PROVO -- Despite a rain delay in the seventh inning, the BYU Cougars pulled out a 9-2 win over the Air Force Academy Saturday afternoon at Larry H. Miller Field.

“We were fortunate to get in a game today despite the weather,” said BYU head coach Vance Law. “We like to grab the lead early, which was key in winning this game. It gives the pitcher a cushion.”

Sean McNaughton and Stetson Banks had two runs apiece while Steve Parker banged a home run and Adam Miller had five strikeouts.

With three quick outs in the top of the first, Miller started out the game strong, striking out the first Falcon batter at a full count. McNaughton led off the bottom of that frame, ripping a double on the second pitch to left field. Banks followed with a single to the pitchers glove, running it out to get on base.

Then with a full count, Kent Walton hit a sac-fly to right field to score McNaughton. Banks followed with a score off of single past the third baseman by Brandon Relf, bringing the score to 2-0.

Andrew Law was the first to get on base for the Cougars in the bottom of the second, grabbing a single to right field. McNaughton followed with a left-field grounder to get him safe on first, also advancing Law to third. Banks was up to bat next, driving the ball to the shortstop, bringing Law home. Walton then hit the ball through the second baseman’s legs deep into center field to post two RBIs, bringing in McNaughton and Banks.

Beginning the third inning the same way the game was started, Miller struck out the first at bat. The next two Falcons at bat got on base, hitting singles, only to have their teammate Addison Gentry ground into a 5-4-3 double play.

In the bottom of the third the Cougars started out with a home run over left field into the trees by Parker, bringing the lead to 6-0. Relf got on base with a walk, followed by a double by Michael Bowen hit deep to the wall in left field to bring him home with a 7-0 lead.

Continuing on in the third, Bryce Ayoso singled into left field, advancing Bowen to third. Law then singled to right field, advancing to second on the throw, with Ayoso advancing to third and Bowen scoring. McNaughton drove the ball to center field bringing in Ayoso to give the Cougars their final run of the game and a 9-0 margin.

After walking the first batter in the top of the fourth, Miller had back-to-back strikeouts, bringing his game total to five. BYU and Air Force remained scoreless until the top of the seventh when the Falcons tallied their first runs of the game. With Sean Amerson now in at pitcher, the first two Falcon batters singled, the fourth and fifth batters each grabbing an RBI to bring the score to 9-2 in favor of the Cougars.

After a 34-minute rain delay the Cougars were up to bat, getting on base but not scoring any runs. The rest of the game remained scoreless with Kevin Sloan relieving in the top of the ninth to end the game 9-2.

“Every game counts,” said BYU third baseman Steve Parker. “We take every conference game one at a time.”

BYU improves to 20-13 overall and 7-5 in the Mountain West Conference, while AFA falls to 11-22 and 2-7.

The Cougars will next travel to Corvallis, Ore. Monday to take on Oregon State at 5:00 p.m.

Air Force Academy at BYU
Apr 11, 2009 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Air Force Academy 2 (11-22,2-7 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
RANDHAWA, K.J. ss........  3  0  1  0   0  1  1  2   0
 HILL, Adam ph/ss........  2  0  1  1   0  0  0  0   1
GENTRY, Addison 1b.......  4  0  1  1   0  0  8  0   3
ALEXANDER, Matt dh.......  3  0  0  0   1  1  0  0   2
AUSBUN, Ben lf...........  3  0  0  0   0  2  3  0   1
 MAYO, Parker c..........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
WALKER, Daniel cf........  4  0  0  0   0  1  2  0   0
 MOSS, Tytus ph/cf.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
LUPO, Jack c/lf..........  4  1  1  0   0  1  2  1   1
McMAHON, Jon 2b..........  4  1  1  0   0  0  3  2   0
ROBERTS, Blair 3b........  2  0  0  0   2  1  0  3   0
CARTER, Nathan rf........  2  0  1  0   0  1  3  1   0
 KESSLER, Blair ph/rf....  1  0  0  0   1  0  2  0   0
LOYD, Andrew p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 GRIGGS, Jason p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 CECI, Michael p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 KAZAKOFF, Mike p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 33  2  6  2   4  8 24 10   8
BYU 9 (20-13,7-5 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
McNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  3  2  2  1   0  0  0  0   0
 MUSSO, J.T. c...........  1  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
BANKS, Stetson cf........  4  2  3  1   1  0  0  0   0
WALTON, Kent dh..........  3  0  0  1   1  0  0  0   4
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  3  1  1  1   0  0  1  2   0
 WHITNEY, Brock 3b.......  2  0  0  0   0  1  0  1   2
RELF, Brandon ss.........  2  1  2  1   1  0  0  1   0
 LAW, Adam ss............  1  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
BOWEN, Michael rf........  3  1  1  1   0  0  0  0   1
 CLUFF, Jonathan rf......  1  0  0  0   0  0  2  0   0
KO, Kasey 1b.............  3  0  0  0   0  0  8  0   1
 BILLS, Thomas 1b........  1  0  1  0   0  0  5  0   0
AYOSO, Bryce c/lf........  4  1  1  0   0  0  7  0   1
LAW, Andrew 2b...........  4  1  2  1   0  0  1  6   0
MILLER, Adam p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
 AMERSON, Sean p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 MILLER, Jared p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 SLOAN, Kevin p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 35  9 13  7   3  1 27 10   7
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Air Force Academy... 000 000 200 -  2  6  1
BYU................. 234 000 00X -  9 13  1
-------------------------------------------
E - McMAHON(7); LAW, An.(4). DP - Cougars 1. LOB - AF 8; Cougars 7. 2B -
GENTRY(8); McNAUGHTON(9); RELF(6); BOWEN(9); BILLS(2). HR - PARKER(6). SF -
McNAUGHTON(4); WALTON(3). SB - BANKS(12).
Air Force Academy      IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
LOYD, Andrew........  0.2  3  2  2  0  0  4  5  22
GRIGGS, Jason.......  1.2  6  7  5  1  0 11 12  33
CECI, Michael.......  4.2  4  0  0  0  1 17 18  44
KAZAKOFF, Mike......  1.0  0  0  0  2  0  3  5  16
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
MILLER, Adam........  6.0  3  0  0  2  7 21 23  83
AMERSON, Sean.......  0.2  3  2  2  1  0  5  6  29
MILLER, Jared.......  1.1  0  0  0  0  1  4  4  12
SLOAN, Kevin........  1.0  0  0  0  1  0  3  4  14
Win - MILLER, A. (3-2).  Loss - LOYD (1-2).  Save - None.
BK - LOYD(2). Pitches/strikes: LOYD 22/13; GRIGGS 33/19; CECI 44/31; KAZAKOFF
16/6; MILLER, A. 83/50; AMERSON 29/17; MILLER, J. 12/10; SLOAN 14/8.
Umpires - HP: Glen Ballangao  1B: Rich Padilla  3B: Bradley Hungerford
Start: 1:07 pm   Time: 3:01   Attendance: 652
Weather: 47 degrees, scattered showers
Game notes:
Game was delayed for 34 minutes in the seventh inning because of rain
Play-by-Play
Air Force Academy 1st - RANDHAWA struck out swinging (3-2). GENTRY
doubled down the lf line (1-0). ALEXANDER grounded out to 2b (1-2); GENTRY
advanced to third. AUSBUN grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-0). 0 runs, 1
hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 1st - McNAUGHTON doubled to left field (1-0). BANKS singled to
pitcher (2-2); McNAUGHTON advanced to third. WALTON flied out to rf, SF, RBI
(3-2); McNAUGHTON scored. BANKS stole second. PARKER grounded out to 2b (1-1);
BANKS advanced to third. RELF singled through the left side, RBI (2-1); BANKS
scored. RELF advanced to second on a balk. GRIGGS to p for LOYD. BOWEN fouled
out to 1b (1-1). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Air Force Academy 2nd - WALKER grounded out to ss (0-2). LUPO struck out
swinging (3-2). McMAHON out at first 2b to p (0-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 2nd - KO fouled out to lf (2-1). AYOSO grounded out to 2b (2-0).
LAW, An. singled to right field (0-0). McNAUGHTON singled to left field (0-1);
LAW, An. advanced to third. BANKS singled to shortstop, RBI (1-0); McNAUGHTON
advanced to second; LAW, An. scored. WALTON reached on a fielding error by 2b,
out at second rf to ss to c to 2b (0-0); BANKS scored, unearned; McNAUGHTON
scored, unearned. 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
Air Force Academy 3rd - ROBERTS struck out swinging (3-2). CARTER
singled to left field (0-1). RANDHAWA singled to pitcher, bunt (0-0); CARTER
advanced to second. GENTRY grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b (1-2);
RANDHAWA out on the play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 3rd - PARKER homered to left field, RBI (3-2). RELF walked (3-1).
BOWEN doubled to left field, RBI (0-0); RELF scored. KO grounded out to 3b
(1-1). AYOSO singled to left field (0-1); BOWEN advanced to third. CECI to p
for GRIGGS. LAW, An. singled to right field, advanced to second on the throw,
RBI (1-1); AYOSO advanced to third; BOWEN scored. McNAUGHTON flied out to cf,
SF, RBI (0-0); AYOSO scored. BANKS singled to shortstop (0-0); LAW, An.
advanced to third. WALTON flied out to rf (2-0). 4 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
Air Force Academy 4th - ALEXANDER walked (3-0). AUSBUN struck out
swinging (2-2). WALKER struck out swinging (1-2). LUPO grounded out to 3b
(1-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 4th - PARKER flied out to rf (2-1). RELF doubled to left field
(3-2). BOWEN flied out to lf (0-0). KO flied out to lf (2-2). 0 runs, 1 hit,
0 errors, 1 LOB.
Air Force Academy 5th - McMAHON reached on a fielding error by 2b (0-0).
ROBERTS walked (3-1); McMAHON advanced to second. CARTER struck out swinging
(3-2). RANDHAWA fouled out to 3b (2-1). GENTRY grounded out to 1b unassisted
(1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
BYU 5th - AYOSO flied out to cf (0-0). LAW, An. popped up to 2b (0-0).
McNAUGHTON fouled out to ss (0-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Air Force Academy 6th - WHITNEY to 3b for PARKER. LAW, Ad. to ss for
RELF. CLUFF to rf for BOWEN. ALEXANDER grounded out to 2b (0-0). AUSBUN struck
out swinging (2-2). WALKER grounded out to 3b (1-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 6th - BANKS grounded out to 3b (0-0). MAYO to c for AUSBUN. LUPO to
lf. WALTON grounded out to ss (1-0). WHITNEY struck out swinging, out at first
c to 1b (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Air Force Academy 7th - MUSSO to c for McNAUGHTON. BILLS to 1b for KO.
AYOSO to lf. AMERSON to p for MILLER, A.. LUPO singled to left field (2-0).
McMAHON singled to left field (3-2); LUPO advanced to second. ROBERTS walked
(3-2); McMAHON advanced to second; LUPO advanced to third. KESSLER pinch hit
for CARTER. KESSLER flied out to rf (2-0). HILL pinch hit for RANDHAWA. HILL
singled to left field, RBI (0-1); ROBERTS advanced to second; McMAHON advanced
to third; LUPO scored. GENTRY grounded out to 1b unassisted, RBI (1-1); HILL
advanced to second; ROBERTS advanced to third; McMAHON scored. MILLER, J. to p
for AMERSON. ALEXANDER struck out swinging (1-2). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors,
2 LOB.
BYU 7th - HILL to ss. KESSLER to rf. LAW, Ad. flied out to rf (0-0).
CLUFF popped up to 2b (0-0). BILLS doubled to center field (1-2). AYOSO
grounded out to 3b (0-0). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Air Force Academy 8th - MAYO grounded out to 2b (0-1). WALKER grounded
out to 1b unassisted (1-1). LUPO popped up to ss (0-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 8th - KAZAKOFF to p for CECI. LAW, An. flied out to lf (0-0). MOSS
pinch hit for WALKER. MOSS to cf. MUSSO flied out to lf (0-0). BANKS walked
(3-1). WALTON walked (3-2); BANKS advanced to second. WHITNEY flied out to rf
(2-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Air Force Academy 9th - SLOAN to p for MILLER, J.. McMAHON flied out to
rf (0-0). ROBERTS grounded out to 2b (1-2). KESSLER walked (3-2). HILL grounded
out to 1b unassisted (1-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

First place could be within reach of BYU's baseball team as it hosts the Air Force Academy in a three-game series starting Thursday.

The Cougars, 18-12 overall and in a tie for second place with a 5-4 record in the Mountain West Conference. The Cougars are tied with New Mexico with a 5-4 mark, while TCU and San Diego State are tied for first place with 6-3 league records.

While BYU hosts the Falcons, UNM is playing Utah in Ogden, SDSU hosts UNLV and TCU is playing a non-conference opponent this weekend.

The probable pitchers for BYU are Jeremy Toole (5-2, 3.74) and Blake Torgerson (3-2,6.92) in games Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. Cougar freshman Adam Miller (2-2, 4.50) will start Saturday's game at 1 p.m.

A couple of BYU seniors are starting to make some noise nationally. Kent Walton is batting .465 and ranks No. 5 in the nation in that category. Walton has a 16-game hitting streak. Teammate Jordan Muir has recorded seven saves, three away from breaking the school record set by Ryan Hancock in 1992.