BERKELEY -- A four-run California seventh inning broke open a 2-1 game as the Bears beat BYU 11-1 in Berkeley on Thursday.

The Bears struck first in the second inning. After first baseman James Holder led off the inning with a double to the left side, Brennan Boesch hit a two-run home run over the left field fence.

Left fielder Kory Knell gained a Cougar run in the third after being hit by a pitch and advanced home on a sacrifice fly by Tim Law with the bases loaded. BYU ended the third after loading the bases for the second time in the inning.

The score remained 2-1 into the bottom of the seventh inning when the Bears broke the game wide open with four runs off three doubles. Left fielder Boesch, who went 3-for-3 in the game with four RBI, led off the inning with a walk. He would later score on a RBI double by David Weiner.

With two outs, an error by BYU third baseman Rob Itri off a hit ball from Brian Horwitz kept the inning alive for Cal. Weiner scored on the play, and the Bears went on to hit two consecutive doubles to finish the inning leading 6-1.

Cal continued to increase its lead in the eighth inning, adding five more runs. Boesch hit his second two-run home run of the game. Weiner followed with a two-run home run of his own. A solo shot to left field by Horwitz gave the Bears an 11-1 lead.

Cal's starting pitcher Matt Brown picked up his first win of the season. He allowed one run on five hits while striking out one Cougar in six innings. Mike Padgett earned the save for the Bears, holding BYU scoreless in three innings of work.

Starting pitcher Paul Jacinto received the loss but pitched well for the Cougars, allowing three earned runs in six and two-thirds innings. He finished the game with four strikeouts.

The same two teams match up again on Friday at 1:30 p.m. (PST) and Saturday's finale at noon (PST). The games can be followed live on Gametracker. A link to this webcast can be found at www.byucougars.com.

Brigham Young University 2004 Season
                   Brigham Young Univ. at Univ. of California
              Jan 29, 2004 at Berkeley, California (Evans Diamond)
Brigham Young Univ. 1 (0-1)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
CHAMBERS, Ryan cf........  3  0  1  0   1  1  2  0   0
LAW, Tim 1b..............  3  0  1  1   0  0  7  1   0
WIENS, Ranger dh.........  2  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BILLS, Kevin ph.........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
SAYLOR, Ben rf...........  3  0  1  0   0  0  3  0   3
 WILKES, Adam ph.........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
ITRI, Rob 3b.............  3  0  0  0   0  0  0  3   1
 HIESTAND, Jeff ph.......  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
TAYLOR, Brandon ss.......  4  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   1
KNELL, Kory lf...........  2  1  0  0   0  1  1  0   0
CLOWARD, Casey c.........  3  0  1  0   0  1  8  0   0
LUCAS, Blair 2b..........  3  0  0  0   0  1  3  2   0
JACINTO, Paul p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 SU'A, Justin p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HEID, Tyler p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BARRETT, Joshua p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 29  1  5  1   1  5 24  8   5
Univ. of California 11 (1-0)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
NICHOLSON, David 2b......  5  1  2  0   0  0  1  2   0
WEINER, David cf.........  4  2  2  3   0  0  2  0   0
HORWITZ, Brian rf........  5  2  1  1   0  1  5  0   0
GROSSMAN, Chris c........  4  1  1  1   0  0  4  0   2
 EINSPAHR, Matt ph/c.....  1  0  0  0   0  1  1  0   0
HOLDER, James 1b.........  4  1  2  1   0  0  8  0   0
 ERRECART, Chris ph/1b...  1  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
KARNOFSKY, Jordan dh.....  5  0  2  0   0  3  0  0   2
CRAIG, Allen 3b..........  3  1  0  0   1  1  1  0   1
BOESCH, Brennan lf.......  3  3  3  4   1  0  3  0   0
DRAGICEVICH, Jeff ss.....  3  0  0  0   0  2  2  3   2
BROWN, Matt p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 PADGETT, Mike p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 38 11 14 10   2  8 27  7   7
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ.. 001 000 000 -  1  5  2
Univ. of California. 020 000 45X - 11 14  1
-------------------------------------------
E - ITRI 2; WEINER. DP - Cal Bears 2. LOB - BYU Cougars 5; Cal Bears 7. 2B -
WEINER; GROSSMAN; HOLDER 2; ERRECART; KARNOFSKY. HR - WEINER(1); HORWITZ(1);
BOESCH 2(2). HBP - WIENS; KNELL. SH - WEINER; DRAGICEVICH. SF - LAW.
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
JACINTO, Paul.......  6.2  8  6  3  1  4 28 31
SU'A, Justin........  0.1  1  0  0  0  1  2  2
HEID, Tyler.........  0.1  3  4  4  1  1  4  5
BARRETT, Joshua.....  0.2  2  1  1  0  2  4  4
Univ. of California    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
BROWN, Matt.........  6.0  5  1  1  1  1 19 23
PADGETT, Mike.......  3.0  0  0  0  0  4 10 10
Win - BROWN (1-0).  Loss - JACINTO (0-1).  Save - PADGETT (1).
HBP - by BROWN (KNELL); by BROWN (WIENS).
Umpires - HP: Reuben Candaleria  1B: Steve Corvi  3B: Ted Kovach
Start: 1:30 pm   Time: 2:22   Attendance: 255
Game notes:
Game 1 of 3
Play-by-Play 
           Brigham Young Univ. at Univ. of California - Play-by-Play
              Jan 29, 2004 at Berkeley, California (Evans Diamond)
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ.. 001 000 000 -  1  5  2
Univ. of California. 020 000 45X - 11 14  1
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 22/cf CHAMBERS; 1/1b LAW; 8/dh WIENS; 25/rf
   SAYLOR; 21/3b ITRI; 3/ss TAYLOR; 12/lf KNELL; 9/c CLOWARD; 6/2b LUCAS;
   15/p JACINTO;
Univ. of California starters: 5/2b NICHOLSON; 15/cf WEINER; 24/rf HORWITZ;
   35/c GROSSMAN; 44/1b HOLDER; 20/dh KARNOFSKY; 4/3b CRAIG; 32/lf BOESCH;
   9/ss DRAGICEVICH; 30/p BROWN;
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 1
   CHAMBERS singled to right field. LAW flied out to lf. CHAMBERS out at
   first p to 1b, picked off. WIENS grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
   errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 1
   NICHOLSON reached on an error by 3b. WEINER grounded out to p; NICHOLSON
   advanced to second. HORWITZ flied out to rf. GROSSMAN grounded out to 3b.
   0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 2
   SAYLOR singled through the right side. ITRI grounded into double play 2b
   to ss to 1b; SAYLOR out on the play. TAYLOR grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1
   hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 2
   HOLDER doubled down the lf line. KARNOFSKY struck out. CRAIG lined out to
   2b. BOESCH homered to left field, 2 RBI; HOLDER scored. DRAGICEVICH
   struck out. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 3
   KNELL hit by pitch. CLOWARD singled through the left side; KNELL advanced
   to second. LUCAS struck out. CHAMBERS walked; CLOWARD advanced to second;
   KNELL advanced to third. LAW flied out to cf, SF, RBI; KNELL scored.
   WIENS hit by pitch; CHAMBERS advanced to second; CLOWARD advanced to
   third. SAYLOR flied out to rf. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 3
   NICHOLSON singled up the middle. WEINER grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt;
   NICHOLSON advanced to second. HORWITZ struck out. GROSSMAN fouled out to
   rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 4
   ITRI flied out to lf. TAYLOR fouled out to 1b. KNELL flied out to rf. 0
   runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 4
   HOLDER flied out to lf. KARNOFSKY singled to right center. CRAIG struck
   out. BOESCH singled up the middle; KARNOFSKY advanced to second.
   DRAGICEVICH popped up to 2b. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 5
   CLOWARD popped up to 1b. LUCAS flied out to rf. CHAMBERS popped up to 3b.
   0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 5
   NICHOLSON grounded out to 2b. WEINER grounded out to 2b. HORWITZ flied
   out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 6
   LAW singled to left field. WIENS singled to left field; LAW advanced to
   second. SAYLOR flied out to cf. ITRI grounded into double play ss to 1b;
   WIENS out on the play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 6
   GROSSMAN grounded out to 3b. HOLDER grounded out to p. KARNOFSKY doubled
   to left center. CRAIG flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 7
   PADGETT to p for BROWN. TAYLOR flied out to lf. KNELL struck out. CLOWARD
   struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 7
   BOESCH walked. DRAGICEVICH out at first 1b to 2b, SAC, bunt; BOESCH
   advanced to second. NICHOLSON flied out to rf. WEINER doubled down the rf
   line, RBI; BOESCH scored. HORWITZ reached on an error by 3b, advanced to
   second; WEINER scored, unearned. GROSSMAN doubled to right field, RBI;
   HORWITZ scored, unearned. SU'A to p for JACINTO. HOLDER doubled down the
   lf line, RBI; GROSSMAN scored, unearned. KARNOFSKY struck out. 4 runs, 3
   hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 8
   LUCAS fouled out to rf. CHAMBERS struck out. LAW grounded out to p. 0
   runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 8
   HEID to p for SU'A. CRAIG walked. BOESCH homered to right field, 2 RBI;
   CRAIG scored. DRAGICEVICH struck out. NICHOLSON singled through the left
   side. WEINER homered to right field, 2 RBI; NICHOLSON scored. BARRETT to
   p for HEID. HORWITZ homered to left field, RBI. EINSPAHR pinch hit for
   GROSSMAN. EINSPAHR struck out. ERRECART pinch hit for HOLDER. ERRECART
   doubled down the rf line. KARNOFSKY struck out. 5 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors,
   1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 9
   EINSPAHR to c. ERRECART to 1b. BILLS pinch hit for WIENS. BILLS flied out
   to rf. WILKES pinch hit for SAYLOR. WILKES struck out looking. HIESTAND
   pinch hit for ITRI. HIESTAND reached on an error by cf, advanced to
   third. TAYLOR popped up to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

For the first time, a BYU team shows the benefit of its newly-opened Indoor Practice Facility when its baseball teams opens its season this week.

Cougar baseball begins Thursday when BYU travels to Berkeley, Calif., for a three-game series against California. The Cougars have been practicing as a full team since Jan. 12 in accord with NCAA rules, but this time it has been aided by the new 422-foot-wide, 86-foot-high facility.

After finishing 2003 tied for second place in the Mountain West Conference with a 30-24 record, the Cougars look to start the season strong against the Golden Bears. Third-team Preseason All-American Ranger Wiens is among five position starters returning from last season. Wiens led the Cougars last year in several offensive categories hitting, .405 with 25 doubles, 21 stolen bases and 55 RBI.

Head coach Vance Law, entering his fifth season with BYU, said he's optimistic about the season opener.

"We have a very talented team coming into the season," Law said. "We have some of the best hitters in the conference. Our pitching is talented, but inexperienced. This series will give us a chance to test our arms."

Likely throwing the first pitch for the Cougars will be last year's MWC Pitcher of the Year Paul Jacinto. The All-Conference player returns after leading BYU pitchers with a 10-5 record, 4.14 ERA and 83 strikeouts. Probable game two and three starters are Bryce Searle (0.00 in 2.1 innings) and Eastern Utah transfer Patrick Wells (8-2, 1.29).

Ranked 26th in Baseball America's Preseason Poll, the Bears also boast the fifth best freshman class in the nation. Cal senior catcher Chris Grossman enters the season as one of 10 finalists for the Johnny Bench Award given to the nations top collegiate catcher. He hit .341 with 16 doubles, eight home runs and 45 RBI.

The Cougars have split 16 games with Cal, winning two of three in their last meeting at Berkeley in 2001.

The three-game series begins a 26-game stretch of games played in California before BYU opens at home March 18 to play UNLV. The Cougars return to California on Thursday Feb. 5 joining St. Mary's and Nevada for a three-game tournament hosted by the University of Pacific.

Thursday's opener and Friday's game at Cal have both been changed to start at 1:30 p.m. (PST) and the Saturday finale is at noon (PST). BYU will not have live radio coverage through it's own network until league games begin in mid-March. The Cal-BYU games can be followed live on Gametracker, a link to this webcast can be found on www.byucougars.com.