ALBUQUERQUE -- Paul Jacinto and Brock Jacobsen led BYU to a 7-6 victory Wednesday over host New Mexico in the opening round of the Mountain West Conference Baseball Tournament.

The junior tandem came through in the clutch. Jacinto, who was named MWC Pitcher of the Year, improved to 10-5 in throwing a career-high 140 pitches. Jacobsen delivered the towering two-run homer to break a five-all deadlock in the seventh inning.

"This was a real nail-biter," said BYU Coach Vance Law, whose team won its fifth of 16 one-run games this season. "You can never count New Mexico out. I was pleased with the way Jacinto battled and Jacobsen had an outstanding game offensively."

BYU, now 29-22, advances to play San Diego State, 27-30, in Thursday's marquee matchup at 7 p.m. That game will be televised live by CSTV DirecTV 610 nationwide with Barry Tompkins calling the play-by-play.

The Cougars will likely throw Jeff Mousser (5-6) against the Aztecs, with Jacinto now spent. Jacinto hung on through three batters in the ninth inning and through a number of tough situations. Jacobsen delivered an RBI triple in the first, an RBI single in the third and his two-run blast in the seventh along with some key catches at centerfield. The two-some received plenty of support from their teammates to down the fourth-seeded Lobos.

Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico threw out the first pitch before a crowd of 1,051 gathered to witness UNM play its second game ever at the AAA Isotopes Field.

Joe Salas singled past a diving Jake Stubblefield at first base to score leadoff batter Matt Young to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Young beat Ryan Chambers' throw home.

BYU tied the score in its first at bat when Doug Jackson scored after a lead-off single and stealing second base. Ranger Wiens grounded out to shortstop with one out, but it was deep enough to drive in Jackson. Kainoa Obrey took James Vermilyea to a full count and then belted a two-out, 405-foot homer to left center. Jake Stubblefield survived off a bad throw from third base and scored off Jacobsen's lengthy triple to right center, making the score 3-1.

Jacobsen recorded the first out of the Lobo second when he went back on the warning track in front of the inclined architectural design of Isotopes Field and caught Cory Lizarraga's long fly ball. Wiens turned an unassisted double play to end the second inning and helped Jacinto retire the Lobos in order.

Jacinto put UNM down in order again in the third.

Jacobsen continued to be a thorn in Vermilyea's side when he hit a two-out single to score Stubblefield who doubled on the preceding play in the third inning.

In the top of the fourth, Rob Itri hustled to short center to field a high pop-up, then recorded out number two with another pop-fly.

Another two-out run was scored by the Cougars when Jackson singled to right, stole second again and crossed home off Wiens' single to left.

The Lobos closed the gap in the top of the fifth to 5-2 when Ryan Barba singled to deep left, advanced on a walk after Jacinto threw four straight balls and scored on Dusty Young's 99th hit of the season. Jacinto showed his mettle when he got Chris Alexander to strike out swinging on a full count with two runners aboard.

Wiens was denied a double play to close the sixth when it was ruled he dropped Lizarraga's line drive, but Jacinto coaxed A.J. Spitaleri into a ground out as he fielded the ball while coming off the mound.

Vermilyea got his first one-two-three inning in the sixth after three consecutive frames when BYU registered hits with two outs.

The Lobos tied the score in the seventh when they got three consecutive singles to load the bases. Jacinto got Josh Mader to pop up to short for the first out, then walked Alexander to bring in the first of three runs. Salas singled in a run, then Sean Murray hit a controversial infield fly that fell untouched between Wiens and Obrey. The seventh finally ended when Lizarraga flied out to Jacobsen.

Jacobsen continued haunting Vermilyea with another two-out assault by pounding a first-pitch, over 435-foot homer in the seventh to centerfield to bring in Obrey who had earlier singled, making the score 7-5.

Jacinto hit lead-off batter Spitaleri, but benefited from BYU's second double play of the game when Barba grounded into the 6-4-3 combo of Wiens-Wade Vest-Stubblefield. Vest had entered the game earlier in the inning as a pinch runner.

Vermilyea was removed from the game in the eighth after 123 pitches and Jackson's lead-off single. Salas, the designated hitter, took the Lobo mound and got Chambers to lineout to short as Jackson was running to complete the double play.

Dusty Young got a lead-off single and scored off Alexander's double, the only extra base hit on the night for the Lobos, making the score 7-6. Then Law brought in lefty Ken Gravley to purposely face Salas. Gravley, normally a game three starter in series play, threw just three pitches and struck out Salas looking. Law then brought in Tyler Dabo, who recorded his first save of the season in getting pinch-hitter Josh Jezek to ground out to Wiens.

New Mexico Lobos at Brigham Young Univ
May 21, 2003 at Albuquerque, N.M. (Isotopes Park)
New Mexico Lobos 6 (34-25)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
YOUNG, Matt lf...........  3  2  1  0   2  1  1  0   0
YOUNG, Dusty ss..........  5  2  3  1   0  0  2  5   0
MADER, Josh 3b...........  5  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
ALEXANDER, C 1b..........  3  0  2  2   2  1  9  0   2
 SVETLIC, M pr...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
SALAS, Joe dh/p..........  5  0  2  2   0  2  0  0   0
MURRAY, Sean rf..........  3  0  0  1   0  0  1  0   2
 JEZEK, Josh ph..........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   1
LIZARRAGA, C cf..........  4  0  0  0   0  1  3  0   3
SPITALERI, A c...........  3  0  1  0   0  1  8  0   1
BARBA, Ryan 2b...........  4  2  2  0   0  0  0  2   0
VERMILYEA, J p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 36  6 11  6   4  7 24  7   9
Brigham Young Univ 7 (29-22)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
JACKSON, Doug lf.........  5  2  3  0   0  0  1  0   0
CHAMBERS, Ryan rf........  4  0  0  0   1  0  2  0   1
WIENS, Ranger ss.........  5  0  1  2   0  2  3  4   0
OBREY, Kainoa 3b.........  5  2  2  1   0  0  0  2   2
STUBBLEFIELD, Jake 1b....  5  2  1  0   0  1  7  0   2
JACOBSEN, Brock cf.......  4  1  3  4   0  1  3  0   0
ITRI, Rob 2b.............  3  0  1  0   1  1  3  1   2
 VEST, Wade pr/2b........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
CARSON, Clayton dh.......  4  0  1  0   0  1  0  0   1
CLOWARD, Casey c.........  4  0  1  0   0  2  7  0   2
JACINTO, Paul p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 GRAVLEY, Kenneth p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 DABO, Tyler p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 39  7 13  7   2  8 27  9  10
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico Lobos.... 100 010 301 -  6 11  5
Brigham Young Univ.. 301 100 20X -  7 13  0
-------------------------------------------
E - YOUNG, Matt; MADER, Josh 3; VERMILYEA, J. DP - UNM 1; BYU Cougars 2. LOB
- UNM 9; BYU Cougars 10. 2B - ALEXANDER, C; STUBBLEFIELD; ITRI. 3B -
JACOBSEN. HR - OBREY(11); JACOBSEN(10). HBP - MURRAY, Sean; SPITALERI, A. SB
- JACKSON; JACOBSEN.
New Mexico Lobos       IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
VERMILYEA, J........  7.0 13  7  5  2  7 35 37
SALAS, Joe..........  1.0  0  0  0  0  1  4  4
Brigham Young Univ     IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
JACINTO, Paul.......  8.1 11  6  6  4  6 34 40
GRAVLEY, Kenneth....  0.1  0  0  0  0  1  1  1
DABO, Tyler.........  0.1  0  0  0  0  0  1  1
Win - JACINTO (10-5).  Loss - VERMILYEA, J (7-3).  Save - DABO (1).
HBP - by JACINTO (MURRAY, Sean); by JACINTO (SPITALERI, A).
Umpires - HP: Billy Jo Speck  1B: Jim Paronto  2B: Jeff Jenkins  3B: Kevin
Daugherty  Start: 7:16 pm   Time: 2:54   Attendance: 1051
Game notes:
Game 3 of the Mountain West Tournament
Winner plays SDSU Thursday@ 7 p.m., loser plays UNLV @ 3 p.m.
VERMILYEA, J faced 1 batter in the 8th.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Mexico Lobos at Brigham Young Univ - Play-by-Play
May 21, 2003 at Albuquerque, N.M. (Isotopes Park)
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico Lobos.... 100 010 301 -  6 11  5
Brigham Young Univ.. 301 100 20X -  7 13  0
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico Lobos starters: 5/lf YOUNG, Matt; 8/ss YOUNG, Dusty; 4/3b MADER,
   Josh; 29/1b ALEXANDER, C; 10/dh SALAS, Joe; 17/rf MURRAY, Sean; 21/cf
   LIZARRAGA, C; 14/c SPITALERI, A; 6/2b BARBA, Ryan; 2/p VERMILYEA, J;
Brigham Young Univ 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; 15/p JACINTO;
New Mexico Lobos - inning 1
   YOUNG, Matt walked. YOUNG, Dusty flied out to cf. MADER, Josh grounded
   out to 2b; YOUNG, Matt advanced to second. ALEXANDER, C walked. SALAS,
   Joe singled to right field, RBI; ALEXANDER, C advanced to third; YOUNG,
   Matt scored. MURRAY, Sean grounded out to 3b. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2
   LOB.
Brigham Young Univ - inning 1
   JACKSON singled to right field. JACKSON stole second. CHAMBERS grounded
   out to 1b unassisted; JACKSON advanced to third. WIENS grounded out to
   ss, RBI; JACKSON scored. OBREY homered to left center, RBI. STUBBLEFIELD
   reached on a throwing error by 3b. JACOBSEN tripled to right center, RBI;
   STUBBLEFIELD scored, unearned. ITRI struck out swinging. 3 runs, 3 hits,
   1 error, 1 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos - inning 2
   LIZARRAGA, C flied out to cf. SPITALERI, A singled down the rf line.
   BARBA, Ryan grounded into double play ss to 1b; SPITALERI, A out on the
   play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ - inning 2
   CARSON lined out to 1b. CLOWARD singled to third base. JACKSON flied out
   to lf. CHAMBERS grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos - inning 3
   YOUNG, Matt struck out looking. YOUNG, Dusty grounded out to 3b. MADER,
   Josh flied out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ - inning 3
   WIENS struck out looking. OBREY grounded out to ss. STUBBLEFIELD doubled
   to right center. JACOBSEN singled to right field, RBI; STUBBLEFIELD
   scored. JACOBSEN stole second. ITRI grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0
   errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos - inning 4
   ALEXANDER, C singled down the lf line. SALAS, Joe popped up to 2b.
   MURRAY, Sean popped up to 2b. LIZARRAGA, C struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1
   hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ - inning 4
   CARSON struck out swinging. CLOWARD struck out looking. JACKSON singled
   to right field. JACKSON advanced to second on a throwing error by p.
   CHAMBERS walked. WIENS singled through the left side, RBI; CHAMBERS
   advanced to second; JACKSON scored, unearned. OBREY grounded out to ss. 1
   run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos - inning 5
   SPITALERI, A struck out swinging. BARBA, Ryan singled to left field.
   YOUNG, Matt walked; BARBA, Ryan advanced to second. YOUNG, Dusty singled
   to center field, RBI; YOUNG, Matt advanced to second; BARBA, Ryan scored.
   MADER, Josh flied out to rf. ALEXANDER, C struck out swinging. 1 run, 2
   hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ - inning 5
   STUBBLEFIELD flied out to cf. JACOBSEN struck out looking. ITRI doubled
   to center field. CARSON flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos - inning 6
   SALAS, Joe struck out swinging. MURRAY, Sean hit by pitch. LIZARRAGA, C
   reached on a fielder's choice; MURRAY, Sean out at second ss to 2b.
   SPITALERI, A grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ - inning 6
   CLOWARD struck out swinging. JACKSON popped up to ss. CHAMBERS flied out
   to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos - inning 7
   BARBA, Ryan singled to right field. YOUNG, Matt singled to left field;
   BARBA, Ryan advanced to second. YOUNG, Dusty singled to right field;
   YOUNG, Matt advanced to second; BARBA, Ryan advanced to third. MADER,
   Josh popped up to ss. ALEXANDER, C walked, RBI; YOUNG, Dusty advanced to
   second; YOUNG, Matt advanced to third; BARBA, Ryan scored. SALAS, Joe
   singled to left field, RBI; ALEXANDER, C advanced to second; YOUNG, Dusty
   advanced to third; YOUNG, Matt scored. MURRAY, Sean grounded out to ss
   unassisted, RBI; SALAS, Joe advanced to second; ALEXANDER, C advanced to
   third; YOUNG, Dusty scored. LIZARRAGA, C flied out to cf. 3 runs, 4 hits,
   0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ - inning 7
   WIENS struck out swinging. OBREY singled, advanced to second on a
   fielding error by lf. STUBBLEFIELD flied out to rf; OBREY advanced to
   third. JACOBSEN homered to center field, 2 RBI; OBREY scored. ITRI
   walked. CARSON singled to center field; ITRI advanced to second. VEST
   pinch ran for ITRI. CLOWARD grounded out to ss. 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error,
   2 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos - inning 8
   VEST to 2b. SPITALERI, A hit by pitch. BARBA, Ryan grounded into double
   play ss to 2b to 1b; SPITALERI, A out on the play. YOUNG, Matt flied out
   to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ - inning 8
   JACKSON singled up the middle. SALAS, Joe to p. /  for VERMILYEA, J.
   CHAMBERS lined into double play ss to 1b; JACKSON out on the play. WIENS
   reached on a throwing error by 3b. OBREY reached on a fielding error by
   3b; WIENS advanced to third. STUBBLEFIELD struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1
   hit, 2 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos - inning 9
   YOUNG, Dusty singled to left field. MADER, Josh struck out swinging.
   ALEXANDER, C doubled to left center, RBI; YOUNG, Dusty scored. GRAVLEY to
   p for JACINTO. SVETLIC, M pinch ran for ALEXANDER, C. SALAS, Joe struck
   out looking. DABO to p for GRAVLEY. JEZEK, Josh pinch hit for MURRAY,
   Sean. JEZEK, Josh grounded out to ss. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Third-seeded BYU plays No. 4 seed New Mexico in the final game of Wednesday's opening round in the Mountain West Conference Baseball Tournament at Albuquerque, N.M.

The defending champion Cougars, 28-22 overall and 18-12 to tie for second in the MWC, faces host UNM, 34-24 and 17-13. If BYU beats the Lobos, it will face the winner of No. 2 seed San Diego State/No. 5 seed Utah on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. If the Cougars lose in the opening round to UNM, it will play the winner of the UNLV/Air Force game on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Righthanded junior Paul Jacinto (9-5, 3.96) gets the nod to start as BYU's pitcher in a probable matchup against UNM's James Vermilyea (7-3, 4.07). Jacinto has typically been BYU's second-game starter in the three-game series format through the league's regular season. The Cougar junior set an MWC record for conference games with a .222 opposing batting average.

"New Mexico is a big challenge for us as they have had a very good year," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "Vermilyea (James) is one of the top pitchers in the area and we have our work cut out for us against him. We have to continue to swing the bats well."

The double elimination tournament concludes with the championship on Saturday. The BYU games will be broadcast live on KOVO Radio 960 AM and with live audiocasts and livestats through links on www.byucougars.com.

The MWC and College Sports Television (www.cstv.com), the first 24-hour college sports network, reached an agreement to televise live selected games of the 2003 MWC Baseball Championship. Two second-round conference tournament games will be televised live on CSTV on Thursday, May 22 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (MST). A recap of that day's 11 a.m. (MST) game, with highlights, will air on CSTV from 2:30-3 p.m. (MST). CSTV is currently available to a national audience via DirecTV on channel 610.