LAS -- Stephen Ghuztman hit three home runs for No. 20 UNLV on Saturday to beat BYU, 11-10 in a come from behind victory.

For the second day in a row one run decided the game. All season long the Cougars have been unable to come out on top of the close games, going 2-11 in one-run games.

BYU's overall record falls to 19-20, 11-10 in Mountain West Conference. UNLV improves to 35-12, 18-3.

Ghuztman kept the game close by going 3-for-3 with his three home runs and five RBI.

In the first inning, BYU's Jake Stubblefield hit a sharp grounder to first baseman Fernando Valenzuela who had to dive for the ball, allowing Ryan Chambers to score a run. The Cougars went up 2-0 as they made the Rebels pay for Peter White's error earlier in the inning.

Ghutzman got UNLV on the board with a solo home run in the third inning.

Casey Cloward extended his hit streak to 11 in the fourth inning with a double off the wall to set up the third run for BYU. Chambers made the score 4-1 with a single to score Cloward, but the Cougars were not done scoring. Kainoa Obrey came through with a two-out clutch hit to make the score 6-1.

The Cougars' defense played well behind Ken Gravley, highlighted when right fielder Chambers gunned down Eric Nielsen at third in the fourth to end any threat of UNLV forming a two-out rally.

After Gravely gave up a double to Valenzuela in the sixth, Coach Vance Law quickly called time out to turn the ball over to Curtis Rodriguez with a 7-1 lead. Nielsen hit a come backer up the middle to score Valenzuela. The Rebels' bats came alive, hitting Rodriguez for three hits, one home run and three runs. Rodriguez left the game with the lead dwindling to two runs, 7-5.

Michel Bergeron came into the game with a job of stopping the Rebels' momentum. Ryan Ruiz tied the game with a two-run home run, making it six runs on six hits in the inning for UNLV.

BYU answered in the seventh with its bats to regain the momentum and the lead off of a base clearing double by Ranger Wiens. The Cougars manufactured three hits and three runs to take a 10-7 lead.

Ghutzman hit his third home run of the game in the seventh to make the score 10-9.

In the eighth, Bergeron plunked Patrick Dobson to put him on, adding to UNLV's conference lead in hit batsmen. After giving up a single to move Dobson to third, Bergeron threw a wild pitch to the screen which tied the game at 10-10. Valenzuela crossed the plate for the go ahead run and UNLV's first lead in the game after Bergeron gave up a single.

Ryan Braun came in for the second day in a row to record, but this time instead of getting a save, he got his fourth victory, setting BYU down in order in the ninth.

Utah comes to Provo on Thursday at 7 p.m. for a three-game set at Larry H. Miller Field.

BYU at UNLV
Apr 26, 2003 at Las Vegas, NV (E. Wilson Stadium)
BYU 10 (19-20,11-10 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
JACKSON, Doug lf.........  4  2  0  1   1  0  1  0   1
CHAMBERS, Ryan rf........  4  2  1  1   1  0  1  1   0
WIENS, Ranger ss.........  4  1  3  4   1  0  2  4   0
OBREY, Kainoa 3b.........  3  0  1  2   0  1  2  1   0
 LUCAS, Blair 3b.........  1  0  0  0   0  0  2  0   0
STUBBLEFIELD, Jake 1b....  5  0  0  1   0  2  9  1   1
JACOBSEN, Brock cf.......  4  1  1  0   0  1  1  0   3
ITRI, Rob 2b.............  4  0  0  0   1  0  2  3   0
CARSON, Clayton dh.......  5  2  2  1   0  2  0  0   3
CLOWARD, Casey c.........  5  2  2  0   0  0  4  1   0
GRAVLEY, Kenneth p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 RODRIGUEZ, Curtis p.....  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BERGERON, Michel p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 DABO, Tyler p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 39 10 10 10   4  6 24 13   8
UNLV 11 (34-12,18-3 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
SHITANISHI 2b............  2  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 RUIZ ph.................  3  1  1  2   0  2  0  2   1
D'ANGELO lf..............  3  0  1  0   1  1  0  0   0
 WICKMAN, Joe ph.........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 URIEGAS cf..............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
DOBSON cf................  3  1  0  0   1  0  2  0   3
VALENZUELA 1b............  4  2  2  0   0  0 15  2   2
JOHNSON 3b...............  5  0  1  1   0  0  1  3   0
NIELSEN rf...............  3  2  1  1   1  1  1  0   0
GILL dh..................  4  1  2  0   0  0  0  0   0
GHUTZMAN c...............  3  3  3  6   1  0  5  1   0
WHITE ss.................  3  1  3  0   0  0  3  1   0
VOSE p...................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 SECCOMBE p..............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 LESKO p.................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PUPO p..................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 GUERRA p................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BRAUN p.................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 34 11 14 10   4  4 27 13   7
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
BYU................. 200 410 300 - 10 10  0
UNLV................ 001 006 22X - 11 14  4
-------------------------------------------
E - SHITANISHI; WHITE 3. DP - Cougars 1. LOB - Cougars 8; UNLV 7. 2B -
WIENS; OBREY; JACOBSEN; CARSON; CLOWARD; D'ANGELO; VALENZUELA. HR - RUIZ;
GHUTZMAN 3. HBP - OBREY; JACOBSEN; DOBSON; VALENZUELA; NIELSEN; WHITE. SB -
WIENS. CS - JOHNSON.
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
GRAVLEY, Kenneth....  5.0  6  2  2  3  1 18 22
RODRIGUEZ, Curtis...  0.1  3  3  3  0  0  4  4
BERGERON, Michel....  2.0  5  6  6  1  2 11 15
DABO, Tyler.........  0.2  0  0  0  0  1  1  1
UNLV                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
VOSE................  4.0  5  6  4  3  3 19 23
SECCOMBE............  2.0  2  1  0  0  1  9 10
LESKO...............  0.1  2  2  2  0  0  3  3
PUPO................  0.1  0  1  1  1  0  1  2
GUERRA..............  0.1  1  0  0  0  0  1  1
BRAUN...............  2.0  0  0  0  0  2  6  6
Win - BRAUN (4-1).  Loss - BERGERON (4-3).  Save - None.
WP - GRAVLEY; BERGERON; VOSE. HBP - by VOSE (JACOBSEN); by GRAVLEY (VALENZUELA);
by SECCOMBE (OBREY); by BERGERON (NIELSEN); by BERGERON (WHITE); by BERGERON
(DOBSON). PB - GHUTZMAN.
Umpires - HP: John Cortez  1B: Bill Speck  3B: Tom Hiler
Start: 2:03 pm   Time: 3:30   Attendance: 704
BYU at UNLV - Play-by-Play
Apr 26, 2003 at Las Vegas, NV (E. Wilson Stadium)
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
BYU................. 200 410 300 - 10 10  0
UNLV................ 001 006 22X - 11 14  4
-------------------------------------------
BYU starters: 13/lf JACKSON; 22/rf CHAMBERS; 8/ss WIENS; 32/3b OBREY; 33/1b
   STUBBLEFIELD; 3/cf JACOBSEN; 21/2b ITRI; 23/dh CARSON; 9/c CLOWARD; 19/p
   GRAVLEY;
UNLV starters: 10/2b SHITANISHI; 1/lf D'ANGELO; 5/cf DOBSON; 33/1b
   VALENZUELA; 45/3b JOHNSON; 36/rf NIELSEN; 46/dh GILL; 11/c GHUTZMAN; 7/ss
   WHITE; 2/p VOSE;
BYU - inning 1
   JACKSON reached on an error by ss, advanced to second. CHAMBERS walked.
   WIENS singled to right center, RBI; CHAMBERS advanced to third; JACKSON
   scored, unearned. OBREY struck out swinging. WIENS stole second.
   STUBBLEFIELD grounded out to 1b unassisted, RBI; WIENS advanced to third;
   CHAMBERS scored, unearned. JACOBSEN hit by pitch. ITRI walked; JACOBSEN
   advanced to second. CARSON struck out swinging. 2 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 3
   LOB.
UNLV - inning 1
   SHITANISHI grounded out to 2b. D'ANGELO doubled. DOBSON flied out to cf;
   D'ANGELO advanced to third. VALENZUELA out at first 1b to 2b. 0 runs, 1
   hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 2
   CLOWARD grounded out to 2b. JACKSON grounded out to 3b. CHAMBERS reached
   on an error by ss. CHAMBERS out at second p to 1b to ss, picked off. 0
   runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
UNLV - inning 2
   JOHNSON grounded out to ss. NIELSEN fouled out to 1b. GILL grounded out
   to 1b unassisted. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 3
   WIENS grounded out to 3b. OBREY grounded out to ss. STUBBLEFIELD reached
   on an error by ss. JACOBSEN struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error,
   1 LOB.
UNLV - inning 3
   GHUTZMAN homered, RBI. WHITE singled. SHITANISHI hit into double play p
   to ss to 1b; WHITE out on the play. D'ANGELO walked. DOBSON flied out to
   rf. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 4
   ITRI grounded out to 1b unassisted. CARSON doubled to right center.
   CLOWARD singled to left field; CARSON advanced to third. JACKSON grounded
   out to 1b unassisted, RBI; CLOWARD advanced to second; CARSON scored.
   CHAMBERS singled to center field, RBI; CLOWARD scored. CHAMBERS advanced
   to second on a passed ball. WIENS walked. WIENS advanced to second on a
   wild pitch; CHAMBERS advanced to third. OBREY doubled through the left
   side, 2 RBI; WIENS scored; CHAMBERS scored. STUBBLEFIELD grounded out to
   1b unassisted. 4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV - inning 4
   VALENZUELA hit by pitch. VALENZUELA advanced to second on a wild pitch.
   JOHNSON popped up to 2b. VALENZUELA out at third p to ss to 3b, picked
   off. NIELSEN walked. GILL singled to right field; NIELSEN advanced to
   second, out at third rf to 3b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 5
   SECCOMBE to p for VOSE. JACOBSEN doubled to right field. ITRI grounded
   out to p; JACOBSEN advanced to third. CARSON reached on an error by 2b,
   RBI; JACOBSEN scored, unearned. CLOWARD flied out to cf; CARSON advanced
   to second. JACKSON flied out to rf. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
UNLV - inning 5
   GHUTZMAN walked. WHITE singled, bunt; GHUTZMAN advanced to second. RUIZ
   pinch hit for SHITANISHI. RUIZ struck out looking. D'ANGELO popped up to
   ss. DOBSON grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU - inning 6
   RUIZ to 2b. CHAMBERS grounded out to 2b. WIENS doubled to right field.
   OBREY hit by pitch. STUBBLEFIELD struck out swinging. JACOBSEN flied out
   to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UNLV - inning 6
   VALENZUELA doubled to right field. RODRIGUEZ to p for GRAVLEY. JOHNSON
   grounded out to 3b. NIELSEN singled up the middle, RBI; VALENZUELA
   scored. GILL singled to center field; NIELSEN advanced to second.
   GHUTZMAN homered, 3 RBI; GILL scored; NIELSEN scored. BERGERON to p for
   RODRIGUEZ. WHITE singled to third base. RUIZ homered to right field, 2
   RBI; WHITE scored. D'ANGELO struck out swinging. DOBSON walked.
   VALENZUELA grounded out to 2b. 6 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 7
   LESKO to p for SECCOMBE. ITRI grounded out to 2b. CARSON singled to left
   field. CLOWARD doubled to left field; CARSON advanced to third. PUPO to p
   for LESKO. JACKSON intentionally walked. CHAMBERS popped up to ss. GUERRA
   to p for PUPO. WIENS singled, advanced to second, out at second 3b to 1b
   to ss, 3 RBI; JACKSON scored; CLOWARD scored; CARSON scored. 3 runs, 3
   hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV - inning 7
   LUCAS to 3b for OBREY. JOHNSON lined out to 3b. NIELSEN hit by pitch.
   GILL flied out to lf. GHUTZMAN homered to left center, 2 RBI; NIELSEN
   scored. WHITE hit by pitch. RUIZ struck out looking. 2 runs, 1 hit, 0
   errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 8
   BRAUN to p for GUERRA. LUCAS popped up to 1b. STUBBLEFIELD struck out
   swinging, out at first c to 1b. JACOBSEN popped up to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits,
   0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV - inning 8
   WICKMAN, Joe pinch hit for D'ANGELO. WICKMAN, Joe grounded out to ss.
   DOBSON hit by pitch. VALENZUELA singled through the right side; DOBSON
   advanced to third. VALENZUELA advanced to second; DOBSON scored on a wild
   pitch. JOHNSON singled up the middle, advanced to second, RBI; VALENZUELA
   scored. DABO to p for BERGERON. JOHNSON out at third c to 3b, caught
   stealing. NIELSEN struck out looking. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 9
   URIEGAS to cf for WICKMAN, Joe. DOBSON to lf. ITRI grounded out to p.
   CARSON struck out looking. CLOWARD grounded out to 1b unassisted. 0 runs,
   0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Poised for a run at the title, BYU's baseball team meets league front runner UNLV in a three-game series at Las Vegas this week.

The Cougars, now 19-17 and 11-7 in the Mountain West Conference, travel to face No. 20 UNLV, 32-11 and 15-3. Should the Cougars pull off a three game sweep at UNLV, it would still leave them a game behind the Rebels.

The Cougars swept the Rebels in three games last year at Las Vegas to begin conference play. UNLV has a five-game winning streak since losing once at Utah earlier this month.

Final exams began last Friday at BYU, which has affected practices. With BYU's graduation and convocation on Thursday and Friday, BYU pitcher Jason Garcia will matriculate in sociology and consequently will miss the Cougars' series in Las Vegas.

The probable pitching rotation remains the same as in recent weeks for the Cougars. Juniors Jeff Mousser (4-4, 4.96) and Paul Jacinto (6-4, 4.22) get the assignment on the mound for Thursday and Friday's games, respectively. Those contests begin at 6:30 p.m., PDT. On Saturday, freshman southpaw Ken Gravley (3-1, 4.62) will take the hill at 2 p.m., PDT.

When the two teams last met in Provo a month ago, UNLV won the first and last games of the series. The opening game was a 6-5 decision, now one of the 11 one-run contests for the Cougars who have claimed two victories in those close tilts. Only Jacinto was victorious against the Rebels as he remains undefeated in league games at 6-0.

This is BYU's next-to-last road trip of the regular season, as the Cougars will host eight games in a row, then travel to Air Force before the MWC Tournament at Albuquerque, N.M. The BYU-UNLV games will be broadcast live locally over KOVO Radio 960 AM, the later two of which will also be audiocast. All of the UNLV games will be on the Internet audiocast through its station.