PROVO -- An eight-run UNLV eighth spoiled a five run BYU lead as the Rebels came back to win 12-6, completing a three-game sweep on Saturday.

The Cougars (10-19, 0-3) jumped to an early 5-0 lead through four innings in front of 1,504 fans at Larry H. Miller Field before UNLV (15-7, 3-0) scored three in the fifth. BYU still led 6-4 through seven, but after scoring in each of the first five innings, the Cougars went scoreless the remainder of the way.

"I felt after we got a lead, we sat back and relaxed," said BYU head coach Vance Law. "We're not talented enough to sit back and coast, especially with a team as talented as UNLV."

The Rebels took the lead and then ran away with it in the eighth scoring eight runs. Four Cougar errors in the inning resulted in five-unearned runs. In all, BYU committed seven errors in the game only a day after making eight on Friday night.

"The main thing we're frustrated with is we know we can do better," said Saturday's starting pitcher Justin Su'a. "It's been a tough series. Being the first series of the year, we still have a positive outlook for the rest of the season."

After scoring a run in the fifth inning, BYU failed to score when given the opportunity. The Cougars stranded runners on second and third with one out in the fifth. After moving Ranger Wiens to third with one out in the seventh, BYU failed to bring him around.

Nearly flawless to start the game, Su'a (2-1) allowed only one hit through the first four innings. After allowing three runs in the fifth, he pitched a scoreless sixth before exiting the game. Su'a finished with five strikeouts, allowing three runs off six hits for the no-decision.

Ryan Chambers, Raner Wiens and Rob Itri all had 2-for-4 performances for BYU while Brandon Taylor hit his team leading fifth home run in the second.

Brent Johnson finished perfect for UNLV, hitting 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs. Andrew D'Angelo also had three hits, finishing 3-for-6 with three runs scored.

The Cougars now prepare for a three-game series with the University of Utah in Salt Lake City beginning Thursday. The games can be listened to live on KOVO 960 AM with live stats found at www.byucougars.com.

Univ. Nev. Las Vegas at Brigham Young Univ.
Mar 20, 2004 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas 12 (15-7,3-0 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
D'ANGELO, Andrew lf......  6  3  3  0   0  1  1  0   1
JOHNSON, Brent cf........  3  2  3  3   2  0  0  0   0
RUIZ, Ryan 2b............  6  1  3  2   0  0  1  4   2
NIELSEN, Eric rf.........  5  1  1  1   1  1  2  0   1
GILL, Eddie 1b...........  5  1  1  0   1  0 14  1   1
TELLAM, Justin c.........  4  1  0  1   2  3  7  2   2
SOTO, Ty 3b..............  5  1  0  0   0  2  1  4   4
EBARB, C.J. dh...........  5  1  3  0   0  0  0  0   0
WHITE, Peter ss..........  4  1  1  0   1  1  0  3   1
SECCOMEB, David p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
 PUPO, Koji p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 MINOR, Matt p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 43 12 15  7   7  8 27 16  12
Brigham Young Univ. 6 (10-19,0-3 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
CHAMBERS, Ryan cf........  4  2  2  0   0  1  6  1   0
KNELL, Kory lf...........  4  1  1  0   0  0  2  0   1
WIENS, Ranger dh.........  4  0  2  1   1  0  0  0   0
ITRI, Rob rf.............  4  0  2  2   0  0  2  1   0
SAYLOR, Ben 1b...........  4  0  0  0   0  2  6  0   2
TAYLOR, Brandon ss.......  4  1  1  1   0  2  0  1   1
LUCAS, Blair 3b..........  4  1  1  0   0  2  1  0   2
WILKES, Adam c...........  3  1  1  1   1  1  7  0   0
VEST, Wade 2b............  4  0  0  0   0  1  3  2   0
SU'A, Justin p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 BEUS, Lance p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HESS, Nathan p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PARSONS, Kalen p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 LEMON, Nick p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 35  6 10  5   2  9 27  7   6
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas 000 030 180 - 12 15  2
Brigham Young Univ.. 111 210 000 -  6 10  7
-------------------------------------------
E - JOHNSON; TELLAM; CHAMBERS; ITRI; TAYLOR 2; LUCAS; WILKES; SU'A. LOB -
UNLV Rebels 12; BYU Cougars 6. 2B - JOHNSON 2; EBARB; CHAMBERS; WIENS; ITRI.
HR - TAYLOR(5). HBP - JOHNSON. SH - CHAMBERS; KNELL. SB - WHITE; KNELL;
WIENS; LUCAS; WILKES.
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
SECCOMEB, David.....  4.0  8  6  6  1  4 19 21
PUPO, Koji..........  2.2  2  0  0  1  3  9 11
MINOR, Matt.........  2.1  0  0  0  0  2  7  7
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
SU'A, Justin........  6.0  6  3  3  2  5 24 27
BEUS, Lance.........  1.1  2  3  2  3  0  7 10
HESS, Nathan........  0.0  3  3  2  0  0  3  3
PARSONS, Kalen......  0.2  3  3  0  1  1  5  6
LEMON, Nick.........  1.0  1  0  0  1  2  4  5
Win - MINOR (2-1).  Loss - HESS (2-3).  Save - None.
WP - SECCOMBE. HBP - by SU'A (JOHNSON). PB - WILKES.
Umpires - HP: John Aiello  1B: Keith Bailey  3B: Blake Jensen
Start: 12:00pm   Time: 3:23   Attendance: 1504
Game notes:Game 3 of 3
SECCOMBE faced 2 batters in the 5th.
HESS faced 3 batters in the 8th.
Play-by-Play
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas 000 030 180 - 12 15  2
Brigham Young Univ.. 111 210 000 -  6 10  7
-------------------------------------------
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas starters: 21/lf D'ANGELO; 45/cf JOHNSON; 4/2b RUIZ;
   36/rf NIELSEN; 46/1b GILL; 32/c TELLAM; 6/3b SOTO; 5/dh EBARB; 7/ss
   WHITE; 24/p SECCOMBE;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 22/cf CHAMBERS; 12/lf KNELL; 8/dh WIENS; 21/rf
   ITRI; 25/1b SAYLOR; 3/ss TAYLOR; 6/3b LUCAS; 24/c WILKES; 5/2b VEST; 27/p
   SU'A;
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas - inning 1
   D'ANGELO grounded out to ss. JOHNSON doubled to left center. RUIZ
   grounded out to p; JOHNSON advanced to third. NIELSEN grounded out to 2b.
   0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 1
   CHAMBERS singled to left center. KNELL lined out to 3b. WIENS grounded
   out to 2b; CHAMBERS advanced to second. ITRI singled to left center, RBI;
   CHAMBERS scored. SAYLOR grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1
   LOB.
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas - inning 2
   GILL grounded out to 1b unassisted. TELLAM struck out swinging. SOTO
   flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 2
   TAYLOR homered to left field, RBI. LUCAS struck out swinging. WILKES
   struck out swinging. VEST grounded out to p. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0
   LOB.
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas - inning 3
   EBARB flied out to cf. WHITE struck out swinging, reached first on a
   passed ball. D'ANGELO flied out to rf. WHITE advanced to second on a
   throwing error by p. JOHNSON hit by pitch. RUIZ flied out to cf. 0 runs,
   0 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 3
   CHAMBERS doubled down the lf line. KNELL grounded out to 3b, SAC;
   CHAMBERS advanced to third. WIENS singled up the middle, RBI; CHAMBERS
   scored. WIENS stole second. ITRI out at first 1b to p; WIENS advanced to
   third. SAYLOR flied out to lf. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas - inning 4
   NIELSEN flied out to cf. GILL walked. TELLAM flied out to rf. SOTO struck
   out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 4
   TAYLOR grounded out to 3b. LUCAS singled to left field. LUCAS stole
   second. WILKES singled up the middle, RBI; LUCAS scored. VEST struck out
   swinging. WILKES stole second, advanced to third on an error by c, scored
   on an error by cf. CHAMBERS struck out swinging. 2 runs, 2 hits, 2
   errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas - inning 5
   EBARB singled to right field. WHITE walked; EBARB advanced to second.
   D'ANGELO singled to right field, advanced to second; WHITE out at second
   rf to 2b; EBARB advanced to third. JOHNSON doubled to left center, 2 RBI;
   D'ANGELO scored; EBARB scored. RUIZ singled to left field, advanced to
   second on the throw, RBI; JOHNSON scored. NIELSEN flied out to cf. GILL
   fouled out to lf. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 5
   KNELL singled down the rf line. KNELL stole second. WIENS walked; KNELL
   advanced to third on a wild pitch. PUPO to p for SECCOMBE. ITRI doubled
   down the lf line, RBI; WIENS advanced to third; KNELL scored. SAYLOR
   struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b. TAYLOR struck out looking.
   LUCAS flied out to rf. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas - inning 6
   TELLAM struck out looking. SOTO struck out swinging. EBARB doubled to
   left center. WHITE flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 6
   WILKES walked. VEST reached on a fielder's choice; WILKES out at second
   ss to 2b. CHAMBERS grounded out to 2b, SAC; VEST advanced to second.
   KNELL fouled out to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas - inning 7
   BEUS to p for SU'A. D'ANGELO singled to left field. JOHNSON walked;
   D'ANGELO advanced to second. RUIZ popped up to 2b. JOHNSON advanced to
   second; D'ANGELO advanced to third on a throwing error by c. NIELSEN
   walked. GILL popped up to 2b. TELLAM walked, RBI; NIELSEN advanced to
   second; JOHNSON advanced to third; D'ANGELO scored. SOTO flied out to lf.
   1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 3 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 7
   WIENS doubled to center field. ITRI flied out to rf; WIENS advanced to
   third. SAYLOR struck out swinging. MINOR to p for PUPO. TAYLOR struck out
   swinging, out at first c to 1b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas - inning 8
   EBARB grounded out to 2b. WHITE reached on a throwing error by 3b.
   D'ANGELO singled through the left side; WHITE advanced to second. HESS to
   p for BEUS. JOHNSON singled through the right side, RBI; D'ANGELO
   advanced to second; WHITE scored, unearned. RUIZ singled to right field,
   advanced to second on the throw, RBI; JOHNSON scored, scored on an error
   by rf; D'ANGELO scored. NIELSEN singled to center field, RBI; RUIZ
   scored. PARSONS to p for HESS. GILL singled up the middle; NIELSEN
   advanced to second. TELLAM walked; GILL advanced to second; NIELSEN
   advanced to third. SOTO reached on a fielding error by ss; TELLAM
   advanced to second; GILL advanced to third; NIELSEN scored, unearned.
   EBARB singled to center field, advanced to second on a fielding error by
   cf, out at third cf to 3b; SOTO scored, unearned; TELLAM scored,
   unearned; GILL scored, unearned. WHITE singled down the lf line. WHITE
   stole second. D'ANGELO struck out looking. 8 runs, 7 hits, 4 errors, 1
   LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 8
   LUCAS struck out swinging. WILKES out at first p to 2b to 1b. VEST
   grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. Nev. Las Vegas - inning 9
   LEMON to p for PARSONS. JOHNSON walked. RUIZ singled to shortstop;
   JOHNSON advanced to second, advanced to third on a throwing error by ss.
   NIELSEN struck out swinging. GILL grounded out to p; RUIZ advanced to
   second. TELLAM struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 9
   CHAMBERS grounded out to 3b. KNELL grounded out to 3b. WIENS grounded out
   to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Finishing a 26-game opening schedule in California, BYU starts its home stand with a three-game series against UNLV beginning Thursday.

The series begins Mountain West Conference play for both teams. Thursday and Friday's match-ups begin at 6:30 p.m. at Larry H. Miller Field with the final game at noon on Saturday.

After winning six of their last seven games, the Cougars enter the week with a 10-16 record. Probable pitching starters for BYU are Patrick Wells (3-2, 4.53) on Thursday, Paul Jacinto (0-5, 6.35) on Friday and Justin Su'a (2-1, 3.44) on Saturday.

"It's nice to be home after a bit of a rough start," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "Our pitching has been very good all year and our hitters are catching on. We are hoping all facets can come together."

BYU enters conference play after finishing second at the Pepsi-Johnny Quik Classic hosted by Fresno State in Fresno, Calif. BYU went 5-1 in the tournament, beating Dallas Baptist, Chicago State, Fresno State, Monmouth and Portland.

Posting the best record in the tournament, the Cougars had homefield advantage in the championship game against Fresno State. BYU fell 10-9 to the Bulldogs after a ninth inning triple scored two and gave Fresno its first lead in the game. Sophomore right fielder Ben Saylor and junior catcher Casey Cloward were named to the all-tournament team.

The second place finish is the third in seven appearances for the Cougars. The only time BYU has won the tournament is in 1983.

Senior second baseman Wade Vest leads the team with a nine-game hitting streak, the second longest streak this year. Saylor has a six-game streak and junior center fielder Ryan Chambers has a four-game streak. Chambers has also hit triples in the last four-consecutive games.

Sophomore Jeff Heistand leads the Cougars with a .311 batting average. He has three home runs and 15 RBI after a two home run, six RBI game against Chicago State last week.

BYU improved both offensively and defensively after the six-game tournament in Fresno. The Cougars raised their team batting average 15 points from .218 to .237 while the team ERA dropped 25 points from 5.52 to 5.27.

The Cougars are 49-47 against UNLV all-time. Last year, BYU also opened its home schedule against the Rebels, winning one of three in the series. Jacinto threw a one-hitter in the lone win. The Cougars were swept by UNLV in Las Vegas in 2003, finishing with a 1-5 record against the Rebels for the season. Three of the five losses to UNLV last year were decided by one run.

The Rebels (12-7) began this season with a majority of their games at home. They have a 12-3 home record and are 0-4 on the road. Last week, they won two of three against Central Michigan in Las Vegas.

Senior second baseman Ryan Ruiz leads the team with a .449 batting average. He has three home runs and 26 RBI. Six position starters have a batting average above .300, and the team comes into the series with a .318 average. Senior starting pitcher Jake Voss began the season 3-1 with a 3.52 ERA and 23 strikeouts in six starts. The team ERA sits at .570.

UNLV finished 47-17 in 2003 and 27-6 in the MWC, winning the conference tournament. The Rebels are led by first-year coach Buddy Gouldsmith.

BYU radio coverage starts Thursday with the play-by-play coming again from Brent Norton, BYU's veteran broadcaster entering his 14th season. On Saturday the play-by-play will be called by Jay Monsen. Games will be live on KOVO 960 AM with Saturday's game available live on the Internet. A link to the audio cast can be found at www.byucougars.com.