PROVO -- It was a battle between the two leading teams of the Mountain West Conference as the New Mexico Lobos scored eight unanswered runs to defeat BYU 12-2 Thursday night.

“New Mexico is a very good team and have got some guys who can really swing their bats,” said BYU head coach Vance Law. “The first three innings looked like things were going to go well for us, but their pitcher (John Hesketh) dominated the strike zone today and pitched an outstanding ball game. Credit to him for keeping us off balance.”

With the loss the Cougars are now 23-16 overall and 10-6 in the MWC, while UNM is 31-11 and 11-5. Pitcher Jeremy Toole was tagged with the loss, now 5-3 on the season. BYU struggled defensively, suffering six errors in the ball game. However, there was one bright fielding play by BYU.

With Lobos on first and second and no outs, New Mexico’s Brian Cavazos-Galvez stepped up to the plate at the top of the second inning. His grounder was picked up by Steve Parker who stepped on third, threw to second with a relay to first for a triple play—only the fourth in BYU history and third in MWC history. BYU's last recorded triple play was in 1998.

“Well you don’t see that very often,” said Law. “The last one I’ve seen in person was back in 1978. It was pretty exciting.”

In the third J.T. Musso’s triple to right centerfield fell just off the glove of the Lobo outfielder. Next at bat, Andrew Law’s single brought Musso in for the first score of the game.

New Mexico was quick to tie the game at one-all in the fourth after a throwing error by catcher Musso resulted in a run. After a BYU fielding error in right field, the Lobos scored another run, this time unearned.

The Lobos continued to improve their lead, scoring multiple runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to go up 8-1.

Cougar Kent Walton singled to left field in the bottom of the seventh, later advancing to second on a wild pitch. Parker walked to first as Brandon Relf stepped to the plate for the Cougars. Relf’s single to right field brought Walton home for BYU’s second score of the game.

The Cougar defense successfully held New Mexico scoreless at the top of the eighth inning, thanks in part to a double play from third to first base.

A New Mexico base hit at the top of the ninth set up runners on first and third, with a fielder’s choice on the following play bringing in another run. Kevin Atkinson’s three-run homer to left centerfield extended the New Mexico lead to 12-2.

The Cougars and Lobos meet again on Friday at 7 p.m., for the second of this three-game series.

New Mexico at BYU
Apr 23, 2009 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
New Mexico 12 (31-11,11-5 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BROWNSTEIN 2b............  5  2  2  0   1  2  2  5   1
WILLETT, M cf............  5  1  1  0   0  2  2  0   1
HONEYCUTT, R dh..........  3  1  1  2   2  1  0  0   0
NEDA, R c................  3  2  2  0   2  0  5  0   0
HAMILTON, D 3b...........  4  1  2  1   0  1  0  2   2
CAVAZOS-GALV rf..........  5  2  2  3   0  0  4  0   0
ATKINSON, K 1b...........  5  1  2  4   0  2 10  2   2
COURCHA, A lf............  3  1  1  0   2  0  0  0   0
GONZALEZ, D ss...........  5  1  1  1   0  1  2  3   2
HESKETH, J p.............  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
 COX, C p................  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
Totals................... 38 12 14 11   7  9 27 13   8
BYU 2 (23-16,10-6 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
McNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  4  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
BANKS, Stetson cf........  4  0  0  0   0  1  2  0   1
WALTON, Kent dh..........  4  1  2  0   0  0  0  0   0
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  3  0  0  0   1  0  2  3   0
RELF, Brandon ss.........  4  0  2  1   0  1  1  0   0
BOWEN, Michael rf........  3  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   1
KO, Kasey 1b.............  2  0  0  0   1  0  6  2   0
MUSSO, J.T. c............  3  1  1  0   0  1 10  1   2
LAW, Andrew 2b...........  3  0  1  1   0  1  5  2   0
TOOLE, Jeremy p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   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
 MICHON, Brandon p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 30  2  6  2   2  5 27 10   4
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico.......... 000 221 304 - 12 14  0
BYU................. 001 000 100 -  2  6  6
-------------------------------------------
E - McNAUGHTON(4); RELF 2(20); BOWEN(3); MUSSO(5); TOOLE(3). DP - Lobos 3;
Cougars 1. Triple plays - Cougars 1. LOB - Lobos 8; Cougars 4. 2B -
BROWNSTEIN(15); HONEYCUTT, R(10); CAVAZOS-GALV(13); GONZALEZ, D(7). 3B -
MUSSO(1). HR - ATKINSON, K(4). HBP - BOWEN. SH - WILLETT, M(7); HAMILTON,
D(5). SB - BROWNSTEIN(15). CS - HONEYCUTT, R(1).
New Mexico             IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
HESKETH, J..........  6.0  3  2  2  1  4 20 22 101
COX, C..............  3.0  3  0  0  1  1 10 11  39
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
TOOLE, Jeremy.......  6.2 10  8  7  5  7 26 33 121
MILLER, Jared.......  0.1  2  0  0  0  0  3  3   9
SLOAN, Kevin........  1.0  2  4  3  2  0  5  7  20
MICHON, Brandon.....  1.0  0  0  0  0  2  4  4  18
Win - HESKETH, J (5-2).  Loss - TOOLE (5-3).  Save - COX, C (5).
WP - HESKETH, J(3). HBP - by HESKETH, J (BOWEN). Pitches/strikes: HESKETH, J
101/65; COX, C 39/26; TOOLE 121/73; MILLER, J. 9/5; SLOAN 20/12; MICHON 18/12.
Umpires - HP: Randy Upton  1B: Asa Howard  3B: Dominic Giarratano
Start: 7:08 pm   Time: 2:42   Attendance: 1306
Weather: 74 degrees, windy
HESKETH, J faced 2 batters in the 7th.
SLOAN faced 4 batters in the 9th.
Play-by-Play
New Mexico 1st - BROWNSTEIN struck out swinging (2-2). WILLETT, M struck
out swinging (1-2). HONEYCUTT, R walked (3-0). HONEYCUTT, R out at second c to
2b, caught stealing. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 1st - McNAUGHTON fouled out to rf (1-1). BANKS grounded out to p
(2-2). WALTON flied out to rf (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 2nd - NEDA, R singled through the left side (0-0). HAMILTON,
D reached on a fielding error by p (0-1); NEDA, R advanced to second.
CAVAZOS-GALV grounded into triple play 3b to 2b to 1b (2-0); HAMILTON, D out on
the play; NEDA, R out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 0 LOB.
BYU 2nd - PARKER out at first 1b to p (2-1). RELF struck out swinging
(2-2). BOWEN grounded out to 3b (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 3rd - ATKINSON, K struck out swinging (1-2). COURCHA, A
grounded out to p (0-0). GONZALEZ, D grounded out to p (0-0). 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 3rd - KO flied out to cf (1-2). MUSSO tripled to right center (1-1).
LAW, An. singled to second base, RBI (3-2); MUSSO scored. McNAUGHTON popped up
to 2b (1-2). BANKS grounded out to 2b (1-2). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
New Mexico 4th - BROWNSTEIN singled through the left side (0-0).
WILLETT, M out at first 1b to 2b, SAC, bunt (1-1); BROWNSTEIN advanced to
second. BROWNSTEIN stole third, scored on a throwing error by c. HONEYCUTT, R
walked (3-2). NEDA, R flied out to rf (1-1). HAMILTON, D singled to right field
(0-0); HONEYCUTT, R advanced to second, advanced to third on a fielding error
by rf. CAVAZOS-GALV singled, bunt, RBI (1-0); HAMILTON, D advanced to second;
HONEYCUTT, R scored, unearned. ATKINSON, K struck out swinging (1-2). 2
runs, 3 hits, 2 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 4th - WALTON flied out to rf (1-1). PARKER grounded out to 2b (3-2).
RELF popped up to 1b (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 5th - COURCHA, A walked (3-2). GONZALEZ, D reached on a
fielder's choice (0-0); COURCHA, A out at second 3b to ss. BROWNSTEIN doubled
to left center (0-0); GONZALEZ, D advanced to third. WILLETT, M fouled out to
1b (3-2). HONEYCUTT, R doubled to left field, 2 RBI (2-0); BROWNSTEIN scored;
GONZALEZ, D scored. NEDA, R walked (3-2). HAMILTON, D struck out swinging
(2-2). 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 5th - BOWEN hit by pitch (1-2). KO grounded into double play 2b to
ss to 1b (0-1); BOWEN out on the play. MUSSO flied out to rf (1-0). 0 runs,
0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 6th - CAVAZOS-GALV fouled out to c (1-0). ATKINSON, K
grounded out to 2b (1-1). COURCHA, A walked (3-2). GONZALEZ, D doubled to left
center, RBI (1-2); COURCHA, A scored. BROWNSTEIN struck out swinging (3-2).
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 6th - LAW, An. struck out swinging (2-2). McNAUGHTON struck out
swinging (2-2). BANKS struck out swinging (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
New Mexico 7th - WILLETT, M singled to left field (2-2). HONEYCUTT, R
struck out swinging (0-2). NEDA, R singled to left field (0-0); WILLETT, M
advanced to third. HAMILTON, D out at first 1b to 2b, SAC, RBI (0-1); NEDA, R
advanced to second; WILLETT, M scored. CAVAZOS-GALV doubled to left field, RBI
(1-1); NEDA, R scored. MILLER, J. to p for TOOLE. ATKINSON, K singled to center
field, RBI (2-1); CAVAZOS-GALV scored. COURCHA, A singled to left field (2-1);
ATKINSON, K advanced to second, advanced to third on a fielding error by lf.
GONZALEZ, D lined out to 2b (0-0). 3 runs, 5 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
BYU 7th - WALTON singled to left field (3-2). WALTON advanced to second
on a wild pitch. PARKER walked (3-2). COX, C to p for HESKETH, J. RELF singled
to right field, RBI (2-2); PARKER advanced to second; WALTON scored. BOWEN
grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b (1-1); RELF out on the play; PARKER
advanced to third. KO walked (3-2). MUSSO struck out looking (1-2). 1 run, 2
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico 8th - SLOAN to p for MILLER, J.. BROWNSTEIN walked (3-2).
WILLETT, M lined into double play 3b to 1b (0-2); BROWNSTEIN out on the play.
HONEYCUTT, R flied out to cf (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 8th - LAW, An. fouled out to 1b (0-0). McNAUGHTON out at first 1b to
p (1-1). BANKS grounded out to 3b (0-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
New Mexico 9th - NEDA, R walked (3-1). HAMILTON, D singled up the middle
(0-0); NEDA, R advanced to third. CAVAZOS-GALV reached on a fielder's choice,
RBI (0-1); HAMILTON, D advanced to second on a throwing error by ss; NEDA, R
scored. ATKINSON, K homered to left center, 3 RBI (0-0); CAVAZOS-GALV scored;
HAMILTON, D scored, unearned. MICHON to p for SLOAN. COURCHA, A flied out to cf
(2-2). GONZALEZ, D struck out swinging (1-2). BROWNSTEIN reached on a throwing
error by ss (2-1). WILLETT, M struck out swinging (1-2). 4 runs, 2 hits, 2
errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 9th - WALTON singled to left field (1-0). PARKER flied out to cf
(2-2). RELF singled to shortstop (1-2); WALTON advanced to second. BOWEN
grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b (0-0); RELF out on the play. 0
runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

First-place BYU and New Mexico are tied with 10-5 league records coming into this week’s three-game series which starts Thursday in Provo.

The Lobos, 30-11 overall, lead the nation in triples and hits and are No. 2 nationally in doubles, batting average and runs scored. Last month UNM was ranked No. 21 in the polls when it took two of three in Albuquerque against BYU.

The Cougars, 23-15 overall, won one of three games over the Lobos last year in Provo. The probable starting pitchers for BYU are juniors Jeremy Toole (5-2, 3.70) and Blake Torgerson (5-2, 5.89) in Thursday and Friday’s games which begin at 7 p.m. On Saturday freshman Adam Miller (3-2, 3.86) will take the mound in the game at 1 p.m.

Both Thursday and Friday’s games will be televised live on BYUTV. All of BYU’s baseball games this week will also be broadcast live locally over KSRR Radio (1400 AM) and are also carried over the Internet and on KBYU-FM HD-2 by BYU Radio.

Subscribers to Dish Network, who get BYU Television can also listen to BYU Radio.

The Thursday and Saturday baseball games will be at the same time as Cougar softball games in the back-to-back venues at Miller Park.