PROVO -- League favorite TCU took advantage of every BYU miscue Saturday en route to a 12-3 victory to claim the series.

No. 27 TCU improves to 18-7 (5-1 in conference play), while BYU drops to 14-10 (3-3 in the Mountain West Conference).

"This is the best I've seen TCU swing the bats since they've been in the conference," BYU head coach Vance Law said. "They're a tough team and they play the game the right way. A lot of our guys are freshman and sophomores and a lot of times I have to remind myself of that. We have a lot of talent though and I'd rather have talent over experience. I still have a lot of confidence in our guys."

TCU hit .455 on the day (20-44) as a team and did not commit a single error. BYU went 8-32 for a .250 average on the day. BYU also left nine men on base to TCU's 10.

BYU's Apana Nakayama did not play Saturday due to soreness in his left knee after a collision in the field in Friday's game. Nakayama previously had surgery on his right knee, but soreness in that knee was not a factor the decision for him to sit Saturday's game.

"It takes a little luster off your team when your top power guy can't go for you," Law said. "We've got to figure out how to manufacture runs with three of our starters out and speed has got to become more of a factor."

After a scoreless first inning for both teams, Austin Adams led off the second for the Horned Frogs with a single up the middle. Andrew Walker followed with a two-run shot over the 388 mark in left center for the first runs of the game.

With two runners in scoring position in the third inning, BYU's Collin Fanning hit an RBI single through the infield into right field, scoring Austin Hall and leaving runners at the corners with no outs. Fanning was thrown out at second trying to steal before Wells hit an RBI triple to the warning track in right center to tie the game at 2-2. Walton struck out swinging for the second out of the inning and Parker walked on four pitches to put runners at the corners for the second time in the inning for the Cougars, but they were not able to capitalize. Kasey Ko flied to left to end the inning and left a man on third for the third time in as many innings.

The fourth inning was not a positive one for the Cougars. Starting pitcher Jake Wortham gave up four hits in a row without recording an out before he was pulled. Brad Kidd came in to relieve Chris Johnson, but the Horned Frogs were already on a roll. They finished the inning with seven hits, five of them in a row, and five runs on no BYU errors.

TCU's Matt Vern hit a deep home run to right center that went into the street in the fifth inning to score TCU's eighth run of the day. BYU's Steve Parker answered with a lead-off homer in the sixth over the center field wall.

TCU scored two more in the seventh on an RBI single and a wild pitch, respectively. Clayton Barnes came in to pitch for the Cougars after the RBI single and walked two batters before a groundout to third ended the inning.

After Barnes gave up two hits and two runs on two errors in the eighth inning, right-hander Jacob Perez came in as the fifth BYU pitcher of the day. He gave up a double to the first batter he saw to put runners at second and third. He hit the next batter he faced to fill the bases with no outs. He was able to work out of the jam, though, after a line-out in the infield and a 3-2-3 double play to end the inning without giving up any more runs.

Left-hander Brandon Michon came on to close the ninth for BYU and retired the side in order with two strikeouts and a groundout. BYU came back from a two-run deficit in the ninth on Friday night to win, but Saturday's nine run deficit (12-3) proved too big a mountain to climb to earn the second win of the series. Collin Fanning did hit a two out single up the middle to keep the Cougar hopes alive, but Wells flied to left to end the game.

BYU will play at Washington State on Tuesday and Wednesday before returning home to face Binghamton University Friday, Saturday and the following Monday.

TCU at Brigham Young Univ.
Mar 24, 2007 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
TCU 12 (18-7,5-1 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
KERVIN, Bryan ss.........  5  0  1  1   1  0  3  3   2
TROUT, Steven 3b.........  3  0  1  0   1  1  0  3   0
CONLON, Keith cf.........  6  1  3  0   0  0  1  1   2
ADAMS, Austin rf.........  6  2  2  1   0  2  1  0   0
WALKER, Andrew c.........  5  2  2  2   0  0  6  1   5
 WOODRUFF, Hunt c........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
STEGLICH, Corey dh.......  5  2  3  1   0  0  0  0   0
VERN, Matt 1b............  5  2  3  1   0  1  9  2   0
ARNOLD, Clint lf.........  4  1  2  1   0  0  4  0   0
CARRUTHERS, Ben 2b.......  5  2  2  3   0  0  2  2   1
JOHNSON, Chris p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
 FURROW, Donald p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 44 12 19 10   2  4 27 13  10
Brigham Young Univ. 3 (14-10,3-3 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
JOHNSON, Leon lf.........  5  1  2  0   0  0  0  0   3
FANNING, Collin rf.......  3  0  3  1   1  0  1  0   0
WELLS, Stephen cf........  5  0  1  1   0  1  7  0   1
WALTON, Kent 2b..........  4  0  0  0   0  1  0  3   1
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  3  1  1  1   1  1  0  3   1
KO, Kasey 1b.............  2  0  0  0   1  0 10  1   2
 BILLS, Thomas ph/1b.....  1  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
JOHNSON, Jason dh........  2  0  1  0   1  0  0  0   0
 MC KEEVER, Mike ph......  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
MUSSO, J.T. c............  2  0  0  0   1  1  3  2   1
 FRAMPTON, Chase ph/c....  1  0  0  0   0  0  2  0   0
 GUENTHER, Wes c.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
HALL, Austin ss..........  2  1  0  0   1  2  2  4   0
 JOHNSON, Chris ss.......  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
WORTHAM, Jake p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 KIDD, Brad p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
 WARD, Michael p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BARNES, Clayton p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PEREZ, Jacob p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 MICHON, Brandon p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 32  3  8  3   6  6 27 13   9
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
TCU................. 020 510 220 - 12 19  0
Brigham Young Univ.. 002 001 000 -  3  8  3
-------------------------------------------
E - MUSSO 2(4); HALL. DP - BYU Cougars 2. LOB - Horned Frogs 10; BYU Cougars
9. 2B - CONLON(6); STEGLICH(3); VERN(4); ARNOLD 2(4); JOHNSON, J.(4). 3B -
CARRUTHERS(1); WELLS(2). HR - WALKER(3); VERN(2); PARKER(3). HBP - TROUT 2;
ARNOLD. SH - FANNING(2). SB - KERVIN(4); ADAMS(2); WALKER(2); CARRUTHERS(3);
JOHNSON, J.(2). CS - FANNING(2).
TCU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
JOHNSON, Chris......  5.1  7  3  3  5  3 20 26
FURROW, Donald......  3.2  1  0  0  1  3 12 13
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
WORTHAM, Jake.......  3.0 10  6  6  1  0 18 19
KIDD, Brad..........  2.1  4  2  2  0  0 10 11
WARD, Michael.......  1.1  2  2  1  0  2  6  6
BARNES, Clayton.....  0.1  2  2  1  1  0  4  6
PEREZ, Jacob........  1.0  1  0  0  0  0  3  4
MICHON, Brandon.....  1.0  0  0  0  0  2  3  3
Win - JOHNSON (4-2).  Loss - WORTHAM (3-3).  Save - FURROW (1).
WP - JOHNSON 2(2); KIDD(2); BARNES(2). HBP - by KIDD (TROUT); by BARNES (TROUT);
by PEREZ (ARNOLD). BK - JOHNSON(3).
Umpires - HP: Bruce Bayne  1B: Randy Upton  3B: Bradley Hungerford
Start: 1:02 pm   Time: 3:06   Attendance: 1682
Game notes:
Game 3 of 3
WORTHAM faced 5 batters in the 4th.
BARNES faced 3 batters in the 8th.
TCU starters: 1/ss KERVIN; 16/3b TROUT; 27/cf CONLON; 44/rf ADAMS; 6/c WALKER; 3/dh
STEGLICH; 21/1b VERN; 5/lf ARNOLD; 20/2b CARRUTHERS; 37/p JOHNSON;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 14/lf JOHNSON, L.; 17/rf FANNING; 1/cf WELLS; 9/2b
WALTON; 5/3b PARKER; 22/1b KO; 7/dh JOHNSON, J.; 10/c MUSSO; 18/ss HALL; 28/p
WORTHAM;
TCU 1st - KERVIN flied out to cf. TROUT singled to center field. CONLON
grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b; TROUT out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - JOHNSON, L. singled, bunt. JOHNSON, L. advanced to
second on a balk. FANNING grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt; JOHNSON, L. advanced to
third. WELLS fouled out to lf. WALTON fouled out to c. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
TCU 2nd - ADAMS singled up the middle. WALKER homered to left field, 2 RBI;
ADAMS scored. STEGLICH grounded out to 2b. VERN flied out to rf. ARNOLD doubled to
left field. CARRUTHERS flied out to cf. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - PARKER grounded out to 2b. KO walked. KO advanced
to second on a wild pitch. JOHNSON, J. grounded out to 2b; KO advanced to third.
MUSSO grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
TCU 3rd - KERVIN flied out to cf. TROUT walked. CONLON singled to right
field; TROUT advanced to second. ADAMS flied out to cf; TROUT advanced to third.
WALKER grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - HALL walked. JOHNSON, L. singled to left field,
advanced to second on the throw; HALL advanced to third. FANNING singled to right
field, RBI; JOHNSON, L. advanced to third; HALL scored. FANNING out at second c to
ss, caught stealing. WELLS tripled to right center, RBI; JOHNSON, L. scored. WALTON
struck out swinging. PARKER walked. KO flied out to lf. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors,
2 LOB.
TCU 4th - STEGLICH doubled down the lf line. VERN singled up the middle;
STEGLICH advanced to third. ARNOLD doubled to left center, RBI; VERN advanced to
third; STEGLICH scored. CARRUTHERS tripled to left field, 2 RBI; ARNOLD scored; VERN
scored. KERVIN singled to left field, RBI; CARRUTHERS scored. KIDD to p for WORTHAM.
TROUT flied out to cf. CONLON doubled to left field; KERVIN advanced to third.
CONLON advanced to third on a wild pitch; KERVIN out at home c to p. ADAMS singled
to left field, RBI; CONLON scored. WALKER flied out to cf. 5 runs, 7 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - JOHNSON, J. walked. MUSSO struck out swinging.
JOHNSON, J. stole second. HALL struck out, reached first on a wild pitch; JOHNSON,
J. advanced to third. HALL out at first p to 1b, picked off. JOHNSON, L. grounded
out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
TCU 5th - STEGLICH grounded out to ss. VERN homered to left field, RBI.
ARNOLD flied out to cf. CARRUTHERS grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - FANNING singled up the middle, out at second cf to
1b to ss. WELLS grounded out to 1b unassisted. WALTON flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1
hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
TCU 6th - KERVIN grounded out to 1b unassisted. TROUT hit by pitch. CONLON
singled up the middle; TROUT advanced to second. WARD to p for KIDD. ADAMS struck
out looking. WALKER grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - PARKER homered to center field, RBI. KO out at
first 1b to p. JOHNSON, J. doubled to center field. MUSSO walked. FURROW to p for
JOHNSON. HALL struck out swinging. JOHNSON, L. reached on a fielder's choice; MUSSO
out at second ss unassisted. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
TCU 7th - STEGLICH singled through the right side. VERN struck out swinging.
ARNOLD grounded out to 3b; STEGLICH advanced to second. CARRUTHERS singled to left
field, RBI; STEGLICH scored. BARNES to p for WARD. CARRUTHERS stole second, advanced
to third on a throwing error by c. CARRUTHERS scored on a wild pitch, unearned.
KERVIN walked. KERVIN stole second. TROUT hit by pitch. CONLON grounded out to 3b.
2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - FANNING walked. WELLS struck out swinging. WALTON
reached on a fielder's choice; FANNING out at second ss to 2b. PARKER struck out
looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
TCU 8th - ADAMS reached on a fielding error by ss. WALKER singled to
shortstop; ADAMS advanced to second. WALKER stole second, advanced to third on a
throwing error by c; ADAMS stole third, scored, unearned. STEGLICH singled to
shortstop, RBI; WALKER scored. PEREZ to p for BARNES. VERN doubled to right field;
STEGLICH advanced to third. ARNOLD hit by pitch. CARRUTHERS lined out to ss. KERVIN
grounded into double play 1b to c to 1b; STEGLICH out on the play. 2 runs, 3
hits, 2 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - BILLS pinch hit for KO. BILLS popped up to 2b. MC
KEEVER pinch hit for JOHNSON, J.. MC KEEVER flied out to cf. FRAMPTON pinch hit for
MUSSO. FRAMPTON grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
TCU 9th - BILLS to 1b. GUENTHER to c for FRAMPTON. JOHNSON, C. to ss for
HALL. MICHON to p for PEREZ. FRAMPTON to c for GUENTHER. TROUT struck out looking.
CONLON grounded out to 3b. ADAMS struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 9th - WOODRUFF to c for WALKER. JOHNSON, C. grounded out
to 3b. JOHNSON, L. flied out to lf. FANNING singled to center field. WELLS flied out
to lf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

A rare non-league game with Utah, hosting defending league champion TCU and a post-game fireworks show are all on this week's BYU's baseball schedule.

First up, the Cougars will take their 13-7 record to Franklin Covey Field on Tuesday against Utah, 6-14, in a non-Mountain West Conference game at 6 p.m.

The Cougars are expected to start freshman lefty Blaine Howell, 1-0, 5.14.

Next, BYU takes its 2-1 MWC record against TCU on Thursday as the Horned Frogs bring a 15-6 overall record and a 3-0 league mark to Larry H. Miller Field. That game will be televised live on BYUTV and via tape delay on The Mtn., Friday, March 23 at 8:00 p.m. MT.

Following Thursday's BYU-TCU game will be a fireworks show. The Cougars and TCU are scheduled to play three times this week in Provo.

For more information on BYU's baseball team for this week, click on the PDF link at the top of this page.