AIR FORCE ACADEMY -- Near gale force winds and hot bats propelled the Air Force Academy to a 22-19 victory Saturday over BYU in baseball.

The Cougars, now 25-29 overall and 12-12 in the Mountain West Conference, now ready to take on UNLV on Tuesday in the league tournament in San Diego.

“It was a terrible day for baseball with 40 mph winds and tough conditions to pitch in, but give Air Force credit, they swung the bats well,” said BYU coach Vance Law.

After BYU took a 10-3 lead, Air Force closed the gap to 10-8 as the Cougars replaced starting pitcher Chris Howard with Justin Shutt in the fourth inning. The Falcons battled back again in the sixth, to take an18-12 lead.

Jonathan Cluff hit a shallow sun double to right field to tie the game at 18-18 in the eighth. AFA retook the lead 20-18 with a two-run homer by Addison Gentry in the eighth.

BYU at Air Force
May 22, 2010 at USAF Academy, Colo. (Falcon Field)
BYU 19 (25-29,12-12 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
RELF, Brandon ss.........  7  3  4  1   0  1  3  0   0
WELLS, Stephen cf........  7  3  4  2   0  1  3  0   2
WOLFE, Alex c............  3  1  2  2   0  1  2  1   1
 FRAMPTON, Chase ph/c....  3  0  1  1   0  1  1  0   2
CLUFF, Jonathan rf.......  6  1  3  1   0  1  2  0   0
BERNAL, Ryan 1b..........  6  2  1  1   0  3 10  1   2
McNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  5  2  2  4   1  1  1  0   1
HALL, Austin 3b..........  5  3  3  2   1  1  1  1   1
HANCOCK, Alex dh.........  5  2  2  0   0  1  0  0   0
NIELSEN, Dane 2b.........  6  2  3  2   0  0  1  4   1
HOWARD, Chris p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 SHUTT, Justin p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 McKNIGHT, David p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 SLOAN, Kevin p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 53 19 25 16   2 11 24  8  10
Air Force 22 (13-42,3-20 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
RANDHAWA 3b/ss...........  6  3  3  1   0  0  0  1   0
ROBERTS, B. 2b...........  2  3  1  1   1  0  1  1   0
GENTRY 1b................  6  4  3  3   0  0  5  1   0
CUSTONS c................  4  4  3  5   0  0 12  0   0
CARTER cf................  5  3  4  3   1  1  2  0   0
ALEXANDER lf.............  5  1  4  4   0  0  3  0   1
BAST dh..................  5  0  3  2   0  0  0  0   3
AUSBUN rf................  6  2  2  1   0  1  1  0   3
ROBERTS, M. ss/3b........  4  2  1  1   1  1  3  3   0
TRUESDALE p..............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 CARLEY p................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 43 22 24 21   3  3 27  7   7
Score by Innings                       R  H  E
----------------------------------------------
BYU................. 171 102    241 - 19 25  1
Air Force........... 301 40(10) 04X - 22 24  3
----------------------------------------------
E - BERNAL(2); GENTRY(5); ALEXANDER(4); AUSBUN(3). DP - Cougars 1; Falcons
1. LOB - Cougars 10; Falcons 7. 2B - RELF(17); WELLS(8); WOLFE(14); CLUFF
2(17); McNAUGHTON 2(17); GENTRY 2(14); ALEXANDER(14); AUSBUN(17); ROBERTS,
M.(16). 3B - CARTER(11). HR - RELF(4); HALL(4); GENTRY(13); CUSTONS(9);
CARTER(9). HBP - HANCOCK; ROBERTS, B.; CUSTONS. SH - ROBERTS, B. 2(6). SF -
CUSTONS(4); ALEXANDER(2); BAST(5). SB - RANDHAWA(12); CUSTONS(16);
CARTER(13).
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
HOWARD, Chris.......  3.1  9  8  7  1  2 19 21  52
SHUTT, Justin.......  2.1  4  4  4  1  0  9 13  28
McKNIGHT, David.....  0.0  5  6  6  1  0  5  6  15
SLOAN, Kevin........  2.1  6  4  4  0  1 10 13  40
Air Force              IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
TRUESDALE...........  6.0 19 14 12  1  5 38 39 119
CARLEY..............  3.0  6  5  5  1  6 15 17  63
Win - CARLEY (3-5).  Loss - SLOAN (9-1).  Save - None.
WP - HOWARD(2); SLOAN(4); TRUESDALE(4). HBP - by SHUTT (ROBERTS, B.); by CARLEY
(HANCOCK); by SLOAN (CUSTONS). PB - WOLFE(1); CUSTONS(9). Inherited
runners/scored: SHUTT 2/2; McKNIGHT 1/1; CARLEY 1/0. Pitches/strikes: HOWARD
52/34; SHUTT 28/16; McKNIGHT 15/7; SLOAN 40/25; TRUESDALE 119/80; CARLEY 63/40.
Umpires - HP: Scott Johnson  1B: Randy Upton  3B: Ron Barnes
Start: 12:05 pm   Time: 3:00   Attendance: 422
Weather: High 70's, extreme wind gusts
McKNIGHT faced 6 batters in the 6th.
TRUESDALE faced 3 batters in the 7th.
BYU 1st - RELF reached on a fielding error by 1b (2-1). WELLS fouled out
to lf (0-1). WOLFE doubled down the rf line, ground-rule (0-0); RELF advanced
to third. CLUFF lined out to ss (1-2). WOLFE advanced to third on a wild pitch;
RELF scored on a wild pitch, unearned. BERNAL struck out looking (3-2). 1
run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Air Force 1st - RANDHAWA singled to center field (1-2). ROBERTS, B.
grounded out to c, SAC, bunt (0-0); RANDHAWA advanced to second. GENTRY
grounded out to 1b unassisted (3-1); RANDHAWA advanced to third. CUSTONS
singled through the left side, RBI (0-0); RANDHAWA scored. CARTER homered to
right field, 2 RBI (0-0); CUSTONS scored. ALEXANDER singled to pitcher (2-1).
BAST singled to right field (0-0); ALEXANDER advanced to second. AUSBUN flied
out to rf (0-1). 3 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 2nd - McNAUGHTON walked (3-2). HALL singled to center field (2-1);
McNAUGHTON advanced to second. HANCOCK singled to pitcher (0-0); HALL advanced
to second; McNAUGHTON advanced to third. NIELSEN singled to shortstop, RBI
(1-0); HANCOCK advanced to second; HALL advanced to third; McNAUGHTON scored.
RELF popped up to 2b (0-0). WELLS singled to right field, RBI (0-0); NIELSEN
advanced to second; HANCOCK advanced to third; HALL scored. WOLFE singled to
right center, 2 RBI (0-0); WELLS advanced to third; NIELSEN scored; HANCOCK
scored. CLUFF struck out swinging (2-2). BERNAL singled through the right side,
RBI (0-0); WOLFE advanced to second; WELLS scored. McNAUGHTON doubled to center
field, 2 RBI (0-0); BERNAL scored; WOLFE scored. HALL struck out swinging
(0-2). 7 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Air Force 2nd - ROBERTS, M. struck out swinging (3-2). RANDHAWA grounded
out to 2b (1-1). ROBERTS, B. grounded out to 3b, bunt (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits,
0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 3rd - HANCOCK grounded out to 2b (2-2). NIELSEN flied out to lf
(1-0). RELF doubled to center field (1-2). WELLS reached on a fielding error by
rf, advanced to third (2-2); RELF scored, unearned. WOLFE struck out looking
(2-2). 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Air Force 3rd - GENTRY reached on a fielding error by 1b, advanced to
third (0-0). CUSTONS flied out to lf (0-0). CARTER struck out swinging (0-2).
ALEXANDER singled to right field, RBI (1-0); GENTRY scored, unearned. BAST
lined out to 3b (0-0). 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU 4th - CLUFF doubled to left center (0-0). BERNAL grounded out to ss
(0-1); CLUFF advanced to third. McNAUGHTON grounded out to ss, RBI (2-2); CLUFF
scored. HALL grounded out to 3b (2-0). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Air Force 4th - AUSBUN doubled to right center (0-0). ROBERTS, M. walked
(3-1); AUSBUN advanced to third on a passed ball. ROBERTS, M. advanced to
second on a wild pitch; AUSBUN scored on a wild pitch. RANDHAWA grounded out to
1b unassisted (2-0); ROBERTS, M. advanced to third. ROBERTS, B. singled to
center field, RBI (1-1); ROBERTS, M. scored. GENTRY doubled to right center
(0-1); ROBERTS, B. advanced to third. SHUTT to p for HOWARD. CUSTONS flied out
to rf, SF, RBI (1-1); GENTRY advanced to third; ROBERTS, B. scored. CARTER
singled through the left side, RBI (0-0); GENTRY scored. ALEXANDER singled to
right field (0-0); CARTER advanced to third. BAST reached on a fielder's choice
(0-0); ALEXANDER out at second ss unassisted. 4 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
BYU 5th - HANCOCK flied out to cf (0-1). NIELSEN flied out to lf (1-0).
RELF singled to left field (1-1). WELLS singled through the right side (1-0);
RELF advanced to second. FRAMPTON pinch hit for WOLFE. FRAMPTON struck out
swinging (3-2). 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Air Force 5th - FRAMPTON to c. AUSBUN grounded out to 2b (2-0). ROBERTS,
M. grounded out to 2b (1-0). RANDHAWA grounded out to 2b (2-1). 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 6th - CLUFF singled through the left side (0-0). BERNAL reached on a
fielder's choice (0-0); CLUFF out at second 1b to ss. McNAUGHTON doubled to
left center, RBI (0-2); BERNAL scored. HALL singled through the left side, RBI
(2-2); McNAUGHTON scored. HANCOCK singled through the left side (0-1); HALL
advanced to third. NIELSEN grounded into double play p to ss to 1b (0-2);
HANCOCK out on the play. 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Air Force 6th - ROBERTS, B. hit by pitch (1-0). GENTRY popped up to 2b
(0-0). CUSTONS singled to center field (0-0); ROBERTS, B. advanced to third.
CUSTONS stole second. CARTER walked (3-2). ALEXANDER doubled to right center, 2
RBI (1-0); CARTER advanced to third; CUSTONS scored; ROBERTS, B. scored. BAST
flied out to cf, SF, RBI (0-1); ALEXANDER advanced to third; CARTER scored.
McKNIGHT to p for SHUTT. AUSBUN singled up the middle, RBI (0-0); ALEXANDER
scored. ROBERTS, M. doubled to right center, RBI (1-0); AUSBUN scored. RANDHAWA
singled to left field, RBI (1-0); ROBERTS, M. scored. RANDHAWA stole second.
ROBERTS, B. walked (3-1). GENTRY doubled to right center, RBI (0-0); ROBERTS,
B. advanced to third; RANDHAWA scored. CUSTONS homered to right field, 3 RBI
(2-1); GENTRY scored; ROBERTS, B. scored. SLOAN to p for McKNIGHT. CARTER
tripled to left field (0-1). ALEXANDER flied out to cf (1-0). 10 runs, 8
hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 7th - RELF homered to left center, RBI (2-2). WELLS doubled to right
center (2-2). FRAMPTON singled, advanced to second on an error by lf, RBI
(0-0); WELLS scored. CARLEY to p for TRUESDALE. CLUFF fouled out to c (0-0).
BERNAL struck out looking (1-2). McNAUGHTON flied out to cf (1-0). 2 runs, 3
hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Air Force 7th - BAST singled through the left side (2-2). AUSBUN reached
on a fielder's choice, bunt (0-0); BAST out at second p to ss. ROBERTS, M. hit
into double play 1b to ss (0-0); AUSBUN out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 8th - HALL walked (3-2). HANCOCK hit by pitch (1-0); HALL advanced
to second. NIELSEN singled to center field, RBI (1-2); HANCOCK advanced to
third; HALL scored. NIELSEN advanced to second on a passed ball; HANCOCK scored
on a passed ball. RELF struck out swinging (2-2). WELLS singled to left field,
advanced to second on the throw, RBI (1-2); NIELSEN scored. FRAMPTON flied out
to rf (0-1). CLUFF doubled to right field, RBI (0-0); WELLS scored. BERNAL
struck out swinging (3-2). 4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Air Force 8th - RANDHAWA singled to center field (3-2). ROBERTS, B.
grounded out to 1b unassisted, SAC, bunt (2-0); RANDHAWA advanced to second.
GENTRY homered to right center, 2 RBI (2-1); RANDHAWA scored. CUSTONS hit by
pitch (2-2). CARTER singled to center field (0-1); CUSTONS advanced to third.
ALEXANDER flied out to cf, SF, RBI (0-0); CUSTONS scored. CARTER stole second.
BAST singled through the left side, RBI (2-1); CARTER scored. BAST advanced to
second on a wild pitch. AUSBUN struck out swinging (1-2). 4 runs, 4 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 9th - RANDHAWA to ss. ROBERTS, M. to 3b. McNAUGHTON struck out
swinging (2-2). HALL homered to left center, RBI (1-2). HANCOCK struck out
swinging (2-2). NIELSEN singled to shortstop (1-0). RELF singled to right field
(0-1); NIELSEN advanced to second. WELLS struck out swinging (3-2). 1 run, 3
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Final league games and the last home game of the season are on tap for BYU’s baseball team this week.

On Tuesday at 6 p.m., BYU, 23-27 overall, hosts Utah Valley University, 33-17, in the last game of the season at Larry H. Miller Field. Then the Cougars bus to the Air Force Academy, 12-40, for the remaining regular season games in the Mountain West Conference. BYU is 10-11 in MWC games, while the Falcons are 2-18.

Scheduled to start on the mound for BYU against UVU is senior southpaw Brandon Michon (0-2, 7.36) in the first start of his career which has 69 appearances. The probable Cougar pitchers for the games at AFA are freshmen Chris Capper (3-1, 4.37) on Thursday at 2 p.m., and lefties Mark Anderson (1-1, 6.47) and Chris Howard (1-0, 4.15) at 2 p.m. on Friday, and noon on Saturday.

BYU defeated UVU earlier this month, 14-10, in Orem. The BYU-UVU game will be televised live by BYUtv and the Cougar-Falcon games will be broadcast live on the radio, 960 AM, 92.9 FM.

For more information, please see the multi-page PDF release at the top of this page.