAYLOR struck out swinging. HIESTAND grounded out
   to 2b, RBI; CHAMBERS scored. NAKAYAMA singled. SAYLOR flied out to cf. 2
   runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UC Irvine - inning 1
   JOHNSON grounded out to 2b. DALTON struck out looking. WAGNER popped up
   to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 2
   KNELL grounded out to ss. VILLEZCAS struck out swinging. NELSON singled
   to center field. McNAUGHTON singled to left field; NELSON advanced to
   second. CHAMBERS grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UC Irvine - inning 2
   ANDERSON doubled to right center. MARTINEZ grounded out to 3b; ANDERSON
   advanced to third. STEWART grounded out to p. MIRAMONTES doubled to right
   field, RBI; ANDERSON scored. LUNDAHL grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0
   errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 3
   TAYLOR singled to center field. HIESTAND singled to second base; TAYLOR
   advanced to second. NAKAYAMA fouled out to c. SAYLOR struck out looking.
   KNELL grounded out to 1b unassisted. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UC Irvine - inning 3
   DUDREY grounded out to p. JOHNSON singled up the middle. DALTON singled
   up the middle; JOHNSON advanced to second. WAGNER flied out to cf.
   ANDERSON reached on a fielding error by cf; DALTON scored, unearned;
   JOHNSON scored, unearned. MARTINEZ fouled out to c. 2 runs, 2 hits, 1
   error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 4
   VILLEZCAS doubled to center field. NELSON reached on a fielder's choice;
   VILLEZCAS out at third p to 3b. McNAUGHTON singled to left center; NELSON
   advanced to third. CHAMBERS singled to center field, RBI; McNAUGHTON
   advanced to second; NELSON scored. TAYLOR singled to third base; CHAMBERS
   advanced to second; McNAUGHTON advanced to third. HIESTAND singled to
   right field, 2 RBI; TAYLOR advanced to second; CHAMBERS scored;
   McNAUGHTON scored. NAKAYAMA flied out to rf. HIESTAND advanced to second;
   TAYLOR advanced to third on a wild pitch. SAYLOR grounded out to 2b. 3
   runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UC Irvine - inning 4
   STEWART grounded out to ss. MIRAMONTES singled to shortstop. LUNDAHL
   singled to center field; MIRAMONTES advanced to second. DUDREY hit by
   pitch; LUNDAHL advanced to second; MIRAMONTES advanced to third. JOHNSON
   flied out to cf, SF, RBI; LUNDAHL advanced to third; MIRAMONTES scored.
   DALTON tripled to right field, 2 RBI; DUDREY scored; LUNDAHL scored.
   WAGNER flied out to cf. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 5
   KNELL reached on a fielding error by 3b. KNELL out at second c to ss,
   caught stealing. VILLEZCAS struck out looking. NELSON popped up to 2b. 0
   runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
UC Irvine - inning 5
   ANDERSON grounded out to 2b. MARTINEZ singled to right center. TORGERSON
   to p for WELLS. STEWART popped up to 1b. MIRAMONTES grounded out to 3b. 0
   runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 6
   McNAUGHTON fouled out to rf. CHAMBERS singled to right field. SCHROER to
   p for CASSEL. TAYLOR grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; CHAMBERS
   out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UC Irvine - inning 6
   LUNDAHL doubled down the lf line. DUDREY popped up to c. JOHNSON grounded
   out to ss; LUNDAHL advanced to third. DALTON grounded out to ss. 0 runs,
   1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 7
   HIESTAND flied out to lf. NAKAYAMA singled to right field. NAKAYAMA
   advanced to second on a wild pitch. SAYLOR walked. KNELL struck out
   looking. SAYLOR advanced to second; NAKAYAMA advanced to third on a wild
   pitch. VILLEZCAS struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b. 0 runs, 1
   hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UC Irvine - inning 7
   WAGNER singled up the middle. ANDERSON singled to right field; WAGNER
   advanced to second. MARTINEZ singled, bunt; ANDERSON advanced to second;
   WAGNER advanced to third. PETERSEN pinch hit for STEWART. BARRETT to p
   for TORGERSON. PETERSEN grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b;
   MARTINEZ out on the play; ANDERSON advanced to third; WAGNER scored.
   MIRAMONTES singled up the middle, RBI; ANDERSON scored. MIRAMONTES out at
   second p to 1b to ss, picked off. 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 8
   AYOSO pinch hit for NELSON. AYOSO struck out swinging. McNAUGHTON singled
   up the middle. CHAMBERS singled to right field; McNAUGHTON advanced to
   second. ERICKSON to p for SCHROER. TAYLOR singled up the middle, RBI;
   CHAMBERS advanced to second; McNAUGHTON scored. HIESTAND struck out
   swinging. NAKAYAMA grounded out to ss. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UC Irvine - inning 8
   AYOSO to c. LUNDAHL grounded out to ss. BROWN pinch hit for DUDREY. BROWN
   grounded out to ss. JOHNSON reached on a throwing error by 3b, advanced
   to second. DALTON singled to right center, RBI; JOHNSON scored, unearned.
   WAGNER reached on a fielder's choice; DALTON out at second 3b to 2b. 1
   run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 9
   AMARA to lf for BROWN. SAYLOR struck out swinging. KNELL struck out
   swinging, out at first c to 1b. VILLEZCAS singled to center field. AYOSO
   struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

PROVO -- Veteran Patrick Wells moves to the middle of the pitching rotation as the BYU baseball team opens its season with a three-game series at No. 19 UC Irvine in California on Thursday.

Untested at the division one level, junior college transfers Dave Horlacher and Brandon Christiansen will start on the mound Thursday and Saturday, respectively, while senior southpaw Wells (7-5, 5.76 ERA last season) starts Friday's game. Game times are 6 p.m. (PST) for the Thursday and Friday games and 1 p.m. (PST) on Saturday.

The Cougars (28-30 last season) will open the season against the UCI Anteaters (5-1) fresh off a three-game sweep of No. 8 Washington.

BYU has enjoyed the opportunity to practice outside more than normal this preseason due to uncharacteristically warm weather. BYU head coach Vance Law says that the extra outdoor practice should help the Cougars this year.

"We feel very fortunate to practice outside so many times," Law said. "That's one excuse we won't have this year."

Along with Wells, the Cougars return five of their top six hitters headlined by Preseason All-Mountain West Conference picks Kory Knell, Ben Saylor and Brandon Taylor. Law believes this team could be one of the best-hitting squads he's had at BYU.

"We feel very prepared and think we will be a very good hitting team," said Law.

Links to listen to the BYU-UCI games can be found on www.byucougars.com.

A multi-page release can be found by downloading the PDF file at the top of this story, which gives a detailed analysis of the Cougars.

After the bus ride to California, the Cougars return home to prepare for a three-game series at San Jose State the following week.