ALBUQUERQUE -- After blowing a 10-run lead, BYU’s baseball team stopped New Mexico’s 10-game winning streak Friday night, beating the No. 20 Lobos, 15-13.

The Cougars, now 15-9 overall and 5-3 in the Mountain West Conference, were up 13-3 in the sixth, but needed the fifth pitching save from Jordan Muir to secure the victory.

In that sixth inning, BYU loaded the bases for the third time in the game, scoring six runs. However, the Lobos scored seven in the bottom of that frame as Cougar relievers and substitutes struggled.

The offensive difference came in the seventh when BYU went up 14-10 after Dan Vargas tripled, then scored on a sac-fly.

Cougar pitcher Blake Torgerson was effective through the bottom of the fifth until he got hit by a line drive. Togerson then gave up a two-run homer finally finished the fifth in an effort to pick up the win.

“We prolonged innings because of a couple bad plays, but fortunately we kept tacking on runs,” said BYU coach Vance Law. “No lead is safe here.”

BYU’s initial lead came when Kent Walton belted a 440-foot home run to right centerfield to bring home Stetson Banks for a 2-0 margin in the first inning. Banks started in place of Sean McNaughton at left field.

The Cougars improved their lead to 3-0 in the second thanks to a pair of walks and a hit batsman to load the bases.

Chad Nacapoy doubled in Jonathan Cluff to put BYU up 4-0 in the fourth as BYU loaded the bases again.

In the fifth BYU answered UNM’s run from the previous inning, scoring Brandon Relf scored off a sac-fly, then off a Nacapoy double and a Banks bunt to take a 7-1 lead.

The Lobos, now 23-4 overall and 4-1 in the MWC, try to rebound from their first league loss when they host BYU on Saturday at noon.

BYU at #20 New Mexico
Mar 27, 2009 at Albuquerque, N.M. (Isotopes Park)
BYU 15 (15-9,5-3 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BANKS, Stetson lf........  6  3  4  4   0  0  5  0   0
LAW, Andrew 2b...........  6  0  1  1   0  1  2  4   3
WALTON, Kent dh..........  5  2  4  3   1  1  0  0   0
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  6  0  2  0   0  1  0  3   5
RELF, Brandon ss.........  3  2  0  0   0  1  1  4   0
 VARGAS, Dan ss..........  2  1  1  0   0  1  1  1   0
KO, Kasey 1b.............  4  3  1  0   2  0 12  1   1
 SLOAN, Kevin pr.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BILLS, Thomas 1b........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
CLUFF, Jonathan cf.......  2  3  0  2   1  1  0  0   0
BOWEN, Michael rf........  4  1  1  3   0  1  1  0   1
NACAPOY, Chad c..........  4  0  2  2   1  1  4  1   0
TORGERSON, Blake p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
 WORTHAM, Jake p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 SHUTT, Justin p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 MICHON, Brandon p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 MUIR, Jordan p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 42 15 16 15   5  8 27 14  11
New Mexico 13 (23-4,4-1 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BROWNSTEIN 2b............  5  1  0  0   1  0  2  2   0
WILLETT, M cf............  6  2  3  0   0  2  0  1   0
HAMILTON, D 3b...........  6  2  2  4   0  0  1  4   3
HONEYCUTT, R lf..........  5  0  0  0   0  1  2  0   0
ATKINSON, K 1b...........  5  3  3  2   0  0  9  1   0
CAVAZOS-GALV rf..........  4  1  3  1   1  0  2  0   1
NEDA, R c................  4  2  1  2   1  1  9  0   1
HOWARD, J dh.............  5  1  2  1   0  0  0  0   1
 MONGER, C pr............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
GONZALEZ, D ss...........  4  1  2  2   1  1  1  3   2
DIRK, T p................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 TOVES, K p..............  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
 OATMAN, J p.............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 KERR, W p...............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 GRUBBS, D p.............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 44 13 16 12   4  5 27 13   8
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
BYU................. 210 136 110 - 15 16  3
New Mexico.......... 000 127 210 - 13 16  3
-------------------------------------------
E - LAW, An.; PARKER; VARGAS; NEDA, R 2; GONZALEZ, D. DP - Cougars 1; Lobos
1. LOB - Cougars 11; Lobos 8. 2B - BANKS; NACAPOY; HAMILTON, D. 3B - BANKS;
VARGAS; ATKINSON, K. HR - WALTON; HAMILTON, D. HBP - RELF; CLUFF; BOWEN. SH
- CLUFF. SF - CLUFF; BOWEN. SB - BANKS 2; CLUFF; CAVAZOS-GALV 2; MONGER, C.
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
TORGERSON, Blake....  5.0  7  3  3  1  2 21 22  81
WORTHAM, Jake.......  0.2  4  7  2  2  1  7  9  26
SHUTT, Justin.......  1.0  2  2  1  1  0  6  7  20
MICHON, Brandon.....  0.2  1  1  1  0  0  3  3  11
MUIR, Jordan........  1.2  2  0  0  0  2  7  7  33
New Mexico             IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
DIRK, T.............  3.2  5  4  4  3  6 16 21  80
TOVES, K............  1.2  2  7  4  2  0  8 13  38
OATMAN, J...........  1.0  5  3  3  0  1  8  8  16
KERR, W.............  1.2  3  1  1  0  0  6  7  19
GRUBBS, D...........  1.0  1  0  0  0  1  4  4   9
Win - TORGERSON (3-2).  Loss - DIRK, T (4-1).  Save - MUIR (5).
WP - TOVES, K. HBP - by DIRK, T (BOWEN); by DIRK, T (CLUFF); by TOVES, K (RELF).
PB - NEDA, R. Pitches/strikes: TORGERSON 81/56; WORTHAM 26/14; SHUTT 20/12;
MICHON 11/7; MUIR 33/19; DIRK, T 80/49; TOVES, K 38/21; OATMAN, J 16/12; KERR, W
19/14; GRUBBS, D 9/6.
Umpires - HP: Blake Jensen  1B: Ruben Chavira  3B: Jason Rogers
Start: 6 p.m.   Time: 3:30   Attendance: 775
Weather: Cloudy & Cold, 40s
Play-by-Play
BYU 1st - BANKS singled to center field (2-1). LAW, An. flied out to lf
(2-1). BANKS stole second, advanced to third on an error by c. WALTON homered
to right center, 2 RBI (2-0); BANKS scored. PARKER struck out swinging (1-2).
RELF flied out to lf (2-0). 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 1st - BROWNSTEIN grounded out to 3b (1-0). WILLETT, M struck
out swinging (2-2). HAMILTON, D grounded out to 2b (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 2nd - KO walked (3-2). CLUFF struck out looking (0-2). BOWEN hit by
pitch (1-2); KO advanced to second. NACAPOY walked (3-1); BOWEN advanced to
second; KO advanced to third. BANKS reached on a fielder's choice, RBI (0-1);
NACAPOY out at second 2b unassisted; BOWEN advanced to third; KO scored. BANKS
stole second. LAW, An. struck out swinging (2-2). 1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
New Mexico 2nd - HONEYCUTT, R flied out to lf (1-2). ATKINSON, K
grounded out to ss (0-1). CAVAZOS-GALV singled to left field (0-0).
CAVAZOS-GALV stole second. NEDA, R grounded out to ss (2-1). 0 runs, 1 hit,
0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 3rd - WALTON struck out swinging (2-2). PARKER singled to left field
(1-0). PARKER advanced to second on a passed ball. RELF struck out looking
(1-2). KO grounded out to ss (0-0). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 3rd - HOWARD, J out at first 1b to p (2-2). GONZALEZ, D
walked (3-2). BROWNSTEIN flied out to rf (2-0). WILLETT, M singled to center
field (1-2); GONZALEZ, D advanced to third. HAMILTON, D grounded out to 2b
(0-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 4th - CLUFF hit by pitch (0-0). CLUFF stole second. BOWEN struck out
swinging (0-2). NACAPOY doubled to left center, RBI (2-2); CLUFF scored. BANKS
singled to third base (1-1); NACAPOY advanced to third. LAW, An. grounded out
to p (0-0); BANKS advanced to second. WALTON walked (3-2). TOVES, K to p for
DIRK, T. PARKER grounded out to 3b (2-2). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3
LOB.
New Mexico 4th - HONEYCUTT, R flied out to lf (1-2). ATKINSON, K singled
to left field (0-1). CAVAZOS-GALV singled to center field (1-0); ATKINSON, K
advanced to third. NEDA, R singled to right field, RBI (0-0); CAVAZOS-GALV
advanced to second; ATKINSON, K scored. HOWARD, J hit into double play 2b to ss
to 1b (1-1); NEDA, R out on the play, interference. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors,
1 LOB.
BYU 5th - RELF reached on an error by ss (0-0). KO walked (3-2); RELF
advanced to second. CLUFF reached on an error by c, SAC, bunt (0-0); KO
advanced to second; RELF advanced to third. BOWEN flied out to rf, SAC, RBI
(1-1); CLUFF advanced to second; KO advanced to third; RELF scored, unearned.
NACAPOY singled to right field, RBI (0-0); CLUFF advanced to third; KO scored,
unearned. BANKS reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; NACAPOY advanced to second;
CLUFF scored, unearned. LAW, An. hit into double play 3b to 1b; BANKS advanced
to second; NACAPOY out on the play. 3 runs, 1 hit, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 5th - GONZALEZ, D struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b
(1-2). BROWNSTEIN grounded out to 3b (0-0). WILLETT, M singled to pitcher
(1-0). HAMILTON, D homered to right field, 2 RBI (2-2); WILLETT, M scored.
HONEYCUTT, R grounded out to ss (2-2). 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 6th - WALTON singled to left field (2-1). WALTON advanced to second
on a wild pitch. PARKER out at first 1b to p (2-1); WALTON advanced to third.
RELF hit by pitch (1-2). KO reached on a fielder's choice (1-1); RELF advanced
to second. CLUFF walked, RBI (3-2); KO advanced to second; RELF advanced to
third; WALTON scored. OATMAN, J to p for TOVES, K. BOWEN singled up the middle,
2 RBI (0-0); CLUFF advanced to second; KO scored; RELF scored. NACAPOY struck
out looking (1-2). BANKS tripled to right center, 2 RBI (0-0); BOWEN scored;
CLUFF scored. LAW, An. singled, bunt, RBI (0-0); BANKS scored. WALTON singled
to shortstop (2-1); LAW, An. advanced to second. PARKER reached on a fielder's
choice (0-0); WALTON out at second 2b to ss. 6 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
New Mexico 6th - WORTHAM to p for TORGERSON. VARGAS to ss for RELF.
ATKINSON, K singled to right field (1-1). CAVAZOS-GALV walked (3-0); ATKINSON,
K advanced to second. NEDA, R reached on an error by 3b, advanced to second on
the throw, RBI (1-0); CAVAZOS-GALV advanced to third; ATKINSON, K scored.
HOWARD, J grounded out to 2b, RBI (0-0); NEDA, R advanced to third;
CAVAZOS-GALV scored. GONZALEZ, D singled to right field, RBI (0-0); NEDA, R
scored, unearned. BROWNSTEIN walked (3-1); GONZALEZ, D advanced to second.
WILLETT, M singled to third base (2-2); BROWNSTEIN advanced to second;
GONZALEZ, D advanced to third. HAMILTON, D doubled to left center, 2 RBI (0-1);
WILLETT, M advanced to third; BROWNSTEIN scored, unearned; GONZALEZ, D scored,
unearned. HONEYCUTT, R struck out swinging (0-2). SHUTT to p for WORTHAM.
ATKINSON, K reached on an error by ss, advanced to second on the throw, 2 RBI
(0-0); HAMILTON, D scored, unearned; WILLETT, M scored, unearned. CAVAZOS-GALV
flied out to lf (1-1). 7 runs, 4 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 7th - VARGAS tripled to right field (1-1). KO grounded out to 3b
(0-0). KERR, W to p for OATMAN, J. CLUFF flied out to rf, SAC, RBI (0-1);
VARGAS scored. BOWEN grounded out to ss (1-0). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
New Mexico 7th - NEDA, R walked (3-0). HOWARD, J singled to right field
(1-1); NEDA, R advanced to third. GONZALEZ, D singled to left field, RBI (1-1);
HOWARD, J advanced to second; NEDA, R scored. BROWNSTEIN flied out to lf (1-2).
WILLETT, M reached on a fielder's choice (0-1); GONZALEZ, D out at second ss to
2b; HOWARD, J advanced to third, scored on an error by 2b, unearned. MICHON to
p for SHUTT. HAMILTON, D grounded out to 1b unassisted (2-2). 2 runs, 2
hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU 8th - NACAPOY grounded out to 2b (1-1). BANKS doubled down the rf
line (0-1). LAW, An. grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-1); BANKS advanced to
third. WALTON singled up the middle, RBI (2-2); BANKS scored. PARKER singled,
advanced to second (0-1); WALTON advanced to third, out at home cf to ss to c.
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 8th - HONEYCUTT, R lined out to ss (1-2). ATKINSON, K tripled
to left center (1-0). MUIR to p for MICHON. CAVAZOS-GALV singled to left field,
RBI (1-2); ATKINSON, K scored. CAVAZOS-GALV stole second. NEDA, R struck out
swinging (2-2). HOWARD, J singled to third base (3-2); CAVAZOS-GALV advanced to
third. MONGER, C pinch ran for HOWARD, J. MONGER, C stole second. GONZALEZ, D
grounded out to 3b (2-2). 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 9th - GRUBBS, D to p for KERR, W. VARGAS struck out swinging (2-2).
KO singled to center field (0-0). SLOAN pinch ran for KO. CLUFF reached on a
fielder's choice (0-0); SLOAN out at second 3b to 2b. BOWEN grounded out to p
(1-0). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 9th - BILLS to 1b for SLOAN. BROWNSTEIN popped up to 2b
(3-1). WILLETT, M struck out swinging (2-2). HAMILTON, D flied out to lf (1-1).
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Before BYU’s baseball team travels to play nationally ranked New Mexico, it first hosts Utah Valley University on Tuesday evening.

BYU, 13-8 overall, has its first of two games against UVU, 6-14, in a contest that starts at 6 p.m. Prior to that game at Miller Park, BYU’s softball team opens its home season at 4 p.m., versus Boise State. This is the first of six back-to-back softball/baseball contests at Miller Park.

Tuesday's baseball contest is also a designated "Y Game," where student-athletes compete to see how many attend from the respective Cougar teams.

For the baseball portion of Tuesday, BYU will start freshman Natahn Bunch (2-0, 4.50), while the Wolverines will counter with St. George junior Brock Sargent (1-3, 7.77). The rematch of the BYU-UVU game will be on April 27 in Orem.

Following Tuesday’s BYU-UVU contest, the Cougars return to Mountain West Conference action when they take a 4-2 league record to New Mexico. The Lobos, 22-3 overall and 3-0 in the MWC, are ranked 21st by Baseball America and 20th by Collegiate Baseball.

The BYU-UNM games will be broadcast live locally over KSRR Radio (1400 AM). Game times at Albuquerque are Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m., with a noon start on Saturday.