PROVO -- In the latest installment of the Deseret First Duel between in-state rivals BYU and Utah, the BYU baseball team (14-18) fell to Utah (13-14) at Miller Park 9-7 Tuesday.

Nelson Castleberry recorded the loss and fell to 2-4 on the season. Centerfielder Kent Walton was 3-4 on the day and scored three runs in the loss. BYU now leads Utah in the Deseret Duel points standings, 28-23.5.

"I'm proud of the way our guys battled at the plate, but we can't afford to give up big innings," BYU head coach Vance Law said. "It's frustrating as we try to save starters for the weekend, but we don't know what we're going to get each time we go to the bull pen."

The Cougars got on the board first as Utah starter Andrew Wilding had trouble getting ahead of the BYU hitters. Leading off, Walton reached first when he was hit by the first pitch of the game. He later scored on a wild pitch, and the Cougars led the Utes 1-0 after one inning of play.

Walton scored again in the third as did Dan Vargas. Walton reached on a singled to the left side of the infield and scored on a sacrifice fly from Steve Parker. Vargas reached on a double, and Bryce Ayoso earned the RBI by hitting Vargas in with a single to right field.

After three and a half innings the score was 3-2 in favor of the home team. The Utes scored their first runs in the fourth inning off Cougar reliever Castleberry. He gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning followed by a sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position. The first crossed the plate on a wild pitch, and the next scored on a ground out to the short stop.

The Utes took a 7-3 lead in the fifth inning with five runs on three hits. Castleberry allowed three walks, all five runs, and all three hits to the eight batters he faced in the fifth. Sean Anderson came in to face the ninth batter of the inning and recorded the final out.

BYU gave up two more runs in the top of the seventh inning and fell behind 9-3. The Cougars got those back and then some in the bottom half of the inning, though. In the inning Walton scored for the fourth time, and Vargas scored for the second time. Sean McNaughton and Brandon Relf also scored in the inning. Jonathan Cluff earned two RBI while McNaughton and Vargas recorded one RBI apiece, closing the gap to 9-7 in favor of Utah.

Still down 9-7 in the bottom of the ninth inning, McNaughton reached on a walk to lead off the BYU at-bat and bring the tying run to the plate. Up next, Parker was ahead in the count with two balls and no strikes, but he popped out to the catcher for the first out of the inning. Vargas then flied to center field and Ayoso ended the game with a chopper to third base on which he was thrown out at first base.

The Cougars will hit the road for a three-game set this weekend against Washington with games scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The team will then return to Provo for a four-game home stand starting Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Southern Utah.

Univ. of Utah at Brigham Young Univ.
Apr 08, 2008 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Univ. of Utah 9 (13-14)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
SHIMADA, Corey 2b........  4  1  1  0   1  1  5  2   0
GUYMON, Cody dh..........  5  0  1  0   0  1  0  0   0
SHRINER, Jesse c.........  3  2  1  0   2  0  7  2   3
HENNIS, Dustin lf........  4  3  2  0   1  1  1  0   1
 FERGUSON, Fred lf.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
JONES, Austin 1b.........  5  2  4  4   0  0  6  0   0
BLANC, Cooper cf.........  3  1  1  1   1  1  5  1   0
BELTRAN, Michael ss......  5  0  2  3   0  0  2  4   0
RELF, Tyler rf...........  5  0  0  0   0  2  1  0   4
LEGG, DC 3b..............  3  0  2  0   0  0  0  3   0
WILDING, Andrew p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 JAMES, John p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 STREICH, Stephen p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 WOLFGRAMM, Geoff p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 CHIMPKY, Robert p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 37  9 14  8   5  6 27 12   8
Brigham Young Univ. 7 (14-18)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
WALTON, Kent cf..........  4  3  3  0   0  0  1  1   0
MCNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  4  1  2  1   1  0  0  0   0
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  5  0  1  1   0  1  1  3   0
VARGAS, Dan ss...........  3  2  1  1   2  0  2  4   0
AYOSO, Bryce dh..........  5  0  2  1   0  1  0  0   1
CLUFF, Jonathan rf.......  4  0  2  2   0  0  2  0   3
LEACH, J.C. 1b...........  3  0  0  0   0  2 10  0   0
 KO, Kasey ph/1b.........  1  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   1
MUSSO, J.T. c............  3  0  0  0   1  1  6  0   2
RELF, Brandon 2b.........  3  1  0  0   1  1  4  3   0
MILLER, Jared p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 CASTLEBERRY, Nelson p...  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 AMERSON, Sean p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 SHUTT, Justin p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 WELCH, Daniel p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 WARD, Michael p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 35  7 11  6   5  6 27 14   7
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Univ. of Utah....... 000 250 200 -  9 14  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 102 000 400 -  7 11  1
-------------------------------------------
E - WOLFGRAMM(1); PARKER(7). DP - UT 2; BYU Cougars 3. LOB - UT 8; BYU
Cougars 7. 2B - HENNIS(8); LEGG(2); VARGAS(13); CLUFF(8). HBP - WALTON. SH -
BLANC(3); LEGG(4). SB - SHIMADA(12). CS - MUSSO 2(2).
Univ. of Utah          IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
WILDING, Andrew.....  3.0  5  3  3  1  2 13 15
JAMES, John.........  2.0  1  0  0  1  2  5  6
STREICH, Stephen....  1.2  5  4  4  2  1 10 12
WOLFGRAMM, Geoff....  1.1  0  0  0  0  1  4  4
CHIMPKY, Robert.....  1.0  0  0  0  1  0  3  4
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
MILLER, Jared.......  3.0  3  0  0  0  1 11 12
CASTLEBERRY, Nelson.  1.2  5  7  6  3  1  9 13
AMERSON, Sean.......  2.1  3  2  2  1  2  9 10
SHUTT, Justin.......  1.0  2  0  0  0  1  4  4
WELCH, Daniel.......  0.2  0  0  0  1  1  2  3
WARD, Michael.......  0.1  1  0  0  0  0  2  2
Win - JAMES (2-3).  Loss - CASTLEBERRY (2-4).  Save - CHIMPKY (3).
WP - WILDING(2); CASTLEBERRY(3). HBP - by WILDING (WALTON). PB - MUSSO(5).
Umpires - HP: Lew Carleton  1B: Matt Marziale  3B: Alan White
Start: 2:01 pm   Time: 3:03   Attendance: 925
Univ. of Utah starters: 3/2b SHIMADA; 5/dh GUYMON; 7/c SHRINER; 16/lf HENNIS;
28/1b JONES; 23/cf BLANC; 8/ss BELTRAN; 30/rf RELF; 20/3b LEGG; 10/p WILDING;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 9/cf WALTON; 15/lf MCNAUGHTON; 5/3b PARKER; 13/ss
VARGAS; 11/dh AYOSO; 8/rf CLUFF; 35/1b LEACH; 10/c MUSSO; 4/2b RELF; 18/p
MILLER;
Univ. of Utah 1st - SHIMADA popped up to 3b. GUYMON grounded out to 2b.
SHRINER singled to third base. HENNIS flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - WALTON hit by pitch. MCNAUGHTON flied out to
cf; WALTON advanced to second. PARKER flied out to rf; WALTON advanced to
third. WALTON scored on a wild pitch. VARGAS walked. AYOSO singled to
shortstop; VARGAS advanced to second. CLUFF reached on a fielder's choice;
AYOSO out at second ss to 2b. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 2nd - JONES singled to right field. BLANC struck out
swinging. BELTRAN grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b; JONES out on the
play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - LEACH struck out looking. MUSSO struck out
looking. RELF grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 3rd - RELF reached on a fielding error by 3b. LEGG
grounded out to p, SAC, bunt; RELF advanced to second. SHIMADA singled to
center field; RELF advanced to third. GUYMON grounded out to p, bunt; SHIMADA
advanced to second. SHRINER popped up to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - WALTON singled to shortstop. MCNAUGHTON
singled to right center; WALTON advanced to third. PARKER flied into double
play cf to 2b to 1b, RBI; MCNAUGHTON out on the play; WALTON scored. VARGAS
doubled to left center. AYOSO singled to right center, RBI; VARGAS scored.
CLUFF flied out to cf. 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 4th - CASTLEBERRY to p for MILLER. HENNIS singled to
center field. JONES singled to center field; HENNIS advanced to second. BLANC
grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt; JONES advanced to second; HENNIS advanced to
third. JONES advanced to third; HENNIS scored on a passed ball. BELTRAN
grounded out to ss, RBI; JONES scored, unearned. RELF struck out swinging. 2
runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - JAMES to p for WILDING. LEACH struck out
swinging. MUSSO walked. RELF popped up to 1b. MUSSO out at second c to 2b,
caught stealing. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 5th - LEGG grounded out to 3b. SHIMADA walked. SHIMADA
stole second. GUYMON popped up to 2b. SHRINER walked. HENNIS walked; SHRINER
advanced to second; SHIMADA advanced to third. JONES singled to left field, 2
RBI; HENNIS advanced to second; SHRINER scored; SHIMADA scored. BLANC singled
to center field, RBI; JONES advanced to second; HENNIS scored. BLANC advanced
to second; JONES advanced to third on a wild pitch. BELTRAN singled up the
middle, 2 RBI; BLANC scored; JONES scored. AMERSON to p for CASTLEBERRY. RELF
grounded out to p, bunt; BELTRAN advanced to second. 5 runs, 3 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - WALTON singled up the middle. MCNAUGHTON
grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; WALTON out on the play. PARKER struck
out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 6th - LEGG singled to left field. SHIMADA grounded into
double play ss to 1b; LEGG out on the play. GUYMON struck out swinging. 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - STREICH to p for JAMES. VARGAS walked. AYOSO
reached on a fielder's choice; VARGAS out at second 3b to 2b. CLUFF singled to
center field; AYOSO advanced to second. LEACH popped up to ss. MUSSO flied out
to lf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 7th - SHRINER walked. HENNIS doubled to right field;
SHRINER advanced to third. JONES singled through the left side, 2 RBI; HENNIS
scored; SHRINER scored. BLANC reached on a fielder's choice; JONES out at
second cf to 2b. BELTRAN grounded out to ss; BLANC advanced to second. RELF
struck out looking. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - RELF walked. WALTON singled through the left
side; RELF advanced to second. MCNAUGHTON singled up the middle, RBI; WALTON
advanced to second; RELF scored. PARKER singled to shortstop; MCNAUGHTON
advanced to second; WALTON advanced to third. VARGAS reached on a fielder's
choice, RBI; PARKER out at second 3b to 2b; MCNAUGHTON advanced to third;
WALTON scored. AYOSO struck out swinging. CLUFF doubled to left field, 2 RBI;
VARGAS scored; MCNAUGHTON scored. WOLFGRAMM to p for STREICH. KO pinch hit for
LEACH. KO flied out to cf. 4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 8th - KO to 1b. SHUTT to p for AMERSON. LEGG doubled down
the rf line. SHIMADA struck out swinging. GUYMON singled to second base; LEGG
advanced to third. SHRINER grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b; GUYMON out
on the play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - MUSSO reached on a fielding error by p. MUSSO
out at second c to ss, caught stealing. RELF struck out looking. WALTON
grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 9th - WELCH to p for SHUTT. HENNIS struck out swinging.
JONES flied out to rf. BLANC walked. WARD to p for WELCH. BELTRAN singled to
center field; BLANC advanced to second. RELF flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit,
0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 9th - FERGUSON to lf for HENNIS. CHIMPKY to p for
WOLFGRAMM. MCNAUGHTON walked. PARKER popped up to c. VARGAS flied out to cf.
AYOSO grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

For the only time this season in Provo, BYU and Utah meet on the baseball field on Tuesday in a non-conference game at 2 p.m.

Lefthanded transfer Jared Miller (3-1, 5.06) gets the starting nod on the mound for the Cougars in Tuesday's game at Larry H. Miller Field. Utah will start righthander Andrew Wilding (1-1, 6.19). Fans can download a A HREF coupon for entry in the game from www.byucougars.com. BYU brings a 14-17 overall (5-4 in the MWC) record into this week, while Utah is 12-14 ( 3-2 in the MWC).

BYU leads the baseball series between the two schools, 206-89-1. Coach Vance Law has a 37-12 record against Utah in his eight years at the BYU helm, but the Utes have won the last two non-conference games between the two teams.

Unique to this rivalry is the fact that brothers play on both teams. Brandon Relf is a second baseman/shortstop for BYU, while younger brother, Tyler, is a freshman infielder for Utah.

This is the first of four scheduled games between BYU and Utah on the baseball field this season, with points going towards the newly-established Deseret First Duel. The rivalry series includes competition in the 12 sports the two universities compete head-to-head during regular-season play. The Mountain West Conference series between BYU and Utah in baseball will be at Franklin Covey Field on May 15-17.

BYU leads, 28-22, in the current rivalry standings. The Deseret First Duel uses a system that awards points to the winner of each head-to-head competition. A team trophy is awarded to the individual winner of each sport -- football, basketball, softball, etc. Points won by the individual sports count toward each school's overall total. At the conclusion of each school year, a granite traveling trophy will be awarded to the overall rivalry series champion.

The Utah vs. BYU rivalry actually began with a baseball game in 1895, when Brigham Young Academy played the first ever intercollegiate event in Utah against the Utes. That game ended in a 0-0 tie and a bench-clearing brawl. Thanks to a partnership with Deseret First Credit Union, the rivalry now has an official name and a traveling trophy to signify yearly supremacy. The Deseret First Duel sponsorship between the two universities and Deseret First Credit Union is for five years.

For more information please see the PDF at the top of this page.