PROVO -- New Mexico pitcher Danny Ray Herrera did something not many BYU opposing pitchers have: shut down the Cougars' bats down en route to a 4-1 victory Friday night at Larry H. Miller Field.

The loss drops BYU to 33-14-1 (17-6, Mountain West Conference) and out of first place. The Lobos improved to 19-27 (9-13, MWC) with the victory that Herrera took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. BYU head coach Vance Law said that he did a great job limiting the Cougars to the fewest hits they have had all season.

"It wasn't a matter of our guys not playing hard," Law said. "It was a matter of Herrera dominating the strike zone."

Just like Thursday night, New Mexico drew first blood scoring one run in the top of the second inning. The Lobos' run came on a RBI single by Ryan Barba.

New Mexico added two more runs on an unusual play in the fifth frame. Barba led off the inning with a double. Jordan Pacheco followed with a triple to deep right. Pacheco scored on the same play when the relay throw went wide of BYU catcher Casey Nelson.

Beus kept a dangerous New Mexico hitting team off balance all night. He pitched 6 2/3 innings giving up only two earned runs while striking out six. Beus only gave up eight hits to the Lobos.

Herrera's no hit and shut out bids ended in the bottom of the seventh inning when Jeff Hiestand ripped an opposite-field double to extend his hitting streak to 26 games. Hiestand moved to third on a Brandon Taylor ground out and scored from third on a wild pitch by Herrera.

New Mexico answered with one run in the top of the eighth on a solo home run by Daniel Stovall to push the Lobos lead to 4-1.

BYU had an opportunity to do damage in the top of the eighth as the Cougars loaded the bases with nobody out in the inning. Herrera battled back and pitched himself out of the jam without giving up a run.

New Mexico at Brigham Young Univ.
May 06, 2005 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
New Mexico 4 (20-27,10-13 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
PACHECO, Jordan 2b.......  5  1  2  1   0  0  2  1   0
HAYMORE, Garrick lf......  5  0  2  0   0  2  2  0   0
CARLSON, Chris dh........  4  0  1  0   1  0  0  0   2
STOVALL, Daniel 1b.......  4  1  1  1   0  0  7  2   2
FOOTE, Matt cf...........  3  0  0  0   1  1  2  0   0
HOLLICK, Ian 3b..........  3  1  1  0   1  1  0  1   0
DABBS, Chris rf..........  3  0  1  0   1  1  2  0   0
GRADY, Jeff c............  4  0  0  0   0  3  9  0   3
BARBA, Ryan ss...........  4  1  3  1   0  1  1  3   0
HERRERA, Danny Ray p.....  0  0  0  0   0  0  2  2   0
Totals................... 35  4 11  3   4  9 27  9   8
Brigham Young Univ. 1 (33-14-1,17-6 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
CHAMBERS, Ryan cf........  4  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
VILLEZCAS, Marcos ss.....  4  0  0  0   0  3  1  6   0
NAKAYAMA, Apana dh.......  4  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   3
HIESTAND, Jeff 1b........  4  1  1  0   0  2 11  0   0
TAYLOR, Brandon 3b.......  3  0  0  0   1  1  0  4   0
SAYLOR, Ben lf...........  3  0  0  0   1  1  3  0   0
KNELL, Kory rf...........  2  0  0  0   1  1  0  0   0
NELSON, Casey c..........  3  0  1  0   0  0  8  0   2
 SLOAN, Kevin pr.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 CLOWARD, Casey c........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
RELF, Brandon 2b.........  3  0  1  0   0  0  2  2   0
BEUS, Lance p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 BARRETT, Joshua p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 JENSEN, Matthew p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 30  1  3  0   3  8 27 15   5
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico.......... 010 020 010 -  4 11  0
Brigham Young Univ.. 000 000 100 -  1  3  2
-------------------------------------------
E - RELF(4); BEUS(1). DP - BYU Cougars 2. LOB - New Mexico 8; BYU Cougars 5.
2B - HOLLICK; BARBA 2(10); HIESTAND(15). 3B - PACHECO(5). HR - STOVALL(7).
SB - FOOTE(8).
New Mexico             IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
HERRERA, Danny Ray..  9.0  3  1  1  3  8 30 33 125
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
BEUS, Lance.........  6.2  8  3  2  4  6 25 29  98
BARRETT, Joshua.....  1.1  2  1  1  0  2  6  6  19
JENSEN, Matthew.....  1.0  1  0  0  0  1  4  4  17
Win - HERRERA (6-4).  Loss - BEUS (1-1).  Save - None.
WP - HERRERA. Pitches/strikes: HERRERA 125/75; BEUS 98/62; BARRETT 19/13; JENSEN
17/12.
Umpires - HP: Reuben Chavira  1B: Randy Upton  3B: Kevin Daugherty
Start: 7:10 pm   Time: 2:23   Attendance: 1378
New Mexico at Brigham Young Univ. - Play-by-Play
May 06, 2005 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico.......... 010 020 010 -  4 11  0
Brigham Young Univ.. 000 000 100 -  1  3  2
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico starters: 1/2b PACHECO; 14/lf HAYMORE; 35/dh CARLSON, C.; 34/1b STOVALL;
12/cf FOOTE; 10/3b HOLLICK; 29/rf DABBS; 15/c GRADY, J.; 6/ss BARBA; 2/p HERRERA;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 22/cf CHAMBERS; 10/ss VILLEZCAS; 24/dh NAKAYAMA; 16/1b
HIESTAND; 3/3b TAYLOR; 25/lf SAYLOR; 12/rf KNELL; 8/c NELSON; 26/2b RELF; 14/p BEUS;
New Mexico 1st - PACHECO grounded out to ss (1-0). HAYMORE singled to left
field (0-0). CARLSON, C. singled through the left side (1-2); HAYMORE advanced to
second. STOVALL grounded into double play p to ss to 1b (0-0); CARLSON, C. out on
the play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - CHAMBERS flied out to lf (2-2). VILLEZCAS struck
out swinging (2-2). NAKAYAMA grounded out to p unassisted (1-1). 0 runs, 0 hits,
0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 2nd - FOOTE grounded out to 2b (0-2). HOLLICK walked (3-1). DABBS
singled to third base (0-1); HOLLICK advanced to second. GRADY, J. struck out
swinging (3-2). BARBA singled to center field, RBI (0-1); DABBS advanced to second,
out at second cf to 3b to 2b; HOLLICK scored. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - HIESTAND struck out swinging (2-2). TAYLOR walked
(3-1). SAYLOR walked (3-2); TAYLOR advanced to second. KNELL reached on a fielder's
choice (2-1); SAYLOR out at second ss to 2b; TAYLOR advanced to third. NELSON
reached on a fielder's choice (3-1); KNELL out at second ss unassisted. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico 3rd - PACHECO grounded out to 3b (1-1). HAYMORE singled, bunt,
advanced to second on a throwing error by p (0-1). CARLSON, C. flied out to lf
(1-1). STOVALL flied out to cf (1-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - RELF grounded out to ss (0-1). CHAMBERS popped up
to lf (0-0). VILLEZCAS struck out swinging (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
New Mexico 4th - FOOTE grounded out to ss (0-0). HOLLICK grounded out to 3b
(0-0). DABBS walked (3-2). GRADY, J. struck out swinging (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - NAKAYAMA grounded out to p (1-0). HIESTAND struck
out swinging (1-2). TAYLOR struck out swinging (0-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
New Mexico 5th - BARBA doubled to left field (0-1). PACHECO tripled to right
field, scored on a throwing error by 2b, RBI, unearned (2-2); BARBA scored. HAYMORE
struck out swinging (0-2). CARLSON, C. walked (3-2). STOVALL grounded into double
play ss to 2b to 1b (0-0); CARLSON, C. out on the play. 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error,
0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - SAYLOR grounded out to 2b (1-1). KNELL struck out
looking (2-2). NELSON flied out to cf (1-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 6th - FOOTE walked (3-1). FOOTE stole second. HOLLICK struck out
looking (1-2). DABBS grounded out to 3b (0-0). GRADY, J. struck out swinging (3-2).
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - RELF flied out to rf (3-1). CHAMBERS flied out to
cf (2-2). VILLEZCAS grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 7th - BARBA doubled down the lf line (3-2). PACHECO grounded out
to ss (1-0); BARBA advanced to third. HAYMORE struck out looking (0-2). BARRETT to p
for BEUS. CARLSON, C. flied out to lf (1-1). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - NAKAYAMA out at first 1b to p (1-0). HIESTAND
doubled down the lf line (1-0). TAYLOR grounded out to ss (0-2); HIESTAND advanced
to third. HIESTAND scored on a wild pitch. SAYLOR struck out looking (2-2). 1
run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 8th - STOVALL homered to right field, RBI (0-0). FOOTE struck out
swinging (2-2). HOLLICK doubled down the lf line (1-2). DABBS struck out swinging
(2-2). GRADY, J. grounded out to p (0-0). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - KNELL walked (3-2). NELSON singled up the middle
(2-0); KNELL advanced to second. SLOAN pinch ran for NELSON. RELF singled to right
field (0-0); SLOAN advanced to second; KNELL advanced to third. CHAMBERS reached on
a fielder's choice (1-0); RELF advanced to second; SLOAN advanced to third; KNELL
out at home 1b to c. VILLEZCAS struck out swinging (2-2). NAKAYAMA flied out to rf
(1-1). 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
New Mexico 9th - CLOWARD to c for SLOAN. JENSEN to p for BARRETT. BARBA
struck out swinging (1-2). PACHECO singled to shortstop (1-1). HAYMORE flied out to
lf (2-1). CARLSON, C. grounded out to ss (1-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 9th - HIESTAND grounded out to p (0-0). TAYLOR grounded
out to 3b (1-1). SAYLOR popped up to 2b (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.

No. 1 in the nation at slugging and doubles are two kudos for BYU as it hosts the final six games of the home season, beginning Thursday with a three-game series against New Mexico.

The Cougars, 32-13-1, are tied for first place in the Mountain West Conference at 16-5 with UNLV, while UNM is tied for fourth with Utah at 9-12.

BYU ascended to the nation's lead with a .564 slugging percentage in the latest NCAA statistics and are still on school-record pace averaging 2.93 doubles. The Lobos also have a national leader with Garrick Haymore averaging .21 triples as UNM is second as a team in the nation in that category at 0.71.

BYU also has some individual leaders topped by Brandon Taylor and Ben Saylor. Taylor, who was named to a national player of the week honor for the second consecutive week, is sixth in the nation with his 18 homers and is fifth nationally in RBI with a 1.51 average. Saylor is third nationally, averaging 0.5 doubles.

The Cougars are hopeful for the return of freshman phenom Sean McNaughton this week after he was sidelined last month with a broken thumb. UNM also has a top freshman second baseman in Jordan Pacheco who leads the MWC in several categories.

BYU will be starting Dave Horlacher (4-2, 3.84) on the mound in Thursday's game at 7 p.m., at Larry H. Miller Field. On Friday, BYU Coach Vance Law has tapped a new starter in junior southpaw Lance Beus (1-0, 6.48), also starting at 7 p.m. This is the first start of the season for Beus, who had arm surgery last Fall. On Saturday at 1 p.m., freshman Blake Torgerson (5-2, 5.77) will be the BYU starter.

Saturday vs. UNM is Cosmo's Kids Club Day and Kids Take Over Milleryy´Park Day. Kids will be helping take tickets, read PA's, select music, and rake the field with the grounds crew. Kids will be selected starting at 12 noon at Cosmo's Kids Club Party. There is a FREE Youth Baseball Clinic (ages of 8-12, pre-register on www.byucougars.com) following the 1 p.m. game vs. New Mexico.

Next week, BYU closes its regular season at home with a three-game stand against UNLV.

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.