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PROVO -- New Mexico took game three to win the series as BYU fell to the Lobos 15-6 Saturday afternoon at Larry H. Miller Field.

The win kept UNM within a game of first-place TCU as the Lobos improved to 29-20 overall and 13-5 in the Mountain West Conference. BYU dropped to 19-28 and 7-11.

Despite the loss, BYU made several good plays and had strong offense against the Lobos, with Cougar third baseman Steve Parker going 4-for-5.

"I felt like our hitters did a good job today," said BYU head coach Vance Law. "But New Mexico knows how to position its outfielders."

The Cougars got their offensive action rolling in the third, down 0-3. With no outs and two players on base, sophomore shortstop Brandon Relf hit a solid single to left center field, scoring Sean McNaughton. Junior first basemen Kasey Ko then stepped up to the plate and blasted a single to deep center field, scoring sophomore Bryce Ayoso. Parker's double to left center field helped the Cougars gain the lead at 4-3.

The fourth inning proved to be a challenge for the Cougars, as New Mexico scored seven runs and BYU made two pitching changes. After two wild pitches from BYU starter Jordan Muir and four RBI scored by New Mexico, BYU replaced Muir with freshman right-hander Justin Shutt.

But after Shutt gave up two quick runs, the Cougars put in freshman right-hander Tyler Westensee. He remained in the game for three innings, giving up five hits and two runs.

"The fourth inning proved to be the turning point of this ball game," said Law. "We weren't able to minimize New Mexico's scoring run and that hurt us."

Later, in the sixth inning, sophomore Ayoso blasted the ball to right field for a base hit, which scored Andrew Law and improved the Cougar score 5-10. The Lobos quickly fought back in the seventh, when New Mexico outfielder Brian Cavazos-Galvez hit a homerun, making the score 5-12.

Freshman left-hander Daniel Welch came in for the Cougars in the ninth inning, giving up three runs to make the game 5-15.

In the ninth inning, sophomore outfielder Jonathan Cluff hit a double deep to center field. Bowen then stepped up to the plate, hitting a grounder to right field which scored Ko and improved the score 6-15. Cluff had switched from right to center field for the game as Kent Walton was sidelined with an illness.

The Cougars will play their next game Monday, against Utah Valley in Orem at 7 p.m.

New Mexico at Brigham Young Univ.
May 03, 2008 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
New Mexico 15 (29-20,13-5 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BROWNSTEIN, Mike 2b......  5  1  2  1   1  0  1  2   1
HOLLICK, Ian 3b..........  3  2  2  0   2  0  0  3   0
HIBBITTS, Matt lf........  4  2  2  2   0  0  1  0   3
CAVAZOS-GALVEZ,Brian rf..  6  3  3  4   0  0  3  0   3
ATKINSON, Kevin 1b.......  5  2  2  2   1  1  9  0   0
NEDA, Rafael c...........  5  1  1  1   1  1  7  0   1
MOORE, Bobby dh..........  5  1  1  2   1  0  0  0   1
COURCHA, Adam cf.........  5  1  0  0   1  0  4  0   2
GRACEY, Scott ss.........  4  2  3  2   0  0  2  3   0
HESKETH, John p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 KERR, Will p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 GRUBBS, Daniel p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 COX, Clinton p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 42 15 16 14   7  2 27  9  11
Brigham Young Univ. 6 (19-28,7-11 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
MCNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  3  1  0  0   2  0  2  0   0
AYOSO, Bryce c...........  3  1  1  1   2  0  2  1   0
RELF, Brandon ss.........  5  1  2  1   0  1  2  1   0
KO, Kasey 1b.............  5  2  2  1   0  0 14  0   3
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  5  0  4  1   0  1  1  6   0
CLUFF, Jonathan cf.......  3  0  1  0   1  1  3  0   0
BOWEN, Michael rf........  5  0  1  1   0  0  1  0   2
LEACH, J.C. dh...........  4  0  0  0   1  2  0  0   2
LAW, Andrew 2b...........  4  1  2  0   0  1  2  4   4
MUIR, Jordan p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 SHUTT, Justin p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 WESTENSEE, Tyler p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 AMERSON, Sean p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 WELCH, Daniel p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 37  6 13  5   6  6 27 14  11
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico.......... 210 700 203 - 15 16  0
Brigham Young Univ.. 004 001 001 -  6 13  2
-------------------------------------------
E - RELF(9); PARKER(18). DP - NM 2. LOB - NM 11; BYU Cougars 11. 2B -
BROWNSTEIN(11); HIBBITTS, M(15); CAVAZOS-GALV(13); PARKER(15); CLUFF(16). HR
- CAVAZOS-GALV(11). HBP - HIBBITTS, M; GRACEY, S. SH - HOLLICK, I(4);
HIBBITTS, M(4); CLUFF(4). SB - ATKINSON, K(7); MOORE, B(1). CS -
BROWNSTEIN(7).
New Mexico             IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
HESKETH, John.......  2.0  2  2  2  4  1  7 11
KERR, Will..........  3.1  8  3  3  1  1 17 18
GRUBBS, Daniel......  2.2  1  0  0  1  2  8 10
COX, Clinton........  1.0  2  1  1  0  2  5  5
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
MUIR, Jordan........  3.2  6  7  3  4  1 16 23
SHUTT, Justin.......  0.0  2  3  3  2  0  2  4
WESTENSEE, Tyler....  3.1  5  2  2  1  1 14 16
AMERSON, Sean.......  1.1  0  0  0  0  0  4  4
WELCH, Daniel.......  0.2  3  3  3  0  0  6  6
Win - KERR, W (3-3).  Loss - MUIR (2-5).  Save - None.
WP - MUIR 2(7); SHUTT(4); WELCH(6). HBP - by MUIR (HIBBITTS, M); by MUIR
(GRACEY, S). BK - KERR, W(2). PB - AYOSO(4).
Umpires - HP: Jeff Richardson  1B: Billy Van Raaphorst  3B: Bruce Bayne
Start: 1:06 pm   Time: 3:41   Attendance: 880
HESKETH, J faced 2 batters in the 3rd.
SHUTT faced 4 batters in the 4th.
New Mexico starters: 8/2b BROWNSTEIN; 10/3b HOLLICK, I; 15/lf HIBBITTS, M;
25/rf CAVAZOS-GALV; 28/1b ATKINSON, K; 12/c NEDA, R; 4/dh MOORE, B; 3/cf
COURCHA, A; 7/ss GRACEY, S; 36/p HESKETH, J;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 15/lf MCNAUGHTON; 11/c AYOSO; 4/ss RELF; 22/1b
KO; 5/3b PARKER; 8/cf CLUFF; 27/rf BOWEN; 35/dh LEACH; 6/2b LAW; 12/p MUIR;
New Mexico 1st - BROWNSTEIN singled up the middle. BROWNSTEIN out at
second c to ss, caught stealing. HOLLICK, I walked. HOLLICK, I advanced to
second on a passed ball. HIBBITTS, M doubled to right field, RBI; HOLLICK, I
scored, unearned. CAVAZOS-GALV grounded out to 3b; HIBBITTS, M advanced to
third. ATKINSON, K singled to right field, RBI; HIBBITTS, M scored. ATKINSON, K
stole second. NEDA, R struck out looking. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - MCNAUGHTON popped up to 2b. AYOSO walked. RELF
flied out to rf. KO flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 2nd - MOORE, B grounded out to 2b. COURCHA, A lined out to
ss. GRACEY, S singled up the middle. BROWNSTEIN walked; GRACEY, S advanced to
second. HOLLICK, I singled up the middle; BROWNSTEIN advanced to second;
GRACEY, S advanced to third. HIBBITTS, M hit by pitch, RBI; HOLLICK, I advanced
to second; BROWNSTEIN advanced to third; GRACEY, S scored. CAVAZOS-GALV reached
on a fielder's choice; HIBBITTS, M advanced to second; HOLLICK, I out at third
3b unassisted. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - PARKER singled to left center. CLUFF walked;
PARKER advanced to second. BOWEN singled, bunt; CLUFF advanced to second;
PARKER advanced to third. LEACH struck out swinging. LAW grounded into double
play 2b to ss to 1b; BOWEN out on the play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
New Mexico 3rd - ATKINSON, K flied out to rf. NEDA, R grounded out to p.
MOORE, B walked. COURCHA, A flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - MCNAUGHTON walked. AYOSO walked; MCNAUGHTON
advanced to second. KERR, W to p for HESKETH, J. RELF singled to left field,
RBI; AYOSO advanced to second; MCNAUGHTON scored. KO singled to center field,
RBI; RELF advanced to second; AYOSO scored. PARKER doubled to left field, RBI;
KO advanced to third; RELF scored. CLUFF struck out swinging. BOWEN grounded
out to 3b. PARKER advanced to third; KO scored on a balk. LEACH grounded out to
3b. 4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 4th - GRACEY, S hit by pitch. BROWNSTEIN reached on a
fielding error by 3b; GRACEY, S advanced to second. HOLLICK, I out at first 3b
to 2b, SAC; BROWNSTEIN advanced to second; GRACEY, S advanced to third.
HIBBITTS, M grounded out to 3b. CAVAZOS-GALV doubled to center field, 2 RBI;
BROWNSTEIN scored, unearned; GRACEY, S scored, unearned. CAVAZOS-GALV advanced
to third on a wild pitch. CAVAZOS-GALV scored on a wild pitch, unearned.
ATKINSON, K walked. SHUTT to p for MUIR. ATKINSON, K advanced to second on a
wild pitch. NEDA, R walked. MOORE, B singled up the middle, RBI; NEDA, R
advanced to third; ATKINSON, K scored, team unearned. MOORE, B stole second.
COURCHA, A walked. GRACEY, S singled to left center, 2 RBI; COURCHA, A advanced
to third; MOORE, B scored, team unearned; NEDA, R scored, team unearned.
WESTENSEE to p for SHUTT. BROWNSTEIN doubled down the rf line, RBI; GRACEY, S
advanced to third; COURCHA, A scored, team unearned. HOLLICK, I walked.
HIBBITTS, M grounded out to 3b. 7 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - LAW singled to center field. MCNAUGHTON
grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b; LAW out on the play. AYOSO fouled out
to 1b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 5th - CAVAZOS-GALV popped up to 2b. ATKINSON, K flied out to
lf. NEDA, R flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - RELF singled to left field. KO flied out to
lf. PARKER singled to second base; RELF advanced to second. CLUFF popped up to
c. BOWEN flied out to cf. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico 6th - MOORE, B grounded out to 2b. COURCHA, A flied out to
cf. GRACEY, S singled to right field. BROWNSTEIN flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1
hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - LEACH flied out to cf. LAW singled up the
middle. MCNAUGHTON walked; LAW advanced to second. AYOSO singled to right
field, RBI; MCNAUGHTON advanced to second; LAW scored. GRUBBS, D to p for KERR,
W. RELF flied out to cf. KO flied out to rf. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
New Mexico 7th - HOLLICK, I singled to left field. HIBBITTS, M grounded
out to p, SAC; HOLLICK, I advanced to second. CAVAZOS-GALV homered to left
center, 2 RBI; HOLLICK, I scored. ATKINSON, K struck out swinging. NEDA, R
singled to right field. MOORE, B grounded out to 3b. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - PARKER singled to right field. CLUFF grounded
out to p, SAC; PARKER advanced to second. BOWEN grounded out to 1b unassisted;
PARKER advanced to third. LEACH walked. LAW struck out looking. 0 runs, 1
hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico 8th - AMERSON to p for WESTENSEE. COURCHA, A fouled out to
1b. GRACEY, S grounded out to 3b. BROWNSTEIN grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - MCNAUGHTON grounded out to ss. AYOSO flied out
to rf. RELF struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 9th - HOLLICK, I lined out to 1b. WELCH to p for AMERSON.
HIBBITTS, M singled up the middle. HIBBITTS, M advanced to second on a wild
pitch. CAVAZOS-GALV singled to catcher; HIBBITTS, M advanced to third.
ATKINSON, K singled to pitcher, RBI; CAVAZOS-GALV advanced to second; HIBBITTS,
M scored. NEDA, R reached on a fielding error by ss, RBI; ATKINSON, K advanced
to third; CAVAZOS-GALV scored. MOORE, B grounded out to 2b, RBI; NEDA, R
advanced to second; ATKINSON, K scored. COURCHA, A grounded out to 2b. 3
runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 9th - COX, C to p for GRUBBS, D. KO singled through
the right side. PARKER struck out swinging. CLUFF doubled to left center; KO
advanced to third. BOWEN grounded out to 3b, RBI; KO scored. LEACH struck out
looking. 1 run, 2 hits, 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.