SANTA CLARA -- A three-run first inning set the pace for Santa Clara University in a 9-3 victory over BYU on Monday.

The Cougars, who struck out 13 times in the game, now fall to 1-6 on the season while Santa Clara improves to 3-1.

Santa Clara loaded the bases in the first inning with no outs and came away with a 3-0 lead to start things off. First baseman Will Thompson scored the third run by stealing home after Jason Matteucci stole second. The Broncos added a fourth run in the third when Matteucci doubled in a runner from first.

Ben Saylor put the Cougars on the board with his first double of the year to lead off the fourth inning. After Rob Itri moved him to third on a groundout, he scored on a wild pitch. Saylor has hit safely in all seven of BYU's games.

The Broncos gained the run back in the fifth inning. In the seventh, a BYU error allowed Santa Clara to score three unearned runs, giving them an 8-1 lead. Third baseman Dustin Realini hit a two-run single, giving him four RBI on the night.

Jeff Hiestand hit his first home run of the season in the eighth, a two-run shot to right field.

Paul Jacinto struck out six in four and two-thirds innings, suffering his third loss after allowing five runs on six hits. Santa Clara starter Chad Fillinger struck out seven in his three innings of work, allowing no runs off one hit.

The same two teams battle it out in the last game of the two-game series on Tuesday in Santa Clara, Calif., at 3 p.m. (PST). The game can be followed live on Gametracker. A link to the web cast can be found at www.byucougars.com.

BYU at Santa Clara
            Feb 09, 2004 at Santa Clara, Calif. (Buck Shaw Stadium)
BYU 3 (1-6)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
WIENS, Ranger dh.........  4  0  0  0   1  4  0  0   0
TAYLOR, Brandon ss.......  5  0  0  0   0  1  0  2   2
SAYLOR, Ben rf...........  4  2  2  0   0  2  4  0   2
ITRI, Rob 3b.............  3  0  1  0   0  1  2  0   0
 VEST, Wade pr/2b........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  2   0
HIESTAND, Jeff lf........  3  1  1  2   0  0  1  0   0
CHAMBERS, Ryan cf........  3  0  0  0   1  2  4  1   0
LAW, Tim 1b..............  4  0  1  0   0  0  5  0   2
WILKES, Adam c...........  4  0  1  0   0  1  8  1   2
LUCAS, Blair 2b/3b.......  3  0  1  0   0  1  0  1   0
JACINTO, Paul p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 HESS, Nathan p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 LEMON, Nick p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PARSONS, Kalen p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 34  3  7  2   2 13 24  9   8
Santa Clara 9 (3-1)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
PERRY cf.................  3  2  1  0   1  1  4  0   1
FAULKNER rf..............  3  2  1  1   0  0  1  0   1
W. THOMPSON 1b...........  4  2  0  1   1  1  6  0   1
M. THOMPSON dh...........  2  2  1  1   0  0  0  0   0
MATTEUCCI lf.............  3  0  2  1   1  0  0  0   0
REALINI 3b...............  3  0  2  4   0  0  1  1   0
NEWTON 2b................  4  0  0  0   0  4  2  3   2
McCOLGAN c...............  2  1  0  0   2  0 11  3   0
LANGE ss.................  4  0  1  0   0  2  2  0   0
FILLINGER p..............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 SLORP p.................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 REA p...................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 28  9  8  8   5  8 27  8   6
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
BYU................. 000 100 020 -  3  7  2
Santa Clara......... 301 010 31X -  9  8  2
-------------------------------------------
E - TAYLOR(3); LEMON(1); REALINI(2); McCOLGAN(3). LOB - Cougars 8; Broncos
6. 2B - SAYLOR(1); MATTEUCCI(1). HR - HIESTAND(1). HBP - HIESTAND; LUCAS;
FAULKNER; M. THOMPSON. SH - PERRY(1). SF - FAULKNER(1); M. THOMPSON(1);
REALINI(1). SB - VEST(1); PERRY(1); FAULKNER(2); W. THOMPSON(1);
MATTEUCCI(1). CS - LUCAS(1); MATTEUCCI(1).
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
JACINTO, Paul.......  4.2  6  5  5  3  6 18 24
HESS, Nathan........  1.1  0  0  0  0  1  3  3
LEMON, Nick.........  1.0  1  3  0  1  1  5  7
PARSONS, Kalen......  1.0  1  1  1  1  0  2  5
Santa Clara            IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
FILLINGER...........  3.0  1  0  0  1  7 10 11
SLORP...............  3.0  4  1  1  0  4 13 14
REA.................  3.0  2  2  2  1  2 11 13
Win - FILLINGER (1-0).  Loss - JACINTO (0-3).  Save - REA (1).
WP - SLORP(1). HBP - by JACINTO (FAULKNER); by SLORP (HIESTAND); by REA (LUCAS);
by LEMON (M. THOMPSON).
Umpires - HP: Mel Gatson  1B: John O'Leary  3B: Ted Kovach
Start: 6 p.m.   Time: 2:52   Attendance: 478
Play-by-Play 
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
BYU................. 000 100 020 -  3  7  2
Santa Clara......... 301 010 31X -  9  8  2
-------------------------------------------
BYU starters: 8/dh WIENS; 3/ss TAYLOR; 25/rf SAYLOR; 21/3b ITRI; 16/lf
   HIESTAND; 22/cf CHAMBERS; 1/1b LAW; 24/c WILKES; 6/2b LUCAS; 15/p JACINTO;
Santa Clara starters: 24/cf PERRY; 18/rf FAULKNER; 31/1b W. THOMPSON; 15/dh
   M. THOMPSON; 21/lf MATTEUCCI; 6/3b REALINI; 16/2b NEWTON; 36/c McCOLGAN;
   8/ss LANGE; 17/p FILLINGER;
BYU - inning 1
   WIENS struck out looking. TAYLOR struck out swinging. SAYLOR struck out
   swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Santa Clara - inning 1
   PERRY singled to third base, bunt. FAULKNER hit by pitch; PERRY advanced
   to second. W. THOMPSON walked; FAULKNER advanced to second; PERRY
   advanced to third. M. THOMPSON flied out to cf, SAC, RBI; PERRY scored.
   MATTEUCCI singled to first base; W. THOMPSON advanced to second; FAULKNER
   advanced to third. REALINI flied out to rf, SAC, RBI; W. THOMPSON
   advanced to third; FAULKNER scored. MATTEUCCI stole second; W. THOMPSON
   stole home. NEWTON struck out swinging. 3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 2
   ITRI struck out looking. HIESTAND grounded out to 2b. CHAMBERS walked.
   LAW singled to third base, bunt; CHAMBERS advanced to second. WILKES
   struck out, out at first c to 1b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Santa Clara - inning 2
   McCOLGAN reached on an error by ss. LANGE struck out swinging. PERRY
   flied out to cf. FAULKNER grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1
   LOB.
BYU - inning 3
   LUCAS struck out looking. WIENS struck out looking. TAYLOR flied out to
   cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Santa Clara - inning 3
   W. THOMPSON struck out swinging. M. THOMPSON singled to left field.
   MATTEUCCI doubled to right center, RBI, out at third cf to ss to 3b; M.
   THOMPSON scored. REALINI flied out to rf. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 4
   SLORP to p for FILLINGER. SAYLOR doubled to left center. ITRI grounded
   out to 2b; SAYLOR advanced to third. SAYLOR scored on a wild pitch.
   HIESTAND hit by pitch. CHAMBERS struck out swinging. LAW flied out to rf.
   1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Santa Clara - inning 4
   NEWTON struck out swinging. McCOLGAN walked. LANGE struck out swinging.
   PERRY struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 5
   WILKES singled to right center. LUCAS singled down the rf line; WILKES
   advanced to third. WIENS struck out swinging. TAYLOR popped up to ss.
   SAYLOR struck out, out at first c to 1b. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Santa Clara - inning 5
   FAULKNER singled to left field. W. THOMPSON flied out to lf. M. THOMPSON
   flied out to rf. FAULKNER stole second. MATTEUCCI walked. REALINI singled
   to left field, RBI; MATTEUCCI advanced to third; FAULKNER scored. HESS to
   p for JACINTO. MATTEUCCI out at third c to p to c to p to 3b, caught
   stealing. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 6
   ITRI singled up the middle. VEST pinch ran for ITRI. HIESTAND flied out
   to cf. VEST stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by c.
   CHAMBERS struck out swinging. LAW flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1
   error, 1 LOB.
Santa Clara - inning 6
   VEST to 2b. LUCAS to 3b. NEWTON struck out swinging. McCOLGAN grounded
   out to 2b. LANGE flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 7
   REA to p for SLORP. WILKES grounded out to 2b. LUCAS hit by pitch. LUCAS
   out at second c to 2b, caught stealing. WIENS walked. TAYLOR reached on a
   fielder's choice; WIENS out at second 3b to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors,
   1 LOB.
Santa Clara - inning 7
   LEMON to p for HESS. PERRY walked. PERRY stole second. FAULKNER grounded
   out to 2b; PERRY advanced to third. W. THOMPSON reached on an error by p,
   RBI; PERRY scored, unearned. M. THOMPSON hit by pitch; W. THOMPSON
   advanced to second. MATTEUCCI grounded out to ss; M. THOMPSON advanced to
   second; W. THOMPSON advanced to third. REALINI singled to center field, 2
   RBI; M. THOMPSON scored, unearned; W. THOMPSON scored, unearned. NEWTON
   struck out swinging. 3 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 8
   SAYLOR singled up the middle. VEST struck out swinging. HIESTAND homered
   to right field, 2 RBI; SAYLOR scored. CHAMBERS popped up to ss. LAW lined
   out to 3b. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Santa Clara - inning 8
   PARSONS to p for LEMON. McCOLGAN walked. LANGE singled to third base,
   bunt; McCOLGAN advanced to second. PERRY grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt;
   LANGE advanced to second; McCOLGAN advanced to third. FAULKNER flied out
   to cf, SAC, RBI; LANGE advanced to third; McCOLGAN scored. W. THOMPSON
   flied out to rf. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 9
   WILKES reached on a fielding error by 3b. LUCAS flied out to cf. WIENS
   struck out swinging. TAYLOR grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1
   LOB.

PROVO -- A return to California on Thursday hopes to boost the confidence of a BYU team off to a 0-3 start.

"Being outside really helps us," head coach Vance Law said. "A couple of our players competed well, but overall we were lacking. We've had a rougher start, but we're all going to get better."

The Cougars will get their first chance to play under the lights in the Pacific Invitational hosted by the University of Pacific. Thursday's game against St. Mary's and Friday's game against Pacific are both scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST) with a final tournament game on Saturday against the University of Nevada (Reno) at 2 p.m. (PST).

Paul Jacinto (0-1, 4.05) is the probable starter for Thursday with Bryce Searle (0-1, 21.00) and Patrick Wells (0-1, 5.40) most likely getting the remaining weekend starts.

Going into the tournament, both first baseman Tim Law and outfielder Ben Saylor have three-game hitting streaks. Saylor leads the team with five hits, and infielder Rob Itri is the team's RBI leader with four.

The St. Mary's Gaels were swept by Cal Poly at home in three games to open its season. St. Mary's is coming off an 18-37-1 season and are picked to finish last in the West Coast Conference.

Pacific plays its season opener against BYU. The Tigers feature a new coaching staff with first time head coach Ed Sprague, a former major league all-star, leading the crew.

Nevada opens its season in the invitational after finishing 32-24 in 2003. Saturday's game will be the first of two meetings between BYU and Nevada this year. The two teams also pair up at the Battle at the Beach Tournament hosted by Pepperdine on Feb. 27.

BYU's leading hitter, Ranger Wiens, will face his former team for the first time since joining the Cougars in 2002. Wiens played his freshman year with the Wolf Pack in 1999 before serving a Church mission. He helped lead Nevada to a 38-20 record and a 21-9 mark in the Big West.

Monday the Cougars travel south for a two-game series against Santa Clara University on Monday and Tuesday at 6 and 3 p.m. (PST). The Broncos began their season winning two of three games at No. 34 UC Riverside. The pitching starters for the series are to be announced.

Friday's and Saturday's games can be followed by live audio, and all of the games except for the match-up on Friday can be tracked with live stats. The live audio in the Nevada game on Saturday requires a College Sports Pass. The pass is also required to listen to future games scheduled against Fresno and San Diego State. Information on the pass and a free 14-day trial pass can be found through a link on BYU's web site. Links to all the web casts can be found at www.byucougars.com.