PROVO -- Cameron Coughlan and three big innings did it for BYU, setting up an 18-3 Cougar victory over the Air Force Academy in Wednesday's Mountain West Conference Baseball Championship nightcap.

"We came out with good intensity tonight and we played hard," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "We had some key defensive plays."

Coughlan went 4-for-6 with a triple, a double, two singles, four runs scored and two RBI for BYU, helping the Cougars score in all but two innings. Coughlan crossed the plate first, hitting his fifth triple of the season to set up an RBI by Dave Jensen. Jensen went 3-for-5 on the night with three runs scored and three RBI.

"I have just felt really good at the plate the last little while," Coughlan said. "I didn't do as well against Utah a few weeks ago, so I wanted finish off strong."

Air Force gained its only lead of the game in the third inning. Don Rolleg hit his first career home run, bringing in Nelson Prouty who doubled to lead off the inning. Rolleg scored again in the fifth inning on a single by Steve Winters. Rolleg went 3-for-3 on the night with two runs scored and two RBI.

Down 2-to-1 in the bottom of the third, BYU scored eleven runs in the next three innings. The Cougars had 18 runs on 20 hits in front of 1,177 fans at Larry H. Miller Field.

"Hitting was a surprise," Law said. "(Air Force pitcher Matt) Kaercher has been real tough all year. I was really surprised we were able to get so many hits off him."

"Kaercher didn't have it tonight," said Air Force Coach Reed Peters. "He may be worn down."

Jeff Mousser recorded the win for BYU, giving up three runs on seven hits in six innings. Matt Ward finished the game to record his first save of the season, giving up no runs on two hits.

"It has taken us a long time to mesh this year," Law said. "But it seems we are really coming together here at the end."

BYU will play again at 7 p.m. on Thursday against No. 5 seed UNLV. The game between the Cougars and the Rebels can be heard in Provo on KOVO 960 AM, in Las Vegas on KSHP 1400 AM Audiocast. or via webcast at Game Six.

"UNLV is a good team," Law said of tomorrow's game. "They play with a lot of intensity and a never-give-up attitude."

Air Force Falcons at Brigham Young Univ.
               May 22, 2002 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Air Force Falcons 3 (27-27)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
HOWES, Adam 1b...........  2  0  1  0   2  0  5  1   0
 FITZGERALD, Ryan ph.....  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
WINTERS, Steve 2b........  4  0  1  1   0  0  1  2   0
 WALTER, Colton 2b.......  1  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
PHIFER, Josh rf..........  4  0  0  0   0  1  5  0   3
 LIEGL, Nick cf..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
 MEARS, Scott ph.........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   1
KASEL, Derck dh..........  4  0  1  0   0  1  0  0   0
FROST, Bowie 3b..........  3  0  1  0   1  0  0  0   0
GORNICK, Brian lf........  3  0  1  0   1  0  0  0   1
PROUTY, Nelson ss........  3  1  1  0   0  1  3  1   0
PETRO, Daniel c..........  2  0  0  0   0  0  3  1   2
 PARAMORE, Price ph......  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   2
 HART, Adam c............  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
ROLLEG, Don cf...........  3  2  3  2   0  0  3  0   0
 SHOCKLEY, Tony rf.......  1  0  0  0   0  1  1  0   0
KAERCHER, Matt p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
 STUBBENDORFF, Jesper p..  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 WERNER, Matt p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 33  3 10  3   4  6 24  5   9
Brigham Young Univ. 18 (25-28-1)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
JACKSON, Doug cf.........  5  2  2  3   1  0  3  0   0
COUGHLAN, Cameron 2b.....  6  4  4  2   0  1  3  3   2
JENSEN, Dave 1b..........  5  3  3  3   1  0  9  0   0
CARSON, Matt rf..........  4  1  1  3   1  0  1  0   0
ITRI, Rob 3b.............  5  1  2  3   0  0  1  2   1
WIENS, Ranger ss.........  5  2  2  1   0  1  4  4   2
STUBBLEFIELD, Jake dh....  4  0  1  1   0  0  0  0   2
 BILLS, Kevin ph.........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
BIRKELAND, Lars c........  4  2  2  0   0  0  4  2   2
 WEINGARTEN, Mike ph/c...  1  1  1  0   0  0  2  0   0
CHAMBERS, Ryan lf........  4  1  2  1   0  1  0  0   0
 YI, Han lf..............  0  1  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
MOUSSER, Jeff p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 WARD, Matt p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 44 18 20 17   4  4 27 12   9
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Air Force Falcons... 002 010 000 -  3 10  3
Brigham Young Univ.. 104 521 05X - 18 20  1
-------------------------------------------
E - FROST; PROUTY 2; COUGHLAN. DP - BYU Cougars 1. LOB - AF 9; BYU Cougars
9. 2B - WALTER; PROUTY; COUGHLAN; CHAMBERS. 3B - COUGHLAN. HR - ROLLEG(1).
HBP - PROUTY; WIENS. SH - PETRO. SF - CARSON M.; ITRI. SB - COUGHLAN. CS -
BIRKELAND.
Air Force Falcons      IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
KAERCHER, Matt......  3.1  8  9  5  1  3 19 21
STUBBENDORFF, Jesper  4.0 11  9  8  2  1 23 26
WERNER, Matt........  0.2  1  0  0  1  0  2  4
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
MOUSSER, Jeff.......  6.0  7  3  3  2  1 22 26
WARD, Matt..........  3.0  3  0  0  2  5 11 13
Win - MOUSSER (9-4).  Loss - KAERCHER (7-10).  Save - WARD (1).
HBP - by KAERCHER (WIENS); by MOUSSER (PROUTY).
Umpires - HP: Kelly Gonzalez  1B: Billy Jo Speck  2B: Joe Burleson  3B: Blake
Jensen  Start: 7:38   Time: 2:40   Attendance: 1177
Game notes:
Game 3 of 3...BYU vs.  UNLV on Thursday at 7 p.m.,  AFA  plays at
3 p.m. on Thursday vs. Utah.  Scores from today:  SDS beat UNM, 8-2; and
UNLV beat Utah 13-9;
Game: MWC3
Play-by-Play 
                            The Automated ScoreBook
            Air Force Falcons at Brigham Young Univ. - Play-by-Play
               May 22, 2002 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Air Force Falcons... 002 010 000 -  3 10  3
Brigham Young Univ.. 104 521 05X - 18 20  1
-------------------------------------------
Air Force Falcons starters: 2/1b HOWES; 20/2b WINTERS; 4/rf PHIFER; 39/dh
   KASEL, Derck; 27/3b FROST; 17/lf GORNICK; 16/ss PROUTY; 18/c PETRO; 32/cf
   ROLLEG; 25/p KAERCHER;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 13/cf JACKSON; 11/2b COUGHLAN; 17/1b JENSEN;
   28/rf CARSON M.; 21/3b ITRI; 8/ss WIENS; 33/dh STUBBLEFIELD; 12/c
   BIRKELAND; 27/lf CHAMBERS; 35/p MOUSSER;
Air Force Falcons - inning 1
   HOWES singled to left field. HOWES out at second c to ss. WINTERS reached
   on a throwing error by 2b, out at second 2b to c to ss. PHIFER struck out
   swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 1
   JACKSON grounded out to 2b. COUGHLAN tripled to right field. JENSEN
   grounded out to ss, RBI; COUGHLAN scored. CARSON M. popped up to ss. 1
   run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Air Force Falcons - inning 2
   KASEL, Derck grounded out to ss. FROST popped up to 2b. GORNICK grounded
   out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 2
   ITRI out at first 1b to p. WIENS struck out swinging. STUBBLEFIELD popped
   up to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Air Force Falcons - inning 3
   PROUTY doubled to center field. PETRO grounded out to p, SAC, bunt;
   PROUTY advanced to third. ROLLEG homered to right field, 2 RBI; PROUTY
   scored. HOWES grounded out to 3b. WINTERS grounded out to 1b unassisted.
   2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 3
   BIRKELAND singled up the middle. CHAMBERS struck out looking. JACKSON
   flied out to rf. BIRKELAND advanced to second on a fielding error by ss,
   caught stealing, assist by c. COUGHLAN singled to left field, RBI;
   BIRKELAND scored, unearned. JENSEN singled up the middle; COUGHLAN
   advanced to third. CARSON M. reached on a fielding error by 3b, advanced
   to second; JENSEN advanced to third; COUGHLAN scored, unearned. ITRI
   singled through the left side, 2 RBI; CARSON M. scored, unearned; JENSEN
   scored, unearned. WIENS hit by pitch; ITRI advanced to second.
   STUBBLEFIELD flied out to rf. 4 runs, 4 hits, 2 errors, 2 LOB.
Air Force Falcons - inning 4
   PHIFER lined out to 3b. KASEL, Derck singled to right field. FROST flied
   out to cf. GORNICK popped up to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 4
   BIRKELAND singled to right field. CHAMBERS doubled to right center, RBI;
   BIRKELAND scored. JACKSON walked. COUGHLAN struck out looking. JENSEN
   singled up the middle, RBI; JACKSON advanced to third; CHAMBERS scored.
   STUBBENDORFF to p for KAERCHER. CARSON M. flied out to rf, SF, RBI;
   JACKSON scored. ITRI singled through the right side; JENSEN advanced to
   third. WIENS singled to right field, RBI; ITRI advanced to second; JENSEN
   scored. STUBBLEFIELD singled through the right side, RBI; WIENS advanced
   to third; ITRI scored. BIRKELAND popped up to ss. 5 runs, 6 hits, 0
   errors, 2 LOB.
Air Force Falcons - inning 5
   PROUTY flied out to rf. PETRO flied out to cf. ROLLEG singled to left
   field. HOWES walked; ROLLEG advanced to second. WINTERS singled to left
   field, RBI; HOWES advanced to second; ROLLEG scored. PHIFER reached on a
   fielder's choice; WINTERS out at second ss to 2b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0
   errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 5
   CHAMBERS flied out to cf. JACKSON grounded out to 1b unassisted. COUGHLAN
   singled to shortstop. JENSEN walked; COUGHLAN advanced to second. JENSEN
   advanced to second; COUGHLAN stole third. CARSON M. singled up the
   middle, 2 RBI; JENSEN scored; COUGHLAN scored. ITRI grounded out to 2b. 2
   runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Air Force Falcons - inning 6
   KASEL, Derck grounded out to 1b unassisted. FROST walked. GORNICK singled
   up the middle; FROST advanced to second. PROUTY hit by pitch; GORNICK
   advanced to second; FROST advanced to third. PETRO grounded into double
   play 2b to ss to 1b; PROUTY out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2
   LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 6
   WIENS reached on a fielding error by ss. STUBBLEFIELD flied out to rf.
   BIRKELAND flied out to cf. CHAMBERS singled to left center; WIENS
   advanced to third. JACKSON singled to left field, RBI; CHAMBERS advanced
   to second; WIENS scored, unearned. COUGHLAN reached on a fielder's
   choice; JACKSON out at second ss unassisted. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2
   LOB.
Air Force Falcons - inning 7
   YI to lf for CHAMBERS. WARD to p for MOUSSER. ROLLEG singled to left
   field. HOWES walked; ROLLEG advanced to second. WINTERS grounded out to
   2b; HOWES out at second 2b unassisted; ROLLEG advanced to third. PHIFER
   flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 7
   JENSEN flied out to rf. CARSON M. flied out to cf. ITRI grounded out to
   1b unassisted. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Air Force Falcons - inning 8
   KASEL, Derck struck out looking. FROST singled to left field. GORNICK
   walked; FROST advanced to second. PROUTY struck out swinging. PARAMORE
   pinch hit for PETRO. PARAMORE struck out looking. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
   errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 8
   LIEGL to cf for PHIFER. HART to c for PARAMORE. SHOCKLEY to rf for
   ROLLEG. WIENS singled to center field. BILLS pinch hit for STUBBLEFIELD.
   BILLS struck out swinging. WEINGARTEN pinch hit for BIRKELAND. WEINGARTEN
   singled to right field; WIENS advanced to second. YI walked; WEINGARTEN
   advanced to second; WIENS advanced to third. JACKSON singled to right
   field, 2 RBI; YI advanced to second; WEINGARTEN scored; WIENS scored.
   COUGHLAN doubled to left center, RBI; JACKSON advanced to third; YI
   scored. WERNER to p for STUBBENDORFF. JENSEN singled to right field, RBI;
   COUGHLAN advanced to third; JACKSON scored. CARSON M. walked; JENSEN
   advanced to second. ITRI flied out to cf, SF, RBI; COUGHLAN scored. WIENS
   flied out to rf. 5 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Air Force Falcons - inning 9
   WEINGARTEN to c. SHOCKLEY struck out swinging. FITZGERALD pinch hit for
   HOWES. FITZGERALD grounded out to ss. WALTER to 2b for WINTERS. WALTER
   doubled to left field. MEARS pinch hit for LIEGL. MEARS struck out
   swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

There will be a third game for BYU against the Air Force Academy in Provo, but this time it will be in the opening round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Third-seeded BYU, 24-28-1 overall and 15-14 in the MWC, hosts the third annual MWC Tournament at Larry H. Miller Field. First up for the Cougars in the double-elimination tourney is No. 4 seeded Air Force, 7-26 overall and 14-15, whom BYU did not get to play for a third time last month because of travel constraints. On Thursday, the Cougars will play at either 3 p.m. (if they lose Wednesday) against San Diego State or New Mexico or again at 7 p.m. (if they win on Wednesday) against either Utah or UNLV.

"Our record doesn't show the kind of ball club we have," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "I've got confidence that all of our pitchers can get people out."

Should the Cougars win four straight games and claim the MWC automatic berth to the NCAA tournament it would be the first time all season that BYU has posted a .500 record. BYU is the defending MWC Tourney champion and returned to bettering its opponents in MWC games with a .349 average compared to .347 and an ERA of 7.06 compared to 7.08 for the opposition.

In all games, BYU is batting .317 compared to .323 for its opponents and has a 6.85 ERA. First baseman Dave Jensen is the Cougar batting leader with a .394 average from 85 hits, including 26 doubles and 10 homers.

Law tabbed his ace pitcher Jeff Mousser (8-4, 5.09) to start against the Falcons, but hasn't named a starter for the rest of the tournament.

The Cougars split with AFA in Provo at the end of last month, but heavy rains delayed the start of a scheduled third game. The Falcons had a flight to catch that Saturday evening, so league rules did not allow for a make up. BYU has a 3-2 record against AFA this season.

The BYU-AFA game will be broadcast live locally by KOVO Radio (960 AM), but the AFA radio broadcast can be heard on the Internet or read live via webcast at Game Three of the MWC Tourney. All games of the MWC Tournament will be on the Internet via webcasts and games involving AFA, San Diego State and UNLV will be audiocast on the Internet.

Top-seeded San Diego State meets New Mexico at to start the tourney at 11 a.m. Game two of the tourney is Utah versus UNLV at 3 p.m.

Tickets for the MWC Tourney are $75 for a VIP pass, $25 for an All Session Pass, $15 for an student or senior citizen All-Session pass, $12 for an All-Day Pass, $8 for an all-day student/senior citizen pass, $8 for a single game or $5 for a single game for students or senior citizens. There is the possibility of 11 games in the tournament and at least 10 games as it runs its course through Saturday.

Buy your tickets at byutickets.com