PROVO -- Jordan Muir and Chad Nacapoy paced BYU's baseball team to a 15-12 victory Thursday over UNLV at Larry H. Miller Field.

Jordan Muir came up with his tenth save of the season, moving him to fifth place on the all-time MWC list of single-season saves and breaking the BYU record of nine set by Ryan Hancock in 1992. Jared Miller picked up the win in relief for his first victory of the season.

Nacapoy picked up five RBI, two of which came from a two-run homer.

The game lasted nearly three and a half hours and the Cougars got eight stolen bases and 14 hits despite four errors on the defensive end and allowed 19 hits with five different pitchers throughout the game. The eight stolen bases ties a MWC record.

“The Rebels have a good offense and we did everything we could to try to extend our lead, but they kept on us,” said BYU head coach Vance Law. “We tried to attack them with our speed and those stolen bases were crucial because it kept them from getting double plays on us.”

Cougar outfielder Michael Bowen started the second inning with a two-run homer that just cleared the right field fence to put BYU up 8-3 for an early lead.

Cougar starting pitcher Nathan Bunch left the game in the third inning with a chest bruise sustained in the second inning, after which the Rebels responded with three runs in the bottom of the third on BYU reliever Sean Amerson.

“Bunch will be okay,” Law said. “He’s a tough kid who will stick in there for us.”

Nacapoy got two of those runs back in the bottom of the third with a homer to right field. Sean McNaughton followed suit two batters later with a solo homer to left centerfield, chasing UNLV pitcher Tanner Peters from the game and making the score 11-6.

Ryan Thornton’s two-run homer in the fifth brought the Rebels back within two, 12-10. UNLV scored again on a Shawn Hardesty wild pitch to close within two at 13-11. Thornton struck again in the sixth as he doubled off a Cougar error which took him to third and then was brought in on a Jesse Wight single to right field to cut it to 13-12.

The Cougars then responded with a run on a Stetson Banks sac-fly to bring in Andrew Law for another two-run cushion at 14-12.

The Cougars then attacked the Rebel left field with a Steve Parker single and Kasey Ko slamming a ball over the fielder’s head to score Parker and increase the lead to the final score of 15-12.

The win improves the Cougar record to 25-21 overall and 12-8 in Mountain West Conference play. The Rebels fall to 25-25, 9-10 in the MWC. The teams will meet again Friday night at 7 p.m.

“Errors will happen to any team, but we’ve got to try to keep ours down,” Law said. “A few physical errors are allowed, but we’ve got to cut out the mental ones to be successful.”

UNLV at BYU
May 07, 2009 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
UNLV 12 (25-25,9-10 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
SFERRA, J.J. cf..........  6  0  4  1   0  0  4  0   0
RESNICK, Bryan 2b........  5  0  0  0   1  0  2  5   0
FRIERSON, Jarred 3b......  6  1  1  0   0  0  0  0   8
THORNTON, Ryan dh........  6  3  3  2   0  1  0  0   1
WIGHT, Jesse 1b..........  5  3  4  2   1  0 10  0   0
ROUNDY, Rance rf.........  6  1  2  1   0  1  2  0   1
BERKE, Scott lf..........  3  3  2  2   0  0  1  0   0
MOREL, Anthony ss........  5  1  2  2   0  1  1  6   1
CLAUS, Chad c............  5  0  1  1   0  1  4  1   1
PETERS, Tanner p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HALES, Corey p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 47 12 19 11   2  4 24 13  12
BYU 15 (25-21,12-8 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
McNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  4  3  3  1   1  0  3  0   0
BANKS, Stetson cf........  4  1  1  3   0  1  1  0   0
WALTON, Kent dh..........  3  0  0  0   2  1  0  0   0
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  5  1  1  0   0  0  0  7   2
BOWEN, Michael rf........  4  3  2  2   0  0  0  0   1
RELF, Brandon ss.........  5  1  1  0   0  2  2  1   0
KO, Kasey 1b.............  3  2  2  1   2  0 13  0   0
NACAPOY, Chad c..........  5  2  3  5   0  0  6  0   1
LAW, Andrew 2b...........  4  2  1  1   0  0  1  6   1
BUNCH, Nathan p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
 AMERSON, Sean p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HARDESTY, Shawn p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 MILLER, Jared p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 MUIR, Jordan p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 37 15 14 13   5  4 27 15   5
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
UNLV................ 033 221 100 - 12 19  3
BYU................. 083 110 11X - 15 14  4
-------------------------------------------
E - MOREL, A. 2(13); HALES, Corey(1); PARKER(14); BOWEN(4); RELF(23); LAW,
An.(8). DP - Rebels 2; Cougars 1. LOB - Rebels 12; Cougars 5. 2B - THORNTON,
R(13); ROUNDY, R.(8); MOREL, A.(10); KO(9); NACAPOY(4). 3B - BERKE,
Scott(1). HR - THORNTON, R(9); WIGHT, Jesse(7); McNAUGHTON(7); BOWEN(5);
NACAPOY(5). HBP - BERKE, Scott; BOWEN. SH - BERKE, Scott(4). SF - BANKS(1).
SB - McNAUGHTON(5); BANKS(18); WALTON(15); PARKER 2(6); BOWEN(7); LAW, An.
2(18).
UNLV                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
PETERS, Tanner......  2.1  8 11  7  2  0 16 19  64
HALES, Corey........  5.2  6  4  4  3  4 21 25 113
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
BUNCH, Nathan.......  2.0  6  3  3  0  2 12 12  44
AMERSON, Sean.......  1.0  7  5  5  0  0 11 12  27
HARDESTY, Shawn.....  2.1  3  3  2  1  0 10 12  42
MILLER, Jared.......  1.0  2  1  1  1  0  5  6  25
MUIR, Jordan........  2.2  1  0  0  0  2  9  9  36
Win - MILLER, J. (1-1).  Loss - PETERS, T. (5-5).  Save - MUIR (10).
WP - PETERS, T.(3); HALES, Corey 3(9); BUNCH(5); HARDESTY 4(5). HBP - by PETERS,
T. (BOWEN); by AMERSON (BERKE, Scott). Pitches/strikes: PETERS, T. 64/37; HALES,
Corey 113/70; BUNCH 44/27; AMERSON 27/19; HARDESTY 42/23; MILLER, J. 25/14; MUIR
36/26.
Umpires - HP: Keith Bailey  1B: Billy Van Raaphorst  3B: Jeff Richardson
Start: 7:07 pm   Time: 3:18   Attendance: 1083
Weather: 70 degrees and clear
AMERSON faced 3 batters in the 4th.
Play-by-Play
UNLV 1st - SFERRA, J.J. singled up the middle (2-1). RESNICK, B. fouled
out to c (0-0). FRIERSON, J. out at first 2b to p (2-1); SFERRA, J.J. advanced
to second. SFERRA, J.J. advanced to third on a wild pitch. THORNTON, R struck
out swinging (3-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 1st - McNAUGHTON singled through the left side (0-0). BANKS reached
on a fielder's choice (0-0); McNAUGHTON out at second 2b unassisted,
interference. BANKS stole second. WALTON flied out to rf (2-0). PARKER flied
out to cf (2-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 2nd - WIGHT, Jesse singled up the middle (2-1). ROUNDY, R. doubled
to center field (1-2); WIGHT, Jesse advanced to third. BERKE, Scott tripled to
center field, 2 RBI (0-1); ROUNDY, R. scored; WIGHT, Jesse scored. MOREL, A.
doubled to center field, RBI (2-1); BERKE, Scott scored. CLAUS, Chad struck out
looking (0-2). SFERRA, J.J. singled to second base (1-2); MOREL, A. advanced to
third. RESNICK, B. fouled out to 1b (2-1). FRIERSON, J. grounded out to p
(2-0). 3 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 2nd - BOWEN hit by pitch (3-2). RELF singled up the middle (0-0);
BOWEN advanced to third. RELF advanced to second on a wild pitch. KO walked
(3-1). NACAPOY doubled down the rf line, 2 RBI (0-0); KO advanced to third;
RELF scored; BOWEN scored. LAW, An. reached on a throwing error by ss, RBI
(2-1); NACAPOY advanced to third; KO scored. LAW, An. stole second. McNAUGHTON
walked (3-0). BANKS singled to left field, 2 RBI (1-0); McNAUGHTON advanced to
second; LAW, An. scored, unearned; NACAPOY scored. WALTON reached on a fielding
error by ss (0-1); BANKS advanced to second; McNAUGHTON advanced to third.
PARKER grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b (2-2); WALTON out on the play;
BANKS advanced to third; McNAUGHTON scored, unearned. BOWEN homered to right
field, 2 RBI, unearned (0-0); BANKS scored, unearned. RELF grounded out to ss
(2-2). 8 runs, 4 hits, 2 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 3rd - AMERSON to p for BUNCH. THORNTON, R grounded out to 3b (1-0).
WIGHT, Jesse homered to center field, RBI (0-0). ROUNDY, R. flied out to lf
(0-0). BERKE, Scott hit by pitch (3-0). MOREL, A. singled to center field
(0-1); BERKE, Scott advanced to second. CLAUS, Chad singled to right field, RBI
(0-0); MOREL, A. advanced to second; BERKE, Scott scored. SFERRA, J.J. singled
to left field, RBI (0-1); CLAUS, Chad advanced to second; MOREL, A. scored.
RESNICK, B. reached on a fielding error by 2b (2-1); SFERRA, J.J. advanced to
second; CLAUS, Chad advanced to third. FRIERSON, J. grounded out to 2b (0-2).
3 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB.
BYU 3rd - KO singled to center field (2-2). NACAPOY homered to right
field, 2 RBI (2-0); KO scored. LAW, An. flied out to cf (0-0). McNAUGHTON
homered to left center, RBI (1-0). HALES, Corey to p for PETERS, T.. BANKS
grounded out to ss (1-0). WALTON walked (3-1). WALTON stole second. PARKER
grounded out to 2b (2-1). 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 4th - THORNTON, R singled to left field (1-2). WIGHT, Jesse singled
to right field (1-0); THORNTON, R advanced to third. ROUNDY, R. singled to left
field, RBI (0-1); WIGHT, Jesse advanced to second; THORNTON, R scored. HARDESTY
to p for AMERSON. BERKE, Scott grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt (0-1); ROUNDY, R.
advanced to second; WIGHT, Jesse advanced to third. MOREL, A. grounded out to
2b, RBI (1-0); ROUNDY, R. advanced to third; WIGHT, Jesse scored. CLAUS, Chad
grounded out to 2b (3-1). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 4th - BOWEN singled, bunt (0-0). BOWEN stole second. BOWEN advanced
to third on a wild pitch. RELF struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b (2-2).
KO walked (3-2). NACAPOY singled to right field, RBI (1-1); KO advanced to
second; BOWEN scored. LAW, An. grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b (0-1);
NACAPOY out on the play. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 5th - SFERRA, J.J. flied out to cf (3-2). RESNICK, B. grounded out
to 3b (0-0). FRIERSON, J. singled to left field (1-0). THORNTON, R homered to
center field, 2 RBI (0-0); FRIERSON, J. scored. WIGHT, Jesse walked (3-1).
WIGHT, Jesse advanced to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third. ROUNDY, R.
grounded out to 3b (1-0). 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 5th - McNAUGHTON singled to left field (0-0). McNAUGHTON stole
second. McNAUGHTON advanced to third on a wild pitch. BANKS struck out swinging
(3-2). McNAUGHTON scored on a wild pitch. WALTON walked (3-2). WALTON advanced
to second on a throwing error by p, advanced to third. PARKER reached on a
fielder's choice (0-0); WALTON out at home p to c. PARKER stole second. BOWEN
grounded out to ss (1-2). 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
UNLV 6th - BERKE, Scott singled through the left side (1-1). MOREL, A.
reached on a fielding error by 3b (2-0); BERKE, Scott advanced to second.
BERKE, Scott advanced to third on a wild pitch. MOREL, A. advanced to second;
BERKE, Scott scored on a wild pitch, unearned. MOREL, A. advanced to third on a
wild pitch. CLAUS, Chad reached on a fielder's choice (3-2); MOREL, A. out at
home 3b to c. MILLER, J. to p for HARDESTY. SFERRA, J.J. reached on a fielder's
choice (2-2); CLAUS, Chad out at second 2b to ss. RESNICK, B. walked (3-0);
SFERRA, J.J. advanced to second. FRIERSON, J. grounded out to 1b unassisted
(1-1). 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.
BYU 6th - RELF struck out looking (1-2). KO flied out to lf (3-2).
NACAPOY flied out to cf (0-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 7th - THORNTON, R doubled, advanced to third on a throwing error by
rf (2-1). WIGHT, Jesse singled to right field, RBI (1-2); THORNTON, R scored.
ROUNDY, R. grounded out to 3b (1-0); WIGHT, Jesse advanced to second. MUIR to p
for MILLER, J.. BERKE, Scott grounded out to 3b (0-2); WIGHT, Jesse advanced to
third. MOREL, A. struck out looking (1-2). 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1
LOB.
BYU 7th - LAW, An. singled to second base (3-2). LAW, An. stole second.
McNAUGHTON grounded out to 2b (1-2); LAW, An. advanced to third. BANKS flied
out to cf, SF, RBI (0-0); LAW, An. scored. WALTON struck out looking (3-2).
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 8th - CLAUS, Chad popped up to 2b (0-2). SFERRA, J.J. singled to
second base (3-2). RESNICK, B. reached on a fielder's choice (1-1); SFERRA,
J.J. advanced to second on a fielding error by ss. FRIERSON, J. grounded into
double play 2b to ss to 1b (1-1); RESNICK, B. out on the play. 0 runs, 1
hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU 8th - PARKER singled to left field (2-2). PARKER stole second. BOWEN
fouled out to rf (3-2); PARKER advanced to third. RELF grounded out to ss
(1-2). KO doubled to left field, RBI (3-2); PARKER scored. NACAPOY grounded out
to 2b (1-0). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 9th - THORNTON, R flied out to lf (2-2). WIGHT, Jesse flied out to
lf (2-2). ROUNDY, R. struck out swinging (0-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.

This weekend is the final chance for BYU to affect the league standings in the Mountain West Conference baseball race.

The Cougars, 24-21 overall and 11-8, host UNLV, 25-24 and 9-9, in the last MWC games of the regular season for BYU. The three-game series with UNLV is also the final homestand for the Cougars.

BYU’s pitching rotation is announced only through the first game on Thursday at 7 p.m., with freshman Nathan Bunch (3-4, 5.86) getting his first start in a league game. Friday’s game is also at 7 p.m.

Prior to Saturday’s game at 1 p.m., seven BYU seniors will be honored: Thomas Bills, Michael Bowen, Kasey Ko, J.T. Musso, Jordan Muir, Dan Vargas and Kent Walton

Thursday and Friday’s games will be televised live by BYUTV and Saturday’s game will be televised live on both BYUTV and KBYU. Subscribers to Dish Network, who get BYU Television can also listen to BYU Radio.

All of the baseball games this week will be at the same time as Cougar softball games in the back-to-back venues at Miller Park.

Next week BYU’s baseball team plays at the University of Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday while the rest of the league teams play each other to determine seeding order at the MWC Championships in two weeks.