LAS -- Reliever Brady Zuniga held BYU hitless through four innings with six strikeouts Thursday night to lead UNLV to a 12-6 victory.

Zuniga entered the game when it was tied 6-6 in the sixth and went on to post his fifth victory against no losses.

“He (Zuniga) commanded his fastball and had a hard sinker that ran in,” said BYU coach Vance Law. “We ended up striking out because we weren’t patient enough. It really closed the door and we didn’t have many quality at bats. We didn’t throw enough strikes and walked too many.“

Cougar Stephen Wells led off with a single in the fifth and worked around the bases on a sac bunt and fielder’s choice. Wells scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at six-all.

BYU got its first lead at 5-3 in the fourth inning when Dane Nielsen hit a two-run single. Nielsen scored that fifth run when Brandon Relf singled and he was later caught stealing to end the inning.

BYU scored its first run of the night when Bryce Ayoso drew a lead-off walk in the second. Ayoso advanced to third on a shortstop error which brought Sean McNaughton aboard. Jonathan Cluff singled in Ayoso as the Cougars were behind, 2-1.

The night of frustration also caused BYU reliever Kevin Sloan to be ejected from the game in the eighth inning.

BYU falls to 19-24 overall and 6-10 in the Mountain West Conference, while UNLV improved to 25-19 and 9-7. The two teams look to tilt the balance of a series tied at 2-2 when they meet again Friday evening.

BYU at UNLV
May 06, 2010 at Las Vegas, NV (Earl E. Wilson)
BYU 6 (19-24,6-10 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
RELF, Brandon ss.........  5  0  1  1   0  2  4  3   0
WELLS, Stephen cf........  5  1  2  0   0  0  3  0   0
WOLFE, Alex 1b...........  3  0  1  0   1  0  8  0   1
AYOSO, Bryce c...........  3  1  0  0   1  1  3  0   1
BERNAL, Ryan dh..........  3  0  0  0   1  1  0  0   0
McNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  4  1  1  0   0  1  1  0   1
CLUFF, Jonathan rf.......  3  1  1  1   1  1  2  0   0
HALL, Austin 3b..........  3  1  0  0   1  3  1  3   2
NIELSEN, Dane 2b.........  4  1  1  2   0  0  2  3   0
ANDERSON, Mark p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 MICHON, Brandon p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 BIRCH, Nick p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 SLOAN, Kevin p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HOWARD, Chris p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 33  6  7  4   5  9 24 10   5
UNLV 12 (25-19,9-7 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BEATY, Hunter 2b.........  4  2  2  2   1  0  1  1   2
CLARK, Nolan c...........  4  2  0  1   1  0  8  3   0
BEUERLEIN, Drew 1b.......  3  2  0  0   2  0  5  1   2
BAYARDI, Brandon lf......  5  1  2  1   0  2  0  0   0
KRETCHMER, Kyle dh.......  3  0  2  2   1  0  0  0   1
 SATHERLIE, Duncan pr....  0  1  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
ARNOLD, RJ 3b............  4  1  3  4   1  0  2  1   1
FRIERSON, Jarred cf......  4  0  1  1   0  0  5  0   2
THOMAS, Cash rf..........  3  2  1  0   2  0  2  0   0
JIMENEZ, Richie ss.......  5  1  2  0   0  0  3  2   1
PETERS, Tanner p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  2   0
 ZUNIGA, Brady p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 35 12 13 11   8  2 27 10   9
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
BYU................. 010 410 000 -  6  7  4
UNLV................ 210 302 04X - 12 13  2
-------------------------------------------
E - RELF 2(24); NIELSEN 2(12); BAYARDI, B.(4); JIMENEZ, R.(13). DP - Cougars
3. LOB - Cougars 5; LV 9. 2B - WELLS(5); ARNOLD, RJ(11). 3B - BEATY, H.(3).
HBP - KRETCHMER. SF - FRIERSON, J.(5). SB - McNAUGHTON(9); BAYARDI, B.(3);
THOMAS, Cash(7). CS - RELF(3).
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
ANDERSON, Mark......  3.0  5  6  5  5  1 13 19  65
MICHON, Brandon.....  2.1  6  2  1  0  0 14 14  46
BIRCH, Nick.........  1.2  0  2  2  2  0  4  6  24
SLOAN, Kevin........  0.1  1  2  1  1  1  2  3  14
HOWARD, Chris.......  0.2  1  0  0  0  0  2  3   3
UNLV                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
PETERS, Tanner......  5.0  7  6  4  3  3 21 24 100
ZUNIGA, Brady.......  4.0  0  0  0  2  6 12 14  53
Win - ZUNIGA, B. (5-0).  Loss - MICHON (0-3).  Save - None.
WP - ANDERSON(5); PETERS, T. 3(9). HBP - by ANDERSON (KRETCHMER). Inherited
runners/scored: MICHON 1/1; BIRCH 2/0; SLOAN 2/2; HOWARD 2/2. Pitches/strikes:
ANDERSON 65/35; MICHON 46/29; BIRCH 24/13; SLOAN 14/6; HOWARD 3/2; PETERS, T.
100/59; ZUNIGA, B. 53/35.
Umpires - HP: Cale Smith  1B: Jon Wolfe  3B: Ray Belfiore
Start: 7:00 pm   Time: 2:58   Attendance: 356
ANDERSON faced 3 batters in the 4th.
BIRCH faced 2 batters in the 8th.
BYU 1st - RELF flied out to cf (0-0). WELLS fouled out to ss (1-0).
WOLFE flied out to cf (0-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 1st - BEATY, H. singled up the middle (0-1). CLARK, Nolan reached
on a fielding error by ss (1-1); BEATY, H. advanced to second. BEUERLEIN, D
walked (3-2); CLARK, Nolan advanced to second; BEATY, H. advanced to third.
BAYARDI, B. struck out swinging (0-2). KRETCHMER singled through the right
side, 2 RBI (1-2); BEUERLEIN, D advanced to second; CLARK, Nolan scored,
unearned; BEATY, H. scored. ARNOLD, RJ lined into double play ss to 2b (1-0);
BEUERLEIN, D out on the play. 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU 2nd - AYOSO walked (3-2). BERNAL flied out to cf (2-2). McNAUGHTON
reached on a fielding error by ss, advanced to second (2-2); AYOSO advanced to
third. CLUFF singled to shortstop, RBI (3-2); McNAUGHTON advanced to third;
AYOSO scored, unearned. McNAUGHTON out at third p to 2b to 3b, picked off. HALL
struck out swinging (2-2). 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
UNLV 2nd - FRIERSON, J. grounded out to 2b (0-1). THOMAS, Cash walked
(3-1). JIMENEZ, R. singled to center field (3-2); THOMAS, Cash advanced to
third. BEATY, H. walked (3-2); JIMENEZ, R. advanced to second. CLARK, Nolan
reached on a fielder's choice, RBI (0-2); BEATY, H. advanced to second on a
throwing error by 2b; JIMENEZ, R. out at third 3b to c; THOMAS, Cash scored.
BEUERLEIN, D reached on a fielder's choice; CLARK, Nolan out at second 2b to
ss. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.
BYU 3rd - NIELSEN flied out to rf (0-1). RELF struck out looking (2-2).
WELLS doubled to left center (3-1). WOLFE lined out to 2b (2-2). 0 runs, 1
hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 3rd - BAYARDI, B. flied out to rf (0-0). KRETCHMER hit by pitch
(2-2). KRETCHMER advanced to second on a wild pitch. ARNOLD, RJ walked (3-0).
FRIERSON, J. grounded into double play 3b to 1b (2-1); KRETCHMER out on the
play. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 4th - AYOSO flied out to rf (0-0). BERNAL out at first 1b to p
(2-2). McNAUGHTON singled to left field (2-2). McNAUGHTON stole second. CLUFF
walked (3-2). HALL walked (3-0); CLUFF advanced to second; McNAUGHTON advanced
to third. HALL advanced to second; CLUFF advanced to third; McNAUGHTON scored
on a wild pitch. NIELSEN singled, advanced to second on a fielding error by lf,
2 RBI (1-2); HALL scored; CLUFF scored. RELF singled to right field, RBI (1-2);
NIELSEN scored, unearned. RELF out at second c to ss, caught stealing. 4
runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
UNLV 4th - THOMAS, Cash walked (3-1). JIMENEZ, R. singled, bunt (0-0);
THOMAS, Cash advanced to second. BEATY, H. tripled to center field, 2 RBI
(0-0); JIMENEZ, R. scored; THOMAS, Cash scored. MICHON to p for ANDERSON.
CLARK, Nolan lined out to 1b (0-0). BEUERLEIN, D flied out to rf (1-0).
BAYARDI, B. singled to shortstop, RBI (0-1); BEATY, H. scored. BAYARDI, B.
stole second. KRETCHMER flied out to lf (2-2). 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
BYU 5th - WELLS singled through the right side (0-2). WOLFE singled,
bunt (0-0); WELLS advanced to second. AYOSO reached on a fielder's choice
(1-1); WOLFE out at second p to ss; WELLS advanced to third. AYOSO advanced to
second; WELLS scored on a wild pitch. AYOSO advanced to third on a wild pitch.
BERNAL struck out swinging (3-2). McNAUGHTON grounded out to ss (2-2). 1
run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 5th - ARNOLD, RJ singled through the left side (1-1). FRIERSON, J.
singled through the left side (1-1); ARNOLD, RJ advanced to second. THOMAS,
Cash flied out to cf (2-2); ARNOLD, RJ advanced to third. JIMENEZ, R. grounded
out to p, bunt (1-1); FRIERSON, J. advanced to second. BEATY, H. fouled out to
ss (1-1). 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 6th - ZUNIGA, B. to p for PETERS, T.. CLUFF grounded out to c (1-1).
HALL struck out looking (3-2). NIELSEN grounded out to 3b (1-0). 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 6th - CLARK, Nolan fouled out to 1b (1-0). BEUERLEIN, D reached on
a fielding error by ss (1-1). BAYARDI, B. singled to left field (2-1);
BEUERLEIN, D advanced to second. KRETCHMER singled to left field (3-2);
BAYARDI, B. advanced to second; BEUERLEIN, D advanced to third. ARNOLD, RJ
singled to right field, 2 RBI (1-1); KRETCHMER advanced to third; BAYARDI, B.
scored; BEUERLEIN, D scored, unearned. BIRCH to p for MICHON. FRIERSON, J.
grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b (1-2); ARNOLD, RJ out on the play.
2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU 7th - RELF struck out swinging (1-2). WELLS fouled out to 3b (0-1).
WOLFE walked (3-2). AYOSO struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b (1-2). 0
runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 7th - THOMAS, Cash flied out to cf (0-1). JIMENEZ, R. grounded out
to 3b (0-0). BEATY, H. popped up to 2b (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
BYU 8th - BERNAL walked (3-1). McNAUGHTON struck out swinging (1-2).
CLUFF struck out looking (0-2). HALL struck out swinging (1-2). 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 8th - CLARK, Nolan walked (3-1). BEUERLEIN, D walked (3-2); CLARK,
Nolan advanced to second. SLOAN to p for BIRCH. BAYARDI, B. struck out swinging
(2-2). KRETCHMER walked (3-1); BEUERLEIN, D advanced to second; CLARK, Nolan
advanced to third. SATHERLIE, D pinch ran for KRETCHMER. ARNOLD, RJ doubled to
right field, 2 RBI (2-1); SATHERLIE, D advanced to third; BEUERLEIN, D scored;
CLARK, Nolan scored. HOWARD to p for SLOAN. FRIERSON, J. flied out to cf, SAC,
RBI (0-0); SATHERLIE, D scored. THOMAS, Cash singled to second base (1-0);
ARNOLD, RJ advanced to third, scored on a fielding error by 2b, unearned.
THOMAS, Cash stole second. JIMENEZ, R. grounded out to ss. 4 runs, 2 hits, 1
error, 1 LOB.
BYU 9th - NIELSEN flied out to cf (1-2). RELF grounded out to ss (0-0).
WELLS flied out to cf (0-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Non-conference action continues for BYU's baseball team as it travels the short distance for the first of two meetings with Utah Valley University.

Tuesday's BYU-UVU encounter in Orem at 6 p.m., will be followed up on May 18 in Provo. The Cougars' starter on the mound for the first three innings will be sophomore righthander Matthew Neil (3-4, 5.46), who has been leading off BYU's three-game weekend series.

The Cougars, 18-23, are just coming off three consecutive losses in non-league games in Washington to Seattle University and the University of Portland. Those losses are the first time since the opening week of the season that BYU has been swept.

Brothers Bryce and Travis Ayoso are on opposing teams in Tuesday's game. Bryce is BYU's starting catcher, while Travis is a left-handed relief pitcher for the Wolverines.

Following the BYU-UVU game, the Cougars bus to Las Vegas for a return to Mountain West Conference action at UNLV.

Please see multi-page PDF notes at the top of this page.