PROVO -- It was freshman Brandon Relf's turn to come up big for BYU as the Cougars beat New Mexico on a three-run, walk-off home run Thursday night at Larry H. Miller Field.

Relf didn't start the game, but he finished it with a towering homer to give BYU (33-13-1, 17-5 Mountain West Conference) an important come-from-behind victory to keep the Cougars atop the MWC standings.

Pitching prevailed until the top of the fourth inning when New Mexico, now 19-27 (9-13, MWC), scored two runs. The first came on a RBI double by Chris Carlson into the right-center gap. Carlson scored two batters later on an unusual play. The Lobos' batter Jay Russell hit a come-backer to pitcher Dave Horlacher. Carlson was caught in a run down. He scored after Horlacher inadvertently ran into Carlson causing runner interference.

BYU responded in its side of the fourth when Jeff Hiestand got a one-out single extending his hitting streak to 25 games. He was followed by Brandon Taylor hitting a two-run, mammoth home run that carried well over the scoreboard. Taylor's homer was his 19th of the year and it pushed his RBI total to 74 on the season.

The Lobos answered in the top of the fifth frame, scoring a two-out run. The run came on a two-out RBI double by Jordan Pacheco to deep left. In the sixth, again New Mexico put together a two-out rally. The Lobos got two more runs on a double by Chris Dabbs to push their lead to 5-2.

The Cougars bounced back again in their side of the sixth, scoring two runs to trim the lead to 5-4. BYU scored on a Ben Saylor RBI single that scored Hiestand and a fielder's choice of Kory Knell's bat that scored Taylor.

New Mexico came back in its side of the seventh with a one-out solo homer by Pacheco.

In the bottom of the seventh, BYU grabbed its first lead of the game with a three-run rally. The Cougars were helped by two walks, two errors and a passed ball. BYU sent eight batters to the plate and only two got on base by way of a hit. One was Ryan Chambers, who led off the inning with a single. He later came around to score on a bases-loaded passed ball to cut the lead to 6-5. The game-tying and go-ahead run were scored on a Knell hit to second base. The ball was fielded and thrown away to plate the runs give the Cougars a 7-6 lead.

The Lobos tilted the see-saw their way in the top of the ninth on a one-out, two-run single by Carlson to take an 8-7 lead.

The lead was short lived as drama ruled the Cougars' side of the ninth. The frame started with a deep flyout down the left field line that was only caught because the Lobos were playing down the lines. Taylor followed with a walk on a full count. He scored when Knell came up big with another RBI single. After a Casey Cloward single, it was Relf's turn. He took a 0-2 pitch and smoked it over left-center field fence.

"The first two pitches were sliders and they made me look goofy," Relf said. "Then I expected another slider and I hit it."

Relf was inserted in the game in the top of the seventh inning. He went 2-for-2, with the big homer and three RBI.

The series will continue Friday night with a 7 p.m. (MDT) start. The game will be carried live on KOVO radio 960 AM.

New Mexico at Brigham Young Univ.
May 05, 2005 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
New Mexico 8 (19-27,9-13 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
PACHECO, Jordan ss/2b....  5  1  2  2   0  0  3  2   0
HAYMORE, Garrick lf......  4  1  2  0   1  1  2  0   1
CARLSON, Chris dh........  5  1  2  3   0  1  0  0   0
STOVALL, Daniel 1b.......  5  1  1  0   0  1  7  0   1
RUSSELL, Jay 2b..........  5  1  2  0   0  1  2  4   0
 CASTILLO, Carlos c......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
HOLLICK, Ian 3b..........  4  0  2  0   0  0  1  0   0
DABBS, Chris rf..........  4  0  1  2   0  2  3  0   1
GRADY, Jeff c............  3  0  0  0   1  2  5  2   1
 BARBA, Ryan pr/ss.......  0  1  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
FOOTE, Matt cf...........  4  2  3  0   0  0  3  0   0
GAARDER, Karsten p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PEREZ, Jesse p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PACAS, Petr p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 39  8 15  7   2  8 26  8   6
Brigham Young Univ. 11 (33-13-1,17-5 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
CHAMBERS, Ryan cf........  5  1  2  0   0  0  3  1   0
VILLEZCAS, Marcos ss.....  5  0  0  0   0  0  2  1   1
NAKAYAMA, Apana dh.......  4  1  0  0   1  0  0  0   1
HIESTAND, Jeff 1b........  4  2  1  0   1  0  8  0   1
TAYLOR, Brandon 3b.......  3  4  2  2   2  1  1  1   0
SAYLOR, Ben lf...........  4  0  2  1   1  0  1  0   0
KNELL, Kory rf...........  5  1  2  3   0  2  2  1   0
CLOWARD, Casey c.........  5  1  3  0   0  1  9  2   3
LAW, Andrew 2b...........  2  0  0  0   0  2  1  2   0
 McNAUGHTON, Sean ph.....  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   2
 RELF, Brandon 2b........  2  1  2  3   0  0  0  2   0
HORLACHER, Dave p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 SU'A, Justin p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 40 11 14  9   5  6 27 10   8
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico.......... 000 212 102 -  8 15  2
Brigham Young Univ.. 000 202 304 - 11 14  1
-------------------------------------------
Note: 2 outs, 0 runners LOB when the game ended.
E - RUSSELL 2; HORLACHER. DP - BYU Cougars 1. LOB - New Mexico 6; BYU
Cougars 8. 2B - PACHECO; HAYMORE; CARLSON, C.; DABBS. HR - PACHECO(11);
TAYLOR(19); RELF(2). SB - FOOTE; CLOWARD. CS - HOLLICK; CHAMBERS.
New Mexico             IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
GAARDER, Karsten....  6.2  9  7  4  3  5 29 32 121
PEREZ, Jesse........  2.0  4  3  3  2  1 10 12  48
PACAS, Petr.........  0.0  1  1  1  0  0  1  1   3
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
HORLACHER, Dave.....  7.0 11  6  5  0  7 30 30 115
SU'A, Justin........  2.0  4  2  2  2  1  9 11  36
Win - SU'A (6-2).  Loss - PEREZ (0-2).  Save - None.
WP - PEREZ; HORLACHER 2. PB - GRADY, J.. Pitches/strikes: GAARDER 121/68; PEREZ
48/30; PACAS 3/3; HORLACHER 115/80; SU'A 36/22.
Umpires - HP: Kevin Daugherty  1B: Reuben Chavira  3B: Randy Upton
Start: 7:05 pm   Time: 3:07   Attendance: 1288
PACAS faced 1 batter in the 9th.
New Mexico at Brigham Young Univ. - Play-by-Play
May 05, 2005 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico.......... 000 212 102 -  8 15  2
Brigham Young Univ.. 000 202 304 - 11 14  1
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico starters: 1/ss PACHECO; 14/lf HAYMORE; 35/dh CARLSON, C.; 34/1b STOVALL;
3/2b RUSSELL; 10/3b HOLLICK; 29/rf DABBS; 15/c GRADY, J.; 12/cf FOOTE; 11/p GAARDER;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 22/cf CHAMBERS; 10/ss VILLEZCAS; 24/dh NAKAYAMA; 16/1b
HIESTAND; 3/3b TAYLOR; 25/lf SAYLOR; 12/rf KNELL; 9/c CLOWARD; 6/2b LAW; 11/p
HORLACHER;
New Mexico 1st - PACHECO grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-1). HAYMORE doubled
to right field (2-1). CARLSON, C. grounded out to 2b (3-2); HAYMORE advanced to
third. STOVALL struck out looking (2-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - CHAMBERS grounded out to ss (2-2). VILLEZCAS
grounded out to 2b (3-2). NAKAYAMA walked (3-2). HIESTAND popped up to ss (1-2).
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 2nd - RUSSELL grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-1). HOLLICK singled
to left field (2-1). HOLLICK out at second c to 2b, caught stealing. DABBS struck
out swinging (2-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - TAYLOR struck out swinging (0-2). SAYLOR popped up
to 3b (0-0). KNELL struck out swinging (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
New Mexico 3rd - GRADY, J. struck out swinging (1-2). FOOTE singled up the
middle (2-2). FOOTE advanced to second on a wild pitch. PACHECO flied into double
play cf to ss (1-2); FOOTE out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - CLOWARD singled through the left side (1-1). LAW
struck out swinging (0-2). CHAMBERS flied out to cf (1-2). VILLEZCAS flied out to cf
(3-1). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 4th - HAYMORE singled to right field (1-2). CARLSON, C. doubled to
right center, RBI (2-1); HAYMORE scored. STOVALL grounded out to 2b (0-0); CARLSON,
C. advanced to third. RUSSELL reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second
(0-1); CARLSON, C. scored on an error by p, interference, unearned. HOLLICK flied
out to cf (0-1). RUSSELL out at second c to ss, picked off. 2 runs, 2 hits, 1
error, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - NAKAYAMA grounded out to 2b (1-0). HIESTAND singled
to right field (1-0). TAYLOR homered to right field, 2 RBI (1-0); HIESTAND scored.
SAYLOR singled to right field (2-0). KNELL struck out swinging (2-2). CLOWARD flied
out to cf (2-2). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 5th - DABBS struck out looking (1-2). GRADY, J. grounded out to 3b
(0-1). FOOTE singled through the right side (1-2). FOOTE stole second. FOOTE
advanced to third on a wild pitch. PACHECO doubled to right field, RBI (2-2); FOOTE
scored. HAYMORE flied out to rf (0-0). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - LAW struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b
(1-2). CHAMBERS singled to right field (3-1). CHAMBERS out at second c to ss, caught
stealing. VILLEZCAS grounded out to 2b (2-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 6th - CARLSON, C. struck out swinging (2-2). STOVALL singled to
left field (1-0). RUSSELL singled to left field (0-2); STOVALL advanced to second.
HOLLICK flied out to cf (1-1). DABBS doubled down the lf line, 2 RBI (3-2); RUSSELL
scored; STOVALL scored. GRADY, J. struck out looking (1-2). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - NAKAYAMA flied out to rf (0-0). HIESTAND walked
(3-0). TAYLOR singled to left center (2-0); HIESTAND advanced to second. SAYLOR
singled to right field, RBI (0-0); TAYLOR advanced to third; HIESTAND scored. KNELL
reached on a fielder's choice, RBI (2-2); SAYLOR out at second ss to 2b; TAYLOR
scored. CLOWARD singled to left field (0-0); KNELL advanced to second. McNAUGHTON
pinch hit for LAW. McNAUGHTON popped up to 2b (2-0). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
New Mexico 7th - RELF to 2b for McNAUGHTON. FOOTE grounded out to 2b (1-0).
PACHECO homered to center field, RBI (0-0). HAYMORE struck out swinging (1-2).
CARLSON, C. grounded out to ss (2-1). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - CHAMBERS singled to center field (1-1). VILLEZCAS
flied out to rf (2-2). NAKAYAMA reached on a fielding error by 2b (3-2); CHAMBERS
advanced to second. HIESTAND flied out to rf (1-2). TAYLOR walked (3-0); NAKAYAMA
advanced to second; CHAMBERS advanced to third. PEREZ to p for GAARDER. TAYLOR
advanced to second; NAKAYAMA advanced to third; CHAMBERS scored on a passed ball,
unearned. SAYLOR walked (3-2). KNELL singled to second base, advanced to second on a
throwing error by 2b, RBI (2-2); SAYLOR advanced to third; TAYLOR scored, unearned;
NAKAYAMA scored, unearned. CLOWARD struck out swinging (1-2). 3 runs, 2 hits, 2
errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico 8th - SU'A to p for HORLACHER. STOVALL grounded out to 2b (1-0).
RUSSELL struck out swinging (2-2). HOLLICK singled to left field (1-0). DABBS flied
out to rf (0-0). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - RELF singled to right field (0-0). CHAMBERS
grounded out to 2b (1-2); RELF advanced to second. VILLEZCAS flied out to lf (2-2).
NAKAYAMA grounded out to 1b unassisted (2-1). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 9th - GRADY, J. walked (3-2). BARBA pinch ran for GRADY, J.. FOOTE
singled to first base (0-0); BARBA advanced to second. PACHECO popped up to 3b, bunt
(0-1). HAYMORE walked (3-2); FOOTE advanced to second; BARBA advanced to third.
CARLSON, C. singled to left field, 2 RBI (1-1); HAYMORE advanced to second; FOOTE
scored; BARBA scored. STOVALL flied out to lf (1-1). RUSSELL singled to right field
(0-1); CARLSON, C. advanced to second; HAYMORE advanced to third, out at home rf to
c. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 9th - PACHECO to 2b. CASTILLO to c for RUSSELL. BARBA to
ss. HIESTAND flied out to lf (0-0). TAYLOR walked (3-2). TAYLOR advanced to second
on a wild pitch. SAYLOR popped up to 2b (1-1). KNELL singled to left field, RBI
(0-0); TAYLOR scored. CLOWARD singled to right field (1-2); KNELL advanced to third.
PACAS to p for PEREZ. CLOWARD stole second. RELF homered to left field, 3 RBI (0-2);
CLOWARD scored; KNELL scored. 4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

No. 1 in the nation at slugging and doubles are two kudos for BYU as it hosts the final six games of the home season, beginning Thursday with a three-game series against New Mexico.

The Cougars, 32-13-1, are tied for first place in the Mountain West Conference at 16-5 with UNLV, while UNM is tied for fourth with Utah at 9-12.

BYU ascended to the nation's lead with a .564 slugging percentage in the latest NCAA statistics and are still on school-record pace averaging 2.93 doubles. The Lobos also have a national leader with Garrick Haymore averaging .21 triples as UNM is second as a team in the nation in that category at 0.71.

BYU also has some individual leaders topped by Brandon Taylor and Ben Saylor. Taylor, who was named to a national player of the week honor for the second consecutive week, is sixth in the nation with his 18 homers and is fifth nationally in RBI with a 1.51 average. Saylor is third nationally, averaging 0.5 doubles.

The Cougars are hopeful for the return of freshman phenom Sean McNaughton this week after he was sidelined last month with a broken thumb. UNM also has a top freshman second baseman in Jordan Pacheco who leads the MWC in several categories.

BYU will be starting Dave Horlacher (4-2, 3.84) on the mound in Thursday's game at 7 p.m., at Larry H. Miller Field. On Friday, BYU Coach Vance Law has tapped a new starter in junior southpaw Lance Beus (1-0, 6.48), also starting at 7 p.m. This is the first start of the season for Beus, who had arm surgery last Fall. On Saturday at 1 p.m., freshman Blake Torgerson (5-2, 5.77) will be the BYU starter.

Saturday vs. UNM is Cosmo's Kids Club Day and Kids Take Over Milleryy´Park Day. Kids will be helping take tickets, read PA's, select music, and rake the field with the grounds crew. Kids will be selected starting at 12 noon at Cosmo's Kids Club Party. There is a FREE Youth Baseball Clinic (ages of 8-12, pre-register on www.byucougars.com) following the 1 p.m. game vs. New Mexico.

Next week, BYU closes its regular season at home with a three-game stand against UNLV.

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.