LAS -- UNLV scored early and often to snap BYU's three-game winning streak handing the Cougars a 13-5 loss on Thursday night.

A few of the bright spots for BYU was the play of Kasey Ko and J.T. Musso. Ko went two-for-three in the game, and added a run. Musso went one-for-three and knocked in three runs.

Things got off to a rough start for BYU (11-7) and pitcher Jordan Muir early. Muir walked the first batter he faced and then allowed him to advance to second when he was called for a balk. Left fielder Blake Gailen was up next for UNLV (10-15) and ripped a single to center field that brought around the runner to score. Gailen then stole second and was brought around to score by an Efren Navarro Jr. single to right field.

Muir was then able to step up and get BYU out of a tough first inning trailing 3-0.

In the second inning the Cougar offense couldn't get anything going, and in the bottom of the inning the Rebels were once again able to get to Muir. Lefty J.D. Stambaugh came in for Muir and was able to hold UNLV to only three more runs to make the score 6-0 for UNLV.

BYU's offense was retired in order in the top of the third, and in the bottom of the third UNLV scored another three runs to give them a dominating 9-0 lead.

The Cougars were finally able to get on the board in the top of the fourth when catcher Musso hit a monster double down the left field line that brought in three runs to make the score 9-3.

The Cougars had one more chance in the top of the eighth to do some damage and hopefully gain some ground on the Rebels. They had the bases loaded with no outs, thanks to a walk, a Leon Johnson single, and a Wes Guenther single. But the Cougars were only able to bring one run into score and make the score 12-5 in favor of UNLV.

Muir picked up the loss for BYU, his first loss in his collegiate career. It drops his record on the year to 4-1.

This game was the start of conference play for the entire Mountain West Conference. The only other conference teams squaring off this weekend are the Air Force Academy at TCU, starting on Friday.

Missing from Thursday's game was BYU Coach Vance Law, who was serving a one-game penalty for not attending league meetings last August when he was visiting his oldest son in Taiwan. Law will be able to return for games two and three of the UNLV series.

Cougar shortstop Danny Vargas injured his knee in the second inning of the UNLV game on Thursday.

BYU will face off at UNLV again on Friday at 6:30 p.m. PT. On the mound for the Cougars will be lefty Jake Wortham, 3-2, 3.03 ERA.

BYU at UNLV
Mar 15, 2007 at Las Vegas, Nev. (Earl Wilson Stadium)
BYU 5 (11-7,0-1 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
JOHNSON, Leon cf.........  5  0  1  1   0  0  2  0   2
WALTON, Kent 2b..........  5  1  1  0   0  0  3  1   0
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  5  0  1  0   0  2  3  2   0
NAKAYAMA, Apana lf.......  4  1  2  0   1  0  1  0   4
 WELLS, Stephen lf.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
CLUFF, Jonathan rf.......  3  1  1  1   0  0  2  0   2
 FANNING, Collin ph......  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
KO, Kasey 1b.............  3  1  2  0   1  0  6  0   1
 BILLS, Thomas 1b........  1  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
MC KEEVER, Mike dh.......  2  0  0  0   0  2  0  0   0
 JOHNSON, Jason dh.......  2  1  0  0   1  1  0  0   0
MUSSO, J.T. c............  3  0  1  3   0  1  5  2   1
 GUENTHER, Wes ph/c......  1  0  1  0   0  0  1  0   0
VARGAS, Dan ss...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HALL, Austin ss.........  3  0  0  0   1  1  0  2   1
MUIR, Jordan p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 STAMBAUGH, J.D. p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BARNES, Clayton p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 WARD, Michael p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 MICHON, Brandon p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 38  5 10  5   4  7 24  8  11
UNLV 13 (10-15,1-0 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BEAMON, C. rf............  3  2  1  1   1  1  2  0   2
 BOWMAN, W. ph/lf........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   1
GAILEN, B. lf/rf.........  5  2  4  6   0  0  4  0   0
SMITH, Keith 2b..........  4  1  3  2   1  0  0  3   0
NAVARRO JR., 1b..........  5  0  1  1   0  1  9  0   2
MILLER, Chad dh..........  4  0  1  1   0  1  0  0   2
 KRETCHMER, K dh.........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   1
WALKER, B. ss............  5  2  2  1   0  1  2  2   0
SCRUGGS, X. 3b...........  4  0  1  0   1  1  0  2   0
BRENLY, M. c.............  4  3  2  0   1  0  8  1   0
KOWALSKI, R. cf..........  1  3  1  1   3  0  2  0   0
 BONNELL, C. ph..........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
 AMADOR, B. cf...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
HEYER, Craig p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 SADDORIS, C. p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 SINGER, S. p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PUPO, Koji p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 38 13 16 13   7  6 27 10   9
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
BYU................. 000 300 110 -  5 10  2
UNLV................ 333 030 01X - 13 16  2
-------------------------------------------
E - WALTON(4); NAKAYAMA(1); WALKER, B. 2(9). LOB - BY 11; LV 9. 2B - KO(3);
MUSSO(4); BEAMON, C.(4); SCRUGGS, X.(6); KOWALSKI, R.(3). 3B - WALTON(2). HR
- WALKER, B.(1). SH - BEAMON, C.(2). SF - CLUFF(2). SB - GAILEN, B.(7);
BRENLY, M.(1); KOWALSKI, R.(9). CS - NAVARRO JR.,(1).
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
MUIR, Jordan........  1.0  5  5  5  3  1  6  9
STAMBAUGH, J.D......  2.0  5  4  0  1  2 11 13
BARNES, Clayton.....  2.0  3  3  3  1  2  9 10
WARD, Michael.......  2.0  1  0  0  2  0  7  9
MICHON, Brandon.....  1.0  2  1  1  0  1  5  5
UNLV                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
HEYER, Craig........  6.0  7  4  4  2  4 27 29
SADDORIS, C.........  1.0  1  0  0  0  1  3  4
SINGER, S...........  0.1  2  1  1  2  0  3  5
PUPO, Koji..........  1.2  0  0  0  0  2  5  5
Win - HEYER, Craig (3-2).  Loss - MUIR (4-1).  Save - None.
WP - MUIR(2). BK - MUIR(1); BARNES(2).
Umpires - HP: John Ausmus  1B: Bruce Bayne  3B: Kevin Daugherty
Start: 6:30 PM   Time: 3:05   Attendance: 476
BYU SS Dan Vargas left in the bottom of the 2nd with an apparent leg injury
MUIR faced 2 batters in the 2nd.
HEYER, Craig faced 1 batter in the 7th.
BYU starters: 14/cf JOHNSON, L.; 9/2b WALTON; 5/3b PARKER; 24/lf NAKAYAMA; 8/rf
CLUFF; 22/1b KO; 33/dh MC KEEVER; 10/c MUSSO; 13/ss VARGAS; 12/p MUIR;
UNLV starters: 38/rf BEAMON, C.; 22/lf GAILEN, B.; 14/2b SMITH, Keith; 35/1b NAVARRO
JR.,; 44/dh MILLER, Chad; 10/ss WALKER, B.; 16/3b SCRUGGS, X.; 18/c BRENLY, M.;
12/cf KOWALSKI, R.; 32/p HEYER, Craig;
BYU 1st - JOHNSON, L. flied out to cf. WALTON reached on a fielding error by
ss. PARKER flied out to cf. NAKAYAMA grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error,
1 LOB.
UNLV 1st - BEAMON, C. walked. BEAMON, C. advanced to second on a balk.
GAILEN, B. singled up the middle, RBI; BEAMON, C. scored. GAILEN, B. stole second.
SMITH, Keith singled to left field; GAILEN, B. advanced to third. NAVARRO JR.,
singled through the right side, RBI; SMITH, Keith advanced to second; GAILEN, B.
scored. MILLER, Chad singled to third base, RBI; NAVARRO JR., advanced to second;
SMITH, Keith scored. NAVARRO JR., out at third c to 3b, caught stealing. WALKER, B.
struck out swinging. SCRUGGS, X. walked; MILLER, Chad advanced to second. SCRUGGS,
X. out at first c to 1b, picked off. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 2nd - CLUFF popped up to ss. KO doubled down the rf line. MC KEEVER
struck out looking. MUSSO fouled out to 1b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 2nd - BRENLY, M. singled to shortstop. BRENLY, M. advanced to second on
a wild pitch. HALL to ss for VARGAS. KOWALSKI, R. walked. STAMBAUGH to p for MUIR.
BEAMON, C. grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt; KOWALSKI, R. advanced to second; BRENLY,
M. advanced to third. GAILEN, B. singled to left field, 2 RBI; KOWALSKI, R. scored;
BRENLY, M. scored. GAILEN, B. advanced to third on a fielding error by lf. No play.
SMITH, Keith singled up the middle, RBI; GAILEN, B. scored, unearned. NAVARRO JR.,
reached on a fielder's choice; SMITH, Keith out at second 2b unassisted. MILLER,
Chad flied out to cf. 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU 3rd - HALL flied out to rf. JOHNSON, L. flied out to lf. WALTON grounded
out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 3rd - WALKER, B. reached on a fielding error by 2b. SCRUGGS, X. struck
out swinging. BRENLY, M. singled to right center; WALKER, B. advanced to third.
KOWALSKI, R. walked; BRENLY, M. advanced to second. BEAMON, C. struck out swinging.
GAILEN, B. singled to left field, 2 RBI; KOWALSKI, R. advanced to second; BRENLY, M.
scored, unearned; WALKER, B. scored, unearned. KOWALSKI, R. stole third. SMITH,
Keith singled to center field, RBI; GAILEN, B. advanced to third; KOWALSKI, R.
scored, unearned. NAVARRO JR., fouled out to 3b. 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 2
LOB.
BYU 4th - PARKER grounded out to ss. NAKAYAMA walked. CLUFF singled through
the left side; NAKAYAMA advanced to second. KO singled to right field; CLUFF
advanced to second; NAKAYAMA advanced to third. MC KEEVER struck out swinging. MUSSO
doubled down the lf line, advanced to third on the throw, 3 RBI; KO scored; CLUFF
scored; NAKAYAMA scored. HALL struck out swinging. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
UNLV 4th - BARNES to p for STAMBAUGH. MILLER, Chad struck out swinging.
WALKER, B. grounded out to 3b. SCRUGGS, X. fouled out to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 5th - JOHNSON, L. grounded out to c, bunt. WALTON flied out to lf. PARKER
singled through the right side. NAKAYAMA singled to center field; PARKER advanced to
second. CLUFF grounded out to p. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UNLV 5th - BRENLY, M. walked. BRENLY, M. stole second. KOWALSKI, R. doubled
to left center, RBI; BRENLY, M. scored. KOWALSKI, R. advanced to third on a balk.
BEAMON, C. doubled to right center, RBI; KOWALSKI, R. scored. GAILEN, B. singled
down the lf line, RBI; BEAMON, C. scored. SMITH, Keith reached on a fielder's
choice; GAILEN, B. out at second ss to 2b. NAVARRO JR., struck out swinging. MILLER,
Chad popped up to 2b. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 6th - KO walked. JOHNSON, J. to dh for MC KEEVER. JOHNSON, J. flied out
to lf. MUSSO struck out swinging. HALL reached on a fielding error by ss; KO
advanced to second. JOHNSON, L. reached on a fielder's choice; HALL out at second p
to 2b to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
UNLV 6th - WARD to p for BARNES. WALKER, B. singled to third base. SCRUGGS,
X. flied out to rf. BRENLY, M. lined out to lf. KOWALSKI, R. walked; WALKER, B.
advanced to second. BEAMON, C. popped up to 3b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
BYU 7th - WALTON tripled to right center. SADDORIS, C. to p for HEYER, Craig.
PARKER struck out looking. NAKAYAMA singled to shortstop. CLUFF flied out to lf, SF,
RBI; WALTON scored. KO grounded out to 3b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 7th - GAILEN, B. flied out to cf. SMITH, Keith walked. NAVARRO JR.,
grounded out to p; SMITH, Keith advanced to second. KRETCHMER, K to dh for MILLER,
Chad. KRETCHMER, K grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 8th - SINGER, S. to p for SADDORIS, C.. JOHNSON, J. walked. GUENTHER
pinch hit for MUSSO. GUENTHER singled to left field; JOHNSON, J. advanced to second.
HALL walked; GUENTHER advanced to second; JOHNSON, J. advanced to third. JOHNSON, L.
singled to center field, RBI; HALL advanced to second; GUENTHER advanced to third;
JOHNSON, J. scored. WALTON reached on a fielder's choice; JOHNSON, L. advanced to
second; HALL advanced to third; GUENTHER out at home 3b to c. PUPO, Koji to p for
SINGER, S.. PARKER struck out swinging. NAKAYAMA flied out to rf. 1 run, 2 hits,
0 errors, 3 LOB.
UNLV 8th - GUENTHER to c. WELLS to lf for NAKAYAMA. BILLS to 1b for KO.
MICHON to p for WARD. WALKER, B. homered to right field, RBI. SCRUGGS, X. doubled to
right center. BRENLY, M. lined out to rf. BONNELL, C. pinch hit for KOWALSKI, R..
BONNELL, C. struck out swinging. BOWMAN, W. pinch hit for BEAMON, C.. BOWMAN, W.
grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 9th - BOWMAN, W. to lf. GAILEN, B. to rf. AMADOR, B. to cf for BONNELL,
C.. FANNING pinch hit for CLUFF. FANNING grounded out to ss. BILLS grounded out to
1b unassisted. JOHNSON, J. struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.

UNLV and BYU open the baseball action for the Mountain West Conference this Thursday.

BYU, 11-6 overall, begins league play in a three-game series starting Thursday at UNLV, 9-15. It is the first game in the Mountain West Conference action for all teams.

Missing from Thursday's game will be BYU Coach Vance Law as a penalty for not attending league meetings last August when he was visiting his oldest son in Taiwan. Law will be able to return for games two and three of the UNLV series.

The only other MWC teams playing each other this week are the Air Force Academy at TCU, a series which begins on Friday.

The Cougars were ranked 39th in the first Boyd's World poll. Boyd's World poll just released last week.

For more information on BYU's baseball team for this week, click on the PDF link at the top of this page.