LAS -- A three-run BYU lead quickly turned into an UNLV blowout as the Rebels scored eight runs in the third on rout to a 13-5 victory.

A first inning error by UNLV (21-11, 8-3 in the Mountain West Conference) allowed the Cougars (14-23, 4-7) to score two runs with two outs on four base hits. Ben Saylor and Kevin Bills both hit RBI singles in the inning. However, left fielder Andrew D'Angelo threw Saylor out at the plate for the third out after the sophomore first baseman tried to score from second on a single by Ranger Wiens. BYU then added a third run in the second inning, taking an early 3-0 lead.

After cruising through the first two innings, the Rebels rocked BYU starting pitcher Paul Jacinto (0-8) for eight runs in the third, giving UNLV an 8-3 lead. The Rebels sent 13 batters to the plate with both Ryan Ruiz and Eddie Gill knocking in two runs. Jacinto took his eighth-straight loss after pitching two and one-third innings, allowing eight runs on seven hits and striking out three.

"Jacinto looked very good in the beginning," said head coach Vance Law. "A little bit of adversity set in, but they still hadn't scored a run. But then they started pounding the ball. I've always said hitting is very contagious, and it's not just for our ball club. It's for every ball club."

An RBI double by Brandon Taylor and an error brought the Cougars within three in the fourth inning, but UNLV took an eight-run lead with a combined five runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

"We weren't grinding it out like we need to," Law said. "That's very frustrating to me knowing the character of the players we have. We're going to have to bounce back tomorrow and hopefully salvage the rubber game of this series."

Brent Johnson became UNLV's all-time hits leader at 296 when he laced a double in his opening at-bat in the first inning. The senior center fielder surpassed Steve Moser (1983-86) for the record.

Game three of a three-game series between BYU and UNLV is Saturday at 2 p.m. (PST). The game can be listened to live on KOVO 960 AM and through the BYU Radio channel on the Dish Network and DirectTV. Live stats and live audio are also available on the Internet through the BYU baseball's schedule page at www.byucougars.com..

Brigham Young Univ. at UNLV
Apr 09, 2004 at Las Vegas (Earl E. Wilson)
Brigham Young Univ. 5 (14-23,4-7)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
CHAMBERS, Ryan cf........  4  0  0  0   0  1  1  0   0
KNELL, Kory lf...........  5  2  2  1   0  1  1  0   0
TAYLOR, Brandon ss.......  4  0  1  1   0  1  1  3   1
ITRI, Rob dh.............  4  1  1  0   0  1  0  0   1
SAYLOR, Ben 1b...........  4  0  1  1   0  2  6  0   1
BILLS, Kevin rf..........  4  0  2  1   0  1  5  1   0
WIENS, Ranger 3b.........  4  0  1  0   0  1  0  2   1
CLOWARD, Casey c.........  2  1  0  0   1  0  6  0   0
 HIESTAND, Jeff c........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 WILKES, Adam c..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
VEST, Wade 2b............  2  1  1  0   1  0  2  1   0
 LUCAS, Blair 2b.........  1  0  0  0   0  1  2  1   0
JACINTO, Paul p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PARSONS, Kalen p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HEID, Tyler p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 SEARLE, Bryce p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 35  5  9  4   2  9 24  8   6
UNLV 13 (21-11,8-3)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
KOWALSKI dh..............  5  1  2  3   0  1  0  0   0
WHITE ss.................  5  0  3  1   0  1  0  3   2
JOHNSON cf...............  5  1  1  1   0  0  1  0   1
NIELSEN rf...............  2  1  0  0   2  0  4  0   1
RUIZ 2b..................  5  2  2  2   0  1  1  3   2
GILL 1b..................  4  3  3  4   1  1  9  0   0
SOTO 3b..................  5  1  1  1   0  1  1  2   0
EBARB c..................  3  3  3  1   2  0 10  0   0
D'ANGELO lf..............  4  1  1  0   0  1  1  1   2
VOSE p...................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 WAGNER p................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 38 13 16 13   5  6 27  9   8
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ.. 210 200 000 -  5  9  1
UNLV................ 008 032 00X - 13 16  2
-------------------------------------------
E - HEID(3); WHITE(9); GILL(6). DP - BYU Cougars 2. LOB - BYU Cougars 6;
UNLV 8. 2B - TAYLOR(9); KOWALSKI(1); JOHNSON(13); GILL(11); SOTO(6). HR -
GILL(2). HBP - NIELSEN; D'ANGELO. SH - CHAMBERS(5). SB - JOHNSON(5).
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
JACINTO, Paul.......  2.2  7  8  8  1  3 15 17
PARSONS, Kalen......  2.0  6  3  3  0  2 11 12
HEID, Tyler.........  1.1  2  2  2  1  0  6  7
SEARLE, Bryce.......  2.0  1  0  0  3  1  6  9
UNLV                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
VOSE................  7.0  9  5  2  2  4 29 32
WAGNER..............  2.0  0  0  0  0  5  6  6
Win - VOSE (5-2).  Loss - JACINTO (0-8).  Save - None.
WP - VOSE(5). HBP - by JACINTO (D'ANGELO); by PARSONS (NIELSEN). PB -
CLOWARD(4); WILKES(5).
Umpires -
Start: 6:30 PM   Time: 3:00   Attendance: 764
Game: Two of Three
 Play-by-Play
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ.. 210 200 000 -  5  9  1
UNLV................ 008 032 00X - 13 16  2
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 22/cf CHAMBERS; 12/lf KNELL; 3/ss TAYLOR;
   21/dh ITRI; 25/1b SAYLOR; 11/rf BILLS; 8/3b WIENS; 9/c CLOWARD; 5/2b
   VEST; 15/p JACINTO;
UNLV starters: 12/dh KOWALSKI; 7/ss WHITE; 45/cf JOHNSON; 36/rf NIELSEN;
   4/2b RUIZ; 46/1b GILL; 6/3b SOTO; 5/c EBARB; 21/lf D'ANGELO; 2/p VOSE;
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 1
   CHAMBERS grounded out to 2b. KNELL reached on an error by ss. TAYLOR
   popped up to 1b. ITRI singled through the left side; KNELL advanced to
   second. SAYLOR singled to right field, RBI; ITRI advanced to third; KNELL
   scored, unearned. BILLS singled through the left side, RBI; SAYLOR
   advanced to second; ITRI scored. WIENS singled to left field; BILLS
   advanced to second; SAYLOR advanced to third, out at home lf to c. 2
   runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
UNLV - inning 1
   KOWALSKI flied out to rf. WHITE struck out swinging. JOHNSON doubled down
   the lf line. NIELSEN grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 2
   CLOWARD walked. VEST singled, bunt; CLOWARD advanced to second. CHAMBERS
   grounded out to 3b, bunt, SAC; VEST advanced to second; CLOWARD advanced
   to third. KNELL grounded out to ss, RBI; VEST advanced to third; CLOWARD
   scored. TAYLOR lined out to 3b. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV - inning 2
   RUIZ popped up to 1b. GILL struck out swinging. SOTO lined out to ss. 0
   runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 3
   ITRI flied out to cf. SAYLOR grounded out to ss. BILLS singled to second
   base. WIENS reached on a fielder's choice; BILLS out at second 3b to 2b.
   0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV - inning 3
   EBARB singled up the middle. D'ANGELO hit by pitch; EBARB advanced to
   second. KOWALSKI struck out swinging. WHITE singled to right field;
   D'ANGELO advanced to second; EBARB advanced to third. JOHNSON reached on
   a fielder's choice, RBI; WHITE out at second rf to 2b; D'ANGELO advanced
   to third; EBARB scored. JOHNSON stole second. NIELSEN walked. RUIZ
   singled to right field, 2 RBI; NIELSEN advanced to second; JOHNSON
   scored; D'ANGELO scored. GILL doubled to right field, 2 RBI; RUIZ scored;
   NIELSEN scored. SOTO doubled to right center, RBI; GILL scored. EBARB
   singled to left center, RBI; SOTO scored. PARSONS to p for JACINTO.
   D'ANGELO singled up the middle; EBARB advanced to second. KOWALSKI
   singled up the middle, RBI; D'ANGELO advanced to third; EBARB scored.
   WHITE grounded out to 3b. 8 runs, 8 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 4
   CLOWARD grounded out to 2b. VEST walked. CHAMBERS grounded out to 2b;
   VEST advanced to second. KNELL singled, advanced to second; VEST advanced
   to third on an error by 1b, scored, unearned. TAYLOR doubled to left
   field, RBI; KNELL scored, unearned. ITRI flied out to rf. 2 runs, 2 hits,
   1 error, 1 LOB.
UNLV - inning 4
   JOHNSON grounded out to ss. NIELSEN hit by pitch. RUIZ hit into double
   play ss to 2b to 1b; NIELSEN out on the play. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
   LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 5
   SAYLOR struck out swinging. BILLS flied out to lf. WIENS grounded out to
   ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV - inning 5
   GILL singled to left center. SOTO struck out swinging. EBARB singled down
   the lf line; GILL advanced to second. D'ANGELO struck out swinging.
   KOWALSKI doubled down the lf line, 2 RBI; EBARB scored; GILL scored.
   WHITE singled, advanced to second, RBI; KOWALSKI scored. HEID to p for
   PARSONS. JOHNSON flied out to lf. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 6
   CLOWARD flied out to rf. VEST flied out to rf. CHAMBERS lined out to rf.
   0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV - inning 6
   NIELSEN flied out to rf. RUIZ singled to left field. RUIZ advanced to
   second on an error by p, advanced to third. GILL homered to right field,
   2 RBI; RUIZ scored. SOTO lined out to rf. No play. EBARB walked. D'ANGELO
   flied out to rf. 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 7
   KNELL singled through the left side. TAYLOR struck out swinging. KNELL
   advanced to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third. ITRI struck out
   swinging. SAYLOR struck out looking. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV - inning 7
   SEARLE to p for HEID. KOWALSKI lined out to cf. WHITE singled to center
   field. JOHNSON flied out to rf. NIELSEN walked; WHITE advanced to second.
   NIELSEN advanced to second; WHITE advanced to third on a passed ball.
   RUIZ struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 8
   WAGNER to p for VOSE. BILLS struck out swinging. WIENS struck out
   swinging. HIESTAND to c for CLOWARD. HIESTAND popped up to 1b. 0 runs, 0
   hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV - inning 8
   WILKES to c for HIESTAND. LUCAS to 2b for VEST. GILL walked. GILL
   advanced to second on a passed ball. SOTO popped up to 2b. EBARB walked.
   D'ANGELO hit into double play ss to 2b to 1b; EBARB out on the play. 0
   runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 9
   LUCAS struck out swinging. CHAMBERS struck out swinging. KNELL struck out
   looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

After being involved in three-straight sweeps and ending on the winning side only once, BYU looks to rebound with a three-game series at UNLV beginning Thursday.

The Cougars' record fell to 13-22 and 3-6 in the Mountain West Conference after being swept by New Mexico last week. Besides sweeping a three-game series at the University of Utah, BYU has lost seven games since a six-game winning streak ended in the Pepsi-Johnny Quik Classic championship game at Fresno, Calif.

The series in Las Vegas will conclude a nine-game road trip for the Cougars who have played 32 of their first 35 games on the road. BYU will conclude the season by playing 13 of its final 19 games at home beginning with a three-game series against San Diego State on April 15.

Patrick Wells (4-3, 5.37) will get the opening-series start for the Cougars on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. (PST). Paul Jacinto (0-7, 5.68), who pitched a complete-game seven hitter last week but failed to pick up his first win in a 1-0 loss to New Mexico, will start on Friday at 6:30 p.m. (PST). Justin Su'a (2-1, 4.72) will start in Saturday's game at 2 p.m. (PST).

Entering the UNLV series with a .245 team batting average, Jeff Hiestand leads BYU with a .312 percentage. In conference play, Brandon Taylor and Ryan Chambers lead the team with a .425 and .400 batting averages.

The Cougars are 0-3 against UNLV this year after being swept at home by the Rebels in March. The last BYU win against UNLV came in the MWC Tournament on May 24, 2002. Since then, the Cougars have lost nine straight to the Rebels.

UNLV enters the series with a 20-10 record. The Rebels are tied with San Diego State in the MWC with a 7-2 conference record and are four games ahead of fourth-place BYU in the standings.

All three BYU-UNLV games can be listened to live on KOVO 960 AM and Saturday's game is also available on DirectTV and the Dish Network through the BYU Radio channel and over the Internet. All three games can also be followed live with Gametracker and live audio. Links to the webcasts and audio casts can be found on BYU baseball's schedule page at www.byucougars.com.