PROVO -- After holding the lead for the first five innings, BYU was not able to hold off New Mexico on Thursday night in a 9-7 loss.

BYU's strongest performance came from the bat of third baseman Steve Parker as he went 3-for-4 from the plate with one walk and one RBI. The Cougars (18-27 overall, 6-10 Mountain West Conference) scattered 11 hits.

The league-leading Lobos (28-19, 12-4 MWC) had a strong offensive output as they recorded eight RBI.

The Cougars started off the game hot as lead-off hitter Sean McNaughton hit a home run over the left center wall. This was McNaughton's team-leading 12th home run of the season putting BYU up 1-0 after the first frame.

BYU started the second inning with another lead-off hit. This time it came from Steve Parker who hit a stand-up double deep down the leftfield line. Parker advanced to third on a bunt single by the next Cougar batter, Michael Bowen. After two straight strike outs by Lobo starting pitcher Bobby LaFromboise, a pass ball allowed Parker to score to put BYU up 2-0.

LaFromboise loaded the bases with the next to Cougar batters in the second inning but was able to work his way out of the jam as he struck out Dan Vargas for the third out of the second.

BYU keep its stretch of scoring one run per inning in the third frame. Kasey Ko got on base with a double off the left center wall. Ko then reached third on a single by Parker and Ko was hit in on a ground-out RBI by Bowen. The score was 3-0 in favor of the Cougars after the third complete.

New Mexico did not break onto the scoreboard until the fifth inning. The Lobos scored three runs before the end of the fifth frame -- all with two outs.

Rafael Neda was the Lobos first base runner of this inning as he hit a double and two batters later he scored on a fielding error for his team's first run of the game. Then another New Mexico run crossed home plate on a near diving catch by BYU centerfielder Kent Walton.

The Lobos scored one more with a deep double to left centerfield which scored Mike Brownstein all the way from first base. When the fifth inning was complete, the score was knotted up 3-3.

The Cougars would not let the tie last for too long though as they came back with some strong offense as they generated two more runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning. The runs were produced by the top five batters in the BYU lineup. The top two batters, McNaughton and Vargas, scored the two runs on a ground out by Walton and a single by Parker.

New Mexico had its strongest inning in the sixth as the Lobos scored five runs on five hits and one walk. The Cougars' starter, Jake Wortham, was replaced in the sixth inning by lefthander Jared Miller. Wortham gave up four earned runs and eleven hits in just over five innings of work.

The Lobos loaded the bases in the sixth with no outs and continued to move their runners around with base hits and aggressive base running. When the Cougars finally got the third out of the frame, New Mexico was up 8-5.

BYU was able to manufacture one more run in the bottom half of the sixth to cut into the score and draw within two, 8-6. Both sides scored once more which led to a 9-7 final.

These teams will be back in action on Friday at 7 p.m. back at Miller Field.

New Mexico at Brigham Young Univ.
May 01, 2008 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
New Mexico 9
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BROWNSTEIN, Mike 2b......  6  1  3  2   0  0  4  0   0
HOLLICK, Ian 3b..........  5  1  2  1   1  1  0  5   3
HIBBITTS, Matt lf........  5  0  2  1   0  0  2  0   1
CAVAZOS-GALVEZ,Brian rf..  2  0  1  0   0  1  0  0   1
 FANNING, Bret rf........  1  1  0  0   2  0  2  0   2
ATKINSON, Kevin 1b.......  4  1  1  1   1  1  6  0   0
ROCKEY, Mark dh..........  5  0  1  0   0  1  0  0   2
NEDA, Rafael c...........  4  2  2  1   1  0 11  2   0
COURCHA, Adam cf.........  5  1  1  1   0  0  2  0   0
GRACEY, Scott ss.........  4  2  1  1   0  1  0  1   2
LAFROMBOISE, Bobby p.....  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 KERR, Will p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 GRUBBS, Daniel p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 COX, Clinton p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 41  9 14  8   5  5 27  9  11
Brigham Young Univ. 7
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
MCNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  2  2  1  1   3  0  0  0   0
VARGAS, Dan ss...........  5  2  2  1   0  1  1  6   3
WALTON, Kent cf..........  4  0  0  1   1  0  1  0   2
KO, Kasey 1b.............  5  1  2  1   0  2 15  0   0
 LAW, Andrew pr..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BILLS, Thomas 1b........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  4  1  3  1   1  1  0  2   2
BOWEN, Michael rf........  5  0  1  1   0  2  1  0   1
AYOSO, Bryce dh..........  4  1  1  0   1  2  0  0   0
MUSSO, J.T. c............  3  0  0  0   1  2  5  1   2
 RELF, Brandon ph........  1  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
HERMOSILLO, Kiko 2b......  2  0  0  0   1  1  3  5   0
 CLUFF, Jonathan ph......  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   1
WORTHAM, Jake p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  3   0
 MILLER, Jared p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 WARD, Michael p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 AMERSON, Sean p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 36  7 11  6   8 12 27 18  11
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico.......... 000 035 010 -  9 14  0
Brigham Young Univ.. 111 021 010 -  7 11  3
-------------------------------------------
E - VARGAS 2(20); WALTON(3). DP - BYU Cougars 2. LOB - NM 11; BYU Cougars
11. 2B - HOLLICK, I(11); HIBBITTS, M(14); NEDA, R(14); KO(9); PARKER(14);
RELF. HR - MCNAUGHTON(12). HBP - GRACEY, S. SH - HERMOSILLO(1). SB -
BROWNSTEIN; HIBBITTS, M. CS - BOWEN(1).
New Mexico             IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
LAFROMBOISE, Bobby..  5.1  8  6  5  4  4 22 27
KERR, Will..........  1.0  0  0  0  2  1  3  5
GRUBBS, Daniel......  1.1  1  1  1  2  3  5  7
COX, Clinton........  1.1  2  0  0  0  4  6  6
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
WORTHAM, Jake.......  5.1 11  8  5  1  2 27 28
MILLER, Jared.......  2.0  3  1  1  1  2 10 11
WARD, Michael.......  0.0  0  0  0  2  0  0  2
AMERSON, Sean.......  1.2  0  0  0  1  1  4  6
Win - None.  Loss - None.  Save - None.
HBP - by AMERSON (GRACEY, S). PB - NEDA, R(7).
Umpires - HP: Billy Van Raaphorst  1B: Bruce Bayne  3B: Jeff Richardson
Start: 7:08 pm   Time:   Attendance: 385
Game notes:
All of BYU's remaining home games will be televised live.
WARD faced 2 batters in the 8th.
New Mexico starters: 8/2b BROWNSTEIN; 10/3b HOLLICK, I; 15/lf HIBBITTS, M;
25/rf CAVAZOS-GALV; 28/1b ATKINSON, K; 5/dh ROCKEY, M; 12/c NEDA, R; 3/cf
COURCHA, A; 7/ss GRACEY, S; 6/p LAFROMBOISE;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 15/lf MCNAUGHTON; 13/ss VARGAS; 9/cf WALTON;
22/1b KO; 5/3b PARKER; 27/rf BOWEN; 11/dh AYOSO; 10/c MUSSO; 3/2b HERMOSILLO;
28/p WORTHAM;
New Mexico 1st - BROWNSTEIN flied out to cf. HOLLICK, I grounded out to
c, bunt. HIBBITTS, M doubled to center field. CAVAZOS-GALV struck out looking.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - MCNAUGHTON homered to left center, RBI. VARGAS
flied out to lf. WALTON popped up to 2b. KO struck out looking. 1 run, 1
hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 2nd - ATKINSON, K grounded out to p, bunt. ROCKEY, M grounded
out to 1b unassisted. NEDA, R grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors,
0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - PARKER doubled down the lf line. BOWEN
singled, bunt; PARKER advanced to third. AYOSO struck out swinging. MUSSO
struck out swinging. BOWEN advanced to second; PARKER scored on a passed ball,
unearned. HERMOSILLO walked. MCNAUGHTON walked; HERMOSILLO advanced to second;
BOWEN advanced to third. VARGAS struck out swinging. 1 run, 2 hits, 0
errors, 3 LOB.
New Mexico 3rd - COURCHA, A grounded out to 2b. GRACEY, S struck out
looking. BROWNSTEIN singled to center field, advanced to second on a fielding
error by cf. HOLLICK, I grounded out to p. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - WALTON grounded out to 3b. KO doubled to left
center. PARKER singled up the middle; KO advanced to third. BOWEN reached on a
fielder's choice, RBI; PARKER out at second 3b to 2b; KO scored. BOWEN out at
second c to 2b, caught stealing. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 4th - HIBBITTS, M grounded out to ss. CAVAZOS-GALV singled to
shortstop. ATKINSON, K grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b, interference;
CAVAZOS-GALV out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - FANNING, B to rf for CAVAZOS-GALV. AYOSO flied
out to rf. MUSSO flied out to lf. HERMOSILLO flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 5th - ROCKEY, M grounded out to ss. NEDA, R doubled to center
field. COURCHA, A grounded out to p. GRACEY, S reached on a fielding error by
ss, advanced to second; NEDA, R scored, unearned. BROWNSTEIN singled to center
field, RBI; GRACEY, S scored, unearned. HOLLICK, I doubled to left center, RBI;
BROWNSTEIN scored, unearned. HIBBITTS, M fouled out to 1b. 3 runs, 3 hits, 1
error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - MCNAUGHTON walked. VARGAS singled to left
field, advanced to second on the throw; MCNAUGHTON advanced to third. WALTON
grounded out to 3b, RBI; MCNAUGHTON scored. KO grounded out to ss; VARGAS
advanced to third. PARKER singled to center field, RBI; VARGAS scored. BOWEN
grounded out to 3b. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 6th - FANNING, B walked. ATKINSON, K singled through the
right side; FANNING, B advanced to second. ROCKEY, M singled, bunt; ATKINSON, K
advanced to second; FANNING, B advanced to third. NEDA, R reached on a
fielder's choice, RBI; ROCKEY, M out at second ss to 2b; ATKINSON, K advanced
to third; FANNING, B scored. COURCHA, A singled to right field, RBI; NEDA, R
advanced to second; ATKINSON, K scored. GRACEY, S singled to center field, RBI;
COURCHA, A advanced to third; NEDA, R scored. BROWNSTEIN singled to right
field, RBI; GRACEY, S advanced to second; COURCHA, A scored. MILLER to p for
WORTHAM. HOLLICK, I walked; BROWNSTEIN advanced to second; GRACEY, S advanced
to third. HIBBITTS, M grounded out to 2b, RBI; HOLLICK, I advanced to second;
BROWNSTEIN advanced to third; GRACEY, S scored. FANNING, B grounded out to p.
5 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - AYOSO singled to shortstop. MUSSO walked;
AYOSO advanced to second. HERMOSILLO grounded out to p, SAC, bunt; MUSSO
advanced to second; AYOSO advanced to third. KERR, W to p for LAFROMBOISE.
MCNAUGHTON walked. VARGAS reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; MCNAUGHTON out at
second 3b to 2b; MUSSO advanced to third; AYOSO scored. WALTON flied out to cf.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico 7th - ATKINSON, K struck out swinging. ROCKEY, M struck out
swinging. NEDA, R singled to shortstop. COURCHA, A reached on a fielding error
by ss; NEDA, R advanced to second. GRACEY, S flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit,
1 error, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - KO struck out swinging. PARKER walked. GRUBBS,
D to p for KERR, W. BOWEN struck out looking. AYOSO walked; PARKER advanced to
second. MUSSO struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico 8th - BROWNSTEIN grounded out to 2b. HOLLICK, I singled up
the middle. HIBBITTS, M singled to right field; HOLLICK, I advanced to third.
WARD to p for MILLER. HIBBITTS, M stole second. FANNING, B walked. ATKINSON, K
walked, RBI; FANNING, B advanced to second; HIBBITTS, M advanced to third;
HOLLICK, I scored. AMERSON to p for WARD. ROCKEY, M grounded into double play
2b to ss to 1b; ATKINSON, K out on the play. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - HERMOSILLO struck out looking. MCNAUGHTON
flied out to rf. VARGAS singled up the middle. WALTON walked; VARGAS advanced
to second. COX, C to p for GRUBBS, D. KO singled through the right side, RBI;
WALTON advanced to third; VARGAS scored. LAW pinch ran for KO. PARKER struck
out swinging. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico 9th - BILLS to 1b for LAW. NEDA, R walked. COURCHA, A
grounded out to 3b; NEDA, R advanced to second. GRACEY, S hit by pitch.
BROWNSTEIN reached on a fielder's choice; GRACEY, S out at second ss to 2b;
NEDA, R advanced to third. BROWNSTEIN stole second. HOLLICK, I struck out
looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 9th - BOWEN struck out swinging, out at first c to
1b. AYOSO struck out looking. RELF pinch hit for MUSSO. RELF doubled to left
center. CLUFF pinch hit for HERMOSILLO. CLUFF struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1
hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

League-leading New Mexico's baseball team starts a three-game series at BYU on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Lobos, 27-19 overall and 11-4 in league play, however, haven't won a Mountain West Conference game in over a week as they lost five consecutive non-MWC contests. BYU, 18-26 overall and 6-9 in the MWC, is battling through an off year and is in danger of losing more games at home than any season since the opening of Larry H. Miller Field in 2001. The first game at Miller Park in 2001 was a 7-5 victory over New Mexico.

Coach Vance Law has just changed BYU's pitching rotation, moving lefty Jake Wortham (3-3, 6.72) back to the game one starter. Wortham had been the opening starter over a month ago when BYU swept Air Force in Provo, but was switched to a game two starter in the interim.

Sophomore Blake Torgerson (4-3, 7.04) now moves up to the game two starter on Friday at 7 p.m. BYU's starting pitcher for Saturday's game at 1 p.m., is yet to be announced.

New head coach Ray Birmingham of New Mexico counters on the mound with Bobby LaFromboise (4-2, 3.66) on Thursday, Jacob Norton (5-3, 6.36) on Friday and Stephen Smith (4-2, 4.55) on Saturday.

New Mexico is the nation's No. 1 team completing double plays. Both BYU and UNM feature two of the MWC's top home run hitters in Sean McNaughton (11) and Brian Cavazos-Galvez (10), respectively, who both lead their teams also in batting average at .345 and .368, respectively. McNaughton, a sophomore outfielder, is the fifth player to lead the Cougars in batting average this season.

Now that Winter Semester is complete, BYU's schedule intensifies with a game every day for eight days in a row, except Sundays. All of BYU's remaining games are instate, concluding the regular season at Utah on May 15-17.

All of the BYU-UNM games will be televised live by BYUTV with Jay Monsen, Gary Sheide, Jarom Jordan and Kevin Schaefer calling the action. The games will also be broadcast live by Brent Norton over KSRR Radio (1400 AM).

Thursday's BYU-UNM game is only one of four baseball games played in the nation for the NCAA. The other games are Manhattan at New York Tech, Appalachian State at Elon in a doubleheader and Dallas Baptist at Texas A&M.

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