BERKELEY -- BYU brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning on Saturday against California but fell short in its comeback attempt, losing 7-4.

After moving from third to first in the lineup, Ranger Wiens led the Cougars with a 3-for-5 performance. The third-team Preseason All-American finished the three-game series with four hits.

Starting pitcher Adam Gold quickly tamed the Cougar bats, striking out the side in the first inning. The sophomore finished his first win with 10 strikeouts in five innings, holding BYU scoreless on three hits.

Chris Grossman knocked in both of Cal's first two runs. The Bears scored their first run in the second when the sophomore catcher hit a Patrick Wells pitch over the centerfield fence.

One inning later, Jeff Dragicevich doubled to lead off the inning for Cal. The Cougars were one out from escaping the inning unharmed, but a BYU error kept the inning alive for the Bears. Grossman then doubled in his second run of the game. James Holder followed with a two-run single to give Cal a 4-0 lead.

Sophomore Allen Craig added two more runs to Cal's lead in the fifth with his first hit of the season, a two-run home run to left-center.

A pitching change allowed the Cougars to score their first two runs in the sixth. Back-to-back singles by Tim Law and Ben Saylor and a walk to Jeff Hiestand loaded the bases for BYU with no outs. Rob Itri then came through with a two-run single to centerfield.

Two more BYU errors in the seventh allowed Cal to score its fourth unearned run, giving it a 7-2 lead.

After entering the game in left field in the bottom of the sixth, Kory Knell tripled in his first at-bat to lead off the eighth inning for BYU. Knell scored on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Chambers. The Cougars scored its final run in the ninth on a single by Saylor.

Wells pitched effectively in his first start for the Cougars. The junior college transfer picked up his first loss after striking out six in five innings, allowing three earned runs off eight hits.

Jesse Ingram earned his first save for Cal. He struck out three in three and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs off five hits.

Saylor and Law singled in all three games. Saylor led the team with five hits in the series and Law finished with four.

The 0-3 Cougars return home before heading back to California for the three-game Pacific Invitational hosted by the University of Pacific in Stockton, Calif. The tournament begins Thursday with BYU facing off against Saint Mary's (Calif.) at 6 p.m. (PST).

Brigham Young Univ. at Univ. of California
 Jan 31, 2004 at Berkeley, California (Evans Diamond)
Brigham Young Univ. 4 (0-3)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
WIENS, Ranger dh.........  5  1  3  0   0  1  0  0   1
LAW, Tim 1b..............  5  1  2  0   0  1  8  0   0
SAYLOR, Ben rf...........  5  1  2  1   0  2  0  0   3
HIESTAND, Jeff lf........  2  0  0  0   1  1  0  1   1
 KNELL, Kory lf..........  2  1  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
CHAMBERS, Ryan cf........  4  0  1  1   0  3  5  0   0
ITRI, Rob 3b.............  3  0  1  2   1  0  0  1   0
 HALES, Brad pr/2b.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 BILLS, Kevin ph.........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   2
TAYLOR, Brandon ss.......  4  0  0  0   0  3  2  3   0
CLOWARD, Casey c.........  4  0  0  0   0  1  5  2   2
LUCAS, Blair 2b/3b.......  3  0  1  0   1  1  4  1   2
WELLS, Patrick p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 HESS, Nathan p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BEUS, Lance p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 38  4 11  4   3 14 24 10  11
Univ. of California 7 (3-0)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
NICHOLSON, David 2b......  4  2  1  0   0  2  1  3   0
CRAIG, Allen 3b..........  4  1  2  2   0  1  1  0   0
HORWITZ, Brian rf........  3  1  0  0   0  2  0  0   0
 WEINER, David cf........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
GROSSMAN, Chris c........  4  2  2  2   0  0 14  0   0
HOLDER, James 1b.........  4  0  1  2   0  0  3  0   1
ERRECART, Chris dh.......  4  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
NELSON, Justin lf........  3  0  1  0   1  1  3  0   0
BURCHETT, Jeremy cf/rf...  3  0  1  0   1  1  2  0   1
DRAGICEVICH, Jeff ss.....  4  1  1  0   0  0  2  0   3
GOLD, Adam p.............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 TALBOTT, Travis p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 INGRAM, Jesse p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 33  7 10  6   2  7 27  4   5
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ.. 000 002 011 -  4 11  3
Univ. of California. 013 020 10X -  7 10  1
-------------------------------------------
E - ITRI; TAYLOR; CLOWARD; CRAIG. DP - BYU Cougars 2. LOB - BYU Cougars 11;
Cal Bears 5. 2B - WIENS; CRAIG; GROSSMAN; NELSON; DRAGICEVICH. 3B - KNELL.
HR - CRAIG(1); GROSSMAN(1). HBP - HORWITZ. SF - CHAMBERS. SB - NICHOLSON 2;
NELSON.
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
WELLS, Patrick......  5.0  8  6  3  0  6 23 23
HESS, Nathan........  2.0  1  1  0  1  1  7  9
BEUS, Lance.........  1.0  1  0  0  1  0  3  4
Univ. of California    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
GOLD, Adam..........  5.0  3  0  0  1 10 18 19
TALBOTT, Travis.....  0.1  3  2  2  1  1  4  5
INGRAM, Jesse.......  3.2  5  2  2  1  3 16 18
Win - GOLD (1-0).  Loss - WELLS (0-1).  Save - INGRAM (1).
WP - WELLS; INGRAM. HBP - by HESS (HORWITZ).
Umpires - HP: Ted Kovach  1B: Ruben Candaleria  3B: Dan Payne
Start: 12 p.m.   Time: 2:35   Attendance: 358
Play-by-Play 
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ.. 000 002 011 -  4 11  3
Univ. of California. 013 020 10X -  7 10  1
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 8/dh WIENS; 1/1b LAW; 25/rf SAYLOR; 16/lf
   HIESTAND; 22/cf CHAMBERS; 21/3b ITRI; 3/ss TAYLOR; 9/c CLOWARD; 6/2b
   LUCAS; 4/p WELLS;
Univ. of California starters: 5/2b NICHOLSON; 4/3b CRAIG; 24/rf HORWITZ;
   35/c GROSSMAN; 44/1b HOLDER; 22/dh ERRECART; 6/lf NELSON; 33/cf BURCHETT;
   9/ss DRAGICEVICH; 27/p GOLD;
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 1
   WIENS doubled down the lf line. LAW struck out looking. SAYLOR struck out
   looking. HIESTAND struck out looking. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 1
   NICHOLSON struck out looking. CRAIG flied out to cf. HORWITZ struck out,
   out at first c to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 2
   CHAMBERS struck out. ITRI grounded out to 2b. TAYLOR struck out. 0 runs,
   0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 2
   GROSSMAN homered to center field, RBI. HOLDER grounded out to ss.
   ERRECART lined out to cf. NELSON doubled to center field. NELSON advanced
   to third on a wild pitch. BURCHETT grounded out to p. 1 run, 2 hits, 0
   errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 3
   CLOWARD flied out to lf. LUCAS struck out. WIENS singled, bunt. LAW
   singled down the rf line; WIENS advanced to third. SAYLOR struck out. 0
   runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 3
   DRAGICEVICH doubled down the lf line. NICHOLSON struck out. CRAIG struck
   out, out at first c to 1b. HORWITZ reached on an error by 3b; DRAGICEVICH
   advanced to third. GROSSMAN doubled down the lf line, RBI; HORWITZ
   advanced to third; DRAGICEVICH scored, unearned. HOLDER singled down the
   lf line, out at second lf to 2b, 2 RBI; GROSSMAN scored, unearned;
   HORWITZ scored, unearned. 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 4
   HIESTAND fouled out to 3b. CHAMBERS struck out. ITRI flied out to cf. 0
   runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 4
   ERRECART popped up to 2b. NELSON struck out. BURCHETT singled to left
   field. DRAGICEVICH flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 5
   TAYLOR struck out. CLOWARD struck out. LUCAS walked. WIENS popped up to
   2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 5
   NICHOLSON singled to shortstop. CRAIG homered to left center, 2 RBI;
   NICHOLSON scored. HORWITZ struck out. GROSSMAN popped up to 2b. HOLDER
   grounded out to 3b. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 6
   TALBOTT to p for GOLD. LAW singled to left center. SAYLOR singled to
   center field; LAW advanced to second. HIESTAND walked; SAYLOR advanced to
   second; LAW advanced to third. CHAMBERS struck out. ITRI singled to
   center field, 2 RBI; HIESTAND advanced to second; SAYLOR scored; LAW
   scored. INGRAM to p for TALBOTT. TAYLOR struck out. CLOWARD grounded out
   to p. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 6
   HESS to p for WELLS. KNELL to lf for HIESTAND. ERRECART popped up to 2b.
   NELSON walked. NELSON stole second. BURCHETT struck out. DRAGICEVICH
   fouled out to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 7
   LUCAS singled to shortstop. WIENS struck out. LAW popped up to ss. SAYLOR
   reached on a fielder's choice; LUCAS out at second 2b to ss. 0 runs, 1
   hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 7
   NICHOLSON reached on an error by ss. NICHOLSON stole second. NICHOLSON
   stole third, scored on an error by c, unearned. CRAIG doubled to left
   field. HORWITZ hit by pitch. GROSSMAN grounded into double play 2b to ss
   to 1b; HORWITZ out on the play; CRAIG advanced to third. HOLDER flied out
   to cf. 1 run, 1 hit, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 8
   WEINER to cf for HORWITZ. BURCHETT to rf. KNELL tripled to center field.
   CHAMBERS flied out to cf, SF, RBI; KNELL scored. ITRI walked. HALES pinch
   ran for ITRI. TAYLOR flied out to lf. CLOWARD reached on an error by 3b;
   HALES advanced to second. LUCAS flied out to lf. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2
   LOB.
Univ. of California - inning 8
   HALES to 2b. LUCAS to 3b. BEUS to p for HESS. ERRECART singled through
   the left side. NELSON grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b; ERRECART
   out on the play. BURCHETT walked. DRAGICEVICH flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1
   hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 9
   WIENS singled through the right side. WIENS advanced to second on a wild
   pitch. LAW grounded out to 2b; WIENS advanced to third. SAYLOR singled to
   left field, RBI; WIENS scored. KNELL flied out to rf. CHAMBERS singled
   through the right side; SAYLOR advanced to second. BILLS pinch hit for
   HALES. BILLS struck out. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 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.