PROVO -- Brandon Christiansen and Blake Torgerson led BYU to a doubleheader and series sweep of Utah 7-2, 5-3, Saturday at Larry H. Miller Field.

The Cougars (17-5-1, 5-1 Mountain West Conference) used only three pitchers in the two ballgames. The Utes (7-16, 1-5) could only muster 14 hits and five runs in the doubleheader. BYU coach Vance Law is pleased with the way his team is playing as it returned to a first-place tie with UNLV in the MWC.

"We're playing well and we're playing with confidence," Law said. "There can't be too many teams in school history that have had a better start than us. (This is the best record for BYU since it started with an 18-5 mark in 1980)."

In game one, the Utes started the scoring in the top of the third inning after consecutive hits by Utah batters. Tyler Kay hit a one-out single and he was followed with a John Welsh RBI double into the left-center gap.

BYU was quick to respond in its half of the third inning, scoring three runs on five hits to take a 3-1 lead. The Cougars started their rally with consecutive two-baggers from Casey Cloward and Sean McNaughton. McNaughton scored on a RBI single by Apana Nakayama. Two consecutive singles followed--one by Jeff Hiestand to move Nakayama to second--and one by Brandon Taylor to drive in Nakayama.

In the sixth inning, Utah cut into the lead. The Utes led off the inning with consecutive singles--a bunt by Ryan Khoury and a grounder that got through the infield by Doug Beck. BYU pitcher Christiansen did a good job of damage control as he didn't give up another hit in the inning. The Utes' only run of the inning was on a fielder's choice.

The Cougars added to their lead in the seventh inning when McNaughton and Villezcas got back-to-back hits. McNaughton's was a one-out single and Villezcas followed with a RBI double. After Nakayama flied out, Hiestand hit a two-out, two-run home run, his second of the series. The homer put BYU up 6-2 in the late innings. The Cougars added an insurance run in the eighth when Adrian Molina hit a run-scoring single after Ben Saylor led the inning off with a double.

Christiansen pitched a complete game to earn the victory, holding the Utes to only two runs and seven hits.

In game two, Utah jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. The Utes scored one in the first inning and two in the third on a two-run homer by Khoury. After that BYU pitching settled in and Utah didn't score again in the game. Meanwhile, the Cougars fought back. BYU scored a run in the fourth inning when Nakayama tripled and scored on a double-play ball.

In the fifth, the Cougars grabbed the lead on back-to-back doubles. McNaughton hit one to score Kory Knell who walked to lead off the inning. He was followed by Marcos Villezcas' two-run, two-bagger. BYU added an insurance run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Chambers that scored Nakayama.

Game two also had strong pitching performances from starter Torgerson--who earned the win--and reliever Josh Barrett--who earned the save.

The Cougars return to action when they travel to Corvallis, Ore., for a two-game series Monday and Tuesday before returning home for a three-game series with Air Force which starts Thursday.

University of Utah at Brigham Young Univ. (Game 1)
Mar 26, 2005 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
University of Utah 2 (7-15,1-4 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
WELSH, John cf...........  4  0  1  1   0  0  4  0   0
KHOURY, Ryan ss..........  3  1  2  0   1  0  4  2   0
BECK, Doug 2b............  4  0  1  0   0  0  4  2   1
MOZELESKI, Joe rf........  4  0  0  1   0  0  1  0   2
BROSSMAN, Jay 3b.........  4  0  0  0   0  0  1  3   0
EASTMAN, Trevor 1b.......  4  0  0  0   0  0  5  1   1
OLSEN, Ryder dh..........  4  0  1  0   0  1  0  0   1
FRANK, Adam c............  3  0  0  0   0  0  4  1   0
KAY, Tyler lf............  3  1  2  0   0  0  1  0   0
 TARTLER, Seth lf........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
CROCKETT, Matt p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 BAILEY, Brandon p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 MADSEN, Josh p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 33  2  7  2   1  1 24 10   5
Brigham Young Univ. 7 (16-5-1,4-1 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
McNAUGHTON, Sean 2b......  4  2  2  1   0  0  4  5   0
VILLEZCAS, Marcos ss.....  4  1  2  1   0  1  1  5   0
NAKAYAMA, Apana dh.......  4  1  2  1   0  0  0  0   0
HIESTAND, Jeff 1b........  4  1  2  2   0  1 14  0   0
TAYLOR, Brandon 3b.......  4  0  2  1   0  1  2  6   1
SAYLOR, Ben lf...........  3  1  2  0   0  0  0  0   0
MOLINA, Adrian cf........  4  0  1  1   0  1  3  0   4
CHAMBERS, Ryan rf........  4  0  0  0   0  0  2  0   0
CLOWARD, Casey c.........  4  1  2  0   0  0  1  0   0
CHRISTIANSEN, Brandon p... 0  0  0  0   0  0  0  3   0
Totals................... 35  7 15  7   0  4 27 19   5
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
University of Utah.. 001 001 000 -  2  7  0
Brigham Young Univ.. 003 000 31X -  7 15  2
-------------------------------------------
E - McNAUGHTON; TAYLOR. DP - Utah Utes 3; BYU Cougars 3. LOB - Utah Utes 5;
BYU Cougars 5. 2B - WELSH; McNAUGHTON; VILLEZCAS; SAYLOR; CLOWARD. HR -
HIESTAND(5). HBP - SAYLOR.
University of Utah     IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
CROCKETT, Matt......  6.1 12  5  5  0  4 28 29
BAILEY, Brandon.....  1.0  3  2  2  0  0  6  6
MADSEN, Josh........  0.2  0  0  0  0  0  1  1
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
CHRISTIANSEN, Brandon 9.0  7  2  2  1  1 33 34
Win - CHRISTIANSEN (2-0).  Loss - CROCKETT (2-5).  Save - None.
WP - CHRISTIANSEN. HBP - by CROCKETT (SAYLOR).
Umpires - HP: Ted Bergquist  1B: Randy Upton  3B: John DeLuca
Start: 1:04 pm   Time: 2:17
University of Utah at Brigham Young Univ. (Game 1) - Play-by-Play
Mar 26, 2005 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
University of Utah.. 001 001 000 -  2  7  0
Brigham Young Univ.. 003 000 31X -  7 15  2
-------------------------------------------
University of Utah starters: 4/cf WELSH; 2/ss KHOURY; 3/2b BECK; 22/rf MOZELESKI;
18/3b BROSSMAN; 5/1b EASTMAN; 24/dh OLSEN; 10/c FRANK; 1/lf KAY; 34/p CROCKETT;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 15/2b McNAUGHTON; 10/ss VILLEZCAS; 24/dh NAKAYAMA;
16/1b HIESTAND; 3/3b TAYLOR; 25/lf SAYLOR; 1/cf MOLINA; 22/rf CHAMBERS; 9/c CLOWARD;
31/p CHRISTIANSEN;
University of Utah 1st - WELSH grounded out to p. KHOURY walked. BECK flied
out to cf. MOZELESKI flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - McNAUGHTON flied out to lf. VILLEZCAS singled to
right center. NAKAYAMA grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b; VILLEZCAS out on
the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
University of Utah 2nd - BROSSMAN reached on a throwing error by 2b. EASTMAN
grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b; BROSSMAN out on the play. OLSEN struck out
looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - HIESTAND struck out looking. TAYLOR singled to
shortstop. SAYLOR singled to left field; TAYLOR advanced to second. MOLINA grounded
into double play 3b to 1b; TAYLOR out on the play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
University of Utah 3rd - FRANK grounded out to 2b. KAY singled to third base.
WELSH doubled to left center, RBI; KAY scored. KHOURY popped up to ss. BECK grounded
out to ss. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - CHAMBERS popped up to ss. CLOWARD doubled to left
field. McNAUGHTON doubled down the lf line, RBI; CLOWARD scored. VILLEZCAS struck
out looking. NAKAYAMA singled to right field, RBI; McNAUGHTON scored. HIESTAND
singled up the middle; NAKAYAMA advanced to second. TAYLOR singled to left field,
RBI; HIESTAND advanced to second; NAKAYAMA scored. SAYLOR hit by pitch; TAYLOR
advanced to second; HIESTAND advanced to third. MOLINA struck out swinging. 3
runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
University of Utah 4th - MOZELESKI grounded out to ss. BROSSMAN grounded out
to 3b. EASTMAN reached on a fielding error by 3b. OLSEN grounded out to 2b. 0
runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - CHAMBERS flied out to rf. CLOWARD singled to center
field. CLOWARD out at second p to 1b to ss, picked off. McNAUGHTON flied out to cf.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
University of Utah 5th - FRANK flied out to rf. KAY singled to shortstop.
WELSH grounded into double play 3b to 1b; KAY out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - VILLEZCAS grounded out to c. NAKAYAMA singled to
left field. HIESTAND lined out to 2b. TAYLOR struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit,
0 errors, 1 LOB.
University of Utah 6th - KHOURY singled, bunt. BECK singled to left field;
KHOURY advanced to third. MOZELESKI reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; BECK out at
second ss to 2b; KHOURY scored. BROSSMAN fouled out to 1b. EASTMAN grounded out to
3b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - SAYLOR popped up to ss. MOLINA grounded out to 3b,
bunt. CHAMBERS flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
University of Utah 7th - OLSEN singled to first base. OLSEN advanced to
second on a wild pitch. FRANK reached on a fielder's choice; OLSEN out at third p to
3b. KAY grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; FRANK out on the play. 0 runs,
1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - CLOWARD flied out to cf. McNAUGHTON singled to
shortstop. VILLEZCAS doubled down the rf line, RBI; McNAUGHTON scored. BAILEY to p
for CROCKETT. NAKAYAMA flied out to cf. HIESTAND homered to right field, 2 RBI;
VILLEZCAS scored. TAYLOR fouled out to 2b. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
University of Utah 8th - WELSH out at first p to 2b to 1b. KHOURY singled to
right center. BECK flied out to cf. MOZELESKI reached on a fielder's choice; KHOURY
out at second 3b to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - TARTLER to lf for KAY. SAYLOR doubled down the rf
line. MOLINA singled up the middle, RBI; SAYLOR scored. CHAMBERS reached on a
fielder's choice; MOLINA out at second ss to 2b. MADSEN to p for BAILEY. CLOWARD
grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b; CHAMBERS out on the play. 1 run, 2
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
University of Utah 9th - BROSSMAN grounded out to 3b. EASTMAN grounded out to
ss. OLSEN flied out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
University of Utah at Brigham Young Univ. 
Mar 26, 2005 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
University of Utah 3 (7-16,1-5 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
WELSH, John cf...........  4  2  2  0   0  0  2  0   0
KHOURY, Ryan ss..........  4  1  3  2   0  0  0  2   0
BECK, Doug 2b............  3  0  0  1   0  0  4  5   1
MOZELESKI, Joe rf........  4  0  1  0   0  1  4  0   0
BROSSMAN, Jay 3b.........  3  0  1  0   0  0  0  5   0
GARRETT, Clayne 1b.......  4  0  1  0   0  0 11  0   0
EASTMAN, Trevor c........  3  0  0  0   0  0  3  0   1
OLSEN, Ryder dh..........  3  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   1
KAY, Tyler lf............  2  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 TUMMOLO, Mike ph........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 TARTLER, Seth lf........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
FREED, Bryce p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 LANE, Brian p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 COOPER, Josh p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 31  3  8  3   0  1 24 14   3
Brigham Young Univ. 5 (17-5-1,5-1 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
McNAUGHTON, Sean 2b......  4  1  3  1   0  0  2  5   0
VILLEZCAS, Marcos ss.....  4  0  1  2   0  0  0  5   1
NAKAYAMA, Apana dh.......  4  2  2  0   0  0  0  0   0
HIESTAND, Jeff 1b........  2  0  1  0   0  1  9  0   0
 CHAMBERS, Ryan rf.......  0  0  0  1   0  0  1  0   0
TAYLOR, Brandon 3b.......  4  0  0  0   0  0  2  3   1
SAYLOR, Ben lf/1b........  4  0  2  0   0  1  6  0   0
MOLINA, Adrian cf........  3  0  0  0   1  1  3  0   3
KNELL, Kory rf/lf........  2  1  0  0   1  0  2  1   0
NELSON, Casey c..........  3  1  1  0   0  0  1  0   0
 CLOWARD, Casey c........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
TORGERSON, Blake p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
 BARRETT, Joshua p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 30  5 10  4   2  3 27 15   5
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
University of Utah.. 102 000 000 -  3  8  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 000 130 01X -  5 10  0
-------------------------------------------
E - COOPER. DP - Utah Utes 3; BYU Cougars 2. LOB - Utah Utes 3;
BYU Cougars 5. 2B - WELSH; KHOURY; GARRETT; McNAUGHTON; VILLEZCAS; NAKAYAMA;
HIESTAND; SAYLOR. 3B - NAKAYAMA. HR - KHOURY(3). HBP - HIESTAND. SH -
BROSSMAN. SF - BECK; CHAMBERS.
University of Utah     IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
FREED, Bryce........  4.0  6  3  3  1  1 16 18
LANE, Brian.........  2.2  2  1  1  1  1  9 10
COOPER, Josh........  1.1  2  1  1  0  1  5  6
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
TORGERSON, Blake....  7.0  6  3  1  0  1 24 26
BARRETT, Joshua.....  2.0  2  0  0  0  0  7  7
Win - TORGERSON (3-1).  Loss - LANE (2-3).  Save - BARRETT (2).
WP - TORGERSON. HBP - by FREED (HIESTAND). BK - TORGERSON.
Umpires - HP: Randy Upton  1B: John DeLuca  3B: Ted Bergquist
Start: 3:57 pm   Time: 2:04   Attendance: 1718
FREED faced 2 batters in the 5th.
                      
University of Utah at Brigham Young Univ. (Game 2) - Play-by-Play
Mar 26, 2005 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
University of Utah.. 102 000 000 -  3  8  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 000 130 01X -  5 10  0
-------------------------------------------
University of Utah starters: 4/cf WELSH; 2/ss KHOURY; 3/2b BECK; 22/rf MOZELESKI;
18/3b BROSSMAN; 33/1b GARRETT; 5/c EASTMAN; 24/dh OLSEN; 1/lf KAY; 19/p FREED;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 15/2b McNAUGHTON; 10/ss VILLEZCAS; 24/dh NAKAYAMA;
16/1b HIESTAND; 3/3b TAYLOR; 25/lf SAYLOR; 1/cf MOLINA; 12/rf KNELL; 8/c NELSON;
32/p TORGERSON;
University of Utah 1st - WELSH doubled to right center. KHOURY grounded out
to 2b; WELSH advanced to third. BECK flied out to cf, SF, RBI; WELSH scored.
MOZELESKI struck out swinging. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - McNAUGHTON singled through the right side.
VILLEZCAS grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b; McNAUGHTON out on the play.
NAKAYAMA grounded out to p. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
University of Utah 2nd - BROSSMAN grounded out to 2b. GARRETT flied out to
lf. EASTMAN lined out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - HIESTAND doubled to right center. TAYLOR flied out
to cf; HIESTAND advanced to third. SAYLOR struck out swinging. MOLINA grounded out
to 3b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
University of Utah 3rd - OLSEN out at first 2b to p. KAY grounded out to 1b
unassisted. WELSH singled to shortstop on a diving play by VILLEZCAS. WELSH advanced to second on a
balk. KHOURY homered to left field, 2 RBI, unearned; WELSH scored, unearned. BECK
grounded out to 3b. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - KNELL fouled out to rf. NELSON grounded out to 3b.
McNAUGHTON singled to left field. VILLEZCAS flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
University of Utah 4th - MOZELESKI singled through the left side. BROSSMAN
grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt; MOZELESKI advanced to second. GARRETT flied out to
rf. EASTMAN flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - NAKAYAMA tripled to left center. HIESTAND hit by
pitch. TAYLOR grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b; HIESTAND out on the play;
NAKAYAMA scored. SAYLOR singled to right field. MOLINA grounded out to p. 1 run,
2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
University of Utah 5th - OLSEN grounded out to 2b. KAY grounded out to ss.
WELSH flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - KNELL walked. NELSON singled to right center; KNELL
advanced to third. LANE to p for FREED. McNAUGHTON doubled down the rf line, RBI;
NELSON advanced to third; KNELL scored. VILLEZCAS doubled to right center, 2 RBI;
McNAUGHTON scored; NELSON scored. NAKAYAMA flied out to rf. HIESTAND struck out
swinging. TAYLOR grounded out to ss. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
University of Utah 6th - KHOURY singled to left field. BECK grounded into
double play ss to 2b to 1b; KHOURY out on the play. MOZELESKI grounded out to 3b.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - SAYLOR grounded out to 2b. MOLINA walked. KNELL
grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b; MOLINA out on the play. 0 runs, 0 hits,
0 errors, 0 LOB.
University of Utah 7th - CHAMBERS to rf for HIESTAND. SAYLOR to 1b. KNELL to
lf. BROSSMAN flied out to cf. GARRETT doubled to right center. GARRETT advanced to
third on a wild pitch. EASTMAN grounded out to p. OLSEN grounded out to ss. 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - NELSON grounded out to ss. McNAUGHTON popped up to
2b. COOPER to p for LANE. VILLEZCAS grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors,
0 LOB.
University of Utah 8th - BARRETT to p for TORGERSON. TUMMOLO pinch hit for
KAY. TUMMOLO flied out to rf. WELSH grounded out to ss. KHOURY doubled down the lf
line. BECK grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - TARTLER to lf for TUMMOLO. NAKAYAMA doubled to
center field. NAKAYAMA advanced to third on a throwing error by p. CHAMBERS flied
out to rf, SF, RBI; NAKAYAMA scored. TAYLOR flied out to cf. SAYLOR doubled to left
center. MOLINA struck out looking. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
University of Utah 9th - CLOWARD to c for NELSON. MOZELESKI popped up to 3b.
BROSSMAN singled to third base. GARRETT flied into double play lf to 2b; BROSSMAN
out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Night baseball games now start at BYU this week, beginning with Tuesday's 7 p.m. tilt between BYU and Utah Valley State.

BYU, now 13-5-1, hosts UVSC, 6-16, for the second time this season. The Cougars beat the Wolverines, 15-8, earlier this month at Larry H. Miller Field.

The Cougars are likely to start lefty Patrick Wells (1-1, 5.23) on the mound. The senior has been absent from action for several weeks due to tendonitis.

Following the BYU-UVSC game, the Cougars ready for a clash with the University of Utah, 7-13 overall and 1-2 in the Mountain West Conference.

The three-game series with Utah begins on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. Saturday's finale between BYU and Utah in Provo starts at 1 p.m. and will be followed by a youth clinic.

BYU brings a 2-1 MWC record into this week's action, good enough for second place in the league. Last week, BYU had an eight-game winning streak stopped at New Mexico before the Cougars bounced back to win the last two games against the Lobos.

The probable pitching rotation for BYU will be Dave Horlacher (1-1, 3.90), followed by Brandon Christiansen (1-0, 4.32) and Blake Torgerson (2-1, 5.52).

Those BYU-Utah games will be broadcast live over KOVO Radio (960 AM) locally and via the Internet (see links on the BYU baseball schedule on www.byucougars.com).

A multi-page release can be found by downloading the PDF file at the top of this story, which gives a detailed analysis of the Cougars.