PROVO -- Junior college transfer Jeremy Toole led the BYU baseball team from the mound to a 10-2 win over Portland in the Cougars’ home opener on Thursday afternoon at Larry H. Miller Field.

With the win BYU is now 2-4 on the season while Toole was awarded his first win as a Cougar after throwing a complete seven innings. He allowed two runs off of six hits, while dealing fastballs as hard a 94 mph.

“Toole is a pitching arm that throws hard and it’s tough to catch up to him,” BYU head coach Vance Law said. “As a team we were more relaxed defensively today and that is just a matter of becoming comfortable.”

The tall righthander’s performance was matched both by the defensive and offensive efforts of the remainder of the team. The Cougars were errorless, executing three double plays while totaling 13 hits through eight innings.

Junior Sean McNaughton led the team from the plate finishing the day 2-for-3 with 4 RBI off of a base-clearing double and a sacrifice fly. Junior Andrew Law added two more RBI with a double that bounced off of the outfield wall.

After honoring the late Larry H. Miller with a moment of silence prior to the national anthem, the Cougars got to work.

In the first inning Toole worked his way into his only jam after walking the leadoff batter. A sacrifice bunt and a scrambling play after a ground ball ricocheted off Toole’s leg put two outs on the board. Toole hit a batter and walked another to load the bases, but a swinging strikeout ended the inning.

Senior Kent Walton hit a leadoff single to left field, and headed to third base when an error, that would have likely yielded a double play, left runners on second and third. Sophomore Alex Wolfe hit a high sacrifice fly to left field that brought in Walton to put the Cougars ahead.

Junior Steve Parker hit an RBI single between the first and second baseman, to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead heading into the second inning.

After retiring the side in consecutive order, the BYU offense kept the momentum going. Junior Brandon Relf singled up the right side, before two hit batsman loaded the bases for McNaughton. McNaughton brought in all three runners on a long shot to left-center field, giving BYU a 5-0 lead.

The Cougars continued to blast hits against the Pilots in the third inning. Parker led off with a double to left center, and scored when Relf tripled to left field, while the hits kept coming for BYU.

Michael Bowen singled, before J. T. Musso was hit by a pitch. Law singled to bring in a run, before McNaughton recoded another single. With the bases loaded and two outs, Portland relief pitcher Ben Panther struck out Wolfe.

BYU matched its offensive momentum with flawless defense. Toole allowed a hit in both the third and fourth inning, but the defense turned a double play in both instances to close the top half of the inning.

After Portland held BYU scoreless in the fourth inning, BYU kept producing runs in the fifth. Bowen led off with a double down the left field line. Law pounded a ball off the left field wall to bring in Bowen.

McNaughton hit a high fly ball to centerfield that brought in a runner from third to give the Cougars a 10-run lead at the close of the fifth inning.

The Pilots hit their first extra-base hit at the top of the sixth inning. Toole got two quick outs with a fly ball and a strike out, but a hard hit ball escaped just past the glove of BYU shortstop Relf to bring in Portland’s first run.

Another leadoff double scored off of a ground ball in the seventh inning for the Pilots. A ground ball to short advanced the runner to third, and the Cougars conceded the run to grab the second out of the inning.

Righthander Marc Oslund came in to close the game for Toole in the eighth inning. The freshman from Torrance, Calif. was untouchable for the Cougars, throwing two complete innings with four strikeouts.

The Cougars continue their home-opening series against Portland on Friday at 3 p.m. Admission to all games of the series is free.

Univ. of Portland at BYU
Feb 26, 2009 at Unknown
Univ. of Portland 2 (2-2)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
KAUPPILA, Kris ss........  3  1  1  0   1  0  2  3   0
SMITH, Craig cf..........  3  0  1  0   0  1  1  0   0
HENRICKS, Riley 2b.......  4  0  0  0   0  2  3  3   0
KRAUS, Bryant lf.........  2  0  2  1   1  0  2  0   0
POWELL, Chase dh.........  2  0  1  0   1  0  0  0   0
THOMPSON, Tyler 1b.......  4  0  0  0   0  3  9  0   7
PEARCE, Austin rf........  3  1  1  0   0  1  2  0   0
GALE, Rocky c............  4  0  0  0   0  0  5  1   0
MARDESICH, Matt 3b.......  2  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
 ARMIJO, Kevin ph/3b.....  2  0  0  1   0  1  0  2   0
TRIOLO, Mark p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PANTHER, Ben p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 PRESSLER, Ben p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 29  2  6  2   3  9 24 10   7
BYU 10 (2-4)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
WALTON, Kent dh..........  4  2  2  0   0  1  0  0   0
LAW, Andrew 2b...........  5  1  2  2   0  0  2  4   1
 WHITNEY, Brock 2b.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
McNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  3  0  2  4   0  0  0  0   0
 NIELSEN, Dane ph/lf.....  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
WOLFE, Alex 1b...........  3  0  0  1   0  2  7  0   5
 BILLS, Thomas ph/1b.....  1  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  4  1  2  1   0  0  0  3   0
 SLOAN, Kevin ph/3b......  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
CLUFF, Jonathan cf.......  3  0  0  0   1  1  2  0   1
RELF, Brandon ss.........  4  2  2  1   0  0  2  2   0
 LAW, Adam ss............  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
BOWEN, Michael rf........  4  2  3  1   0  0  3  0   0
MUSSO, J.T. c............  1  2  0  0   1  1  9  1   0
TOOLE, Jeremy p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 OSLUND, Marc p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 34 10 13 10   2  5 27 13   7
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Univ. of Portland... 000 001 100 -  2  6  1
BYU................. 233 020 00X - 10 13  0
-------------------------------------------
E - HENRICKS, R(1). DP - POR 1; Cougars 3. LOB - POR 7; Cougars 7. 2B -
KAUPPILA, K(2); PEARCE, A; LAW, An.(4); McNAUGHTON(2); PARKER(1); BOWEN(3).
3B - RELF(1). HBP - KRAUS, B; POWELL, C; PEARCE, A; WALTON; MUSSO 2. SH -
SMITH, C(1). SF - McNAUGHTON(2); WOLFE(1). CS - BOWEN(1).
Univ. of Portland      IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
TRIOLO, Mark........  2.1  7  8  6  0  2 14 17
PANTHER, Ben........  3.2  4  2  2  2  2 13 17
PRESSLER, Ben.......  2.0  2  0  0  0  1  7  7
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
TOOLE, Jeremy.......  7.0  6  2  2  2  5 24 28
OSLUND, Marc........  2.0  0  0  0  1  4  5  8
Win - TOOLE (1-1).  Loss - TRIOLO, M (1-1).  Save - None.
HBP - by TOOLE (KRAUS, B); by TRIOLO, M (MUSSO); by TRIOLO, M (WALTON); by
PANTHER, B (MUSSO); by OSLUND (POWELL, C); by OSLUND (PEARCE, A).
Umpires - HP: Ray Belfiore  1B: Randy Upton  3B: Jeff Richardson
Start: 3:05 pm   Time: 233   Attendance: 421
Weather: overcast, 56 degrees
Game notes:
First of a three-game series
Play-by-play
Univ. of Portland 1st - KAUPPILA, K walked. SMITH, C grounded out to c,
SAC, bunt; KAUPPILA, K advanced to second. HENRICKS, R out at first p to 3b to
1b; KAUPPILA, K advanced to third. KRAUS, B hit by pitch. POWELL, C walked;
KRAUS, B advanced to second. THOMPSON, T struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
BYU 1st - WALTON singled to left field. LAW, An. reached on an error by
2b, advanced to second; WALTON advanced to third. McNAUGHTON popped up to 1b.
WOLFE flied out to lf, SAC, RBI; LAW, An. advanced to third; WALTON scored,
unearned. PARKER singled to right field, RBI; LAW, An. scored, unearned. CLUFF
struck out looking. 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Portland 2nd - PEARCE, A struck out looking. GALE, R grounded
out to 3b. MARDESICH, M flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
BYU 2nd - RELF singled up the middle. BOWEN flied out to rf. MUSSO hit
by pitch; RELF advanced to second. WALTON hit by pitch; MUSSO advanced to
second; RELF advanced to third. LAW, An. popped up to ss. McNAUGHTON doubled to
right center, 3 RBI; WALTON scored; MUSSO scored; RELF scored. WOLFE struck out
looking. 3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Portland 3rd - KAUPPILA, K popped up to ss. SMITH, C singled to
third base. HENRICKS, R grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b; SMITH, C out
on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 3rd - PARKER doubled to left center. CLUFF flied out to rf; PARKER
advanced to third. RELF tripled to left field, RBI; PARKER scored. BOWEN
singled to center field, RBI; RELF scored. PANTHER, B to p for TRIOLO, M. MUSSO
hit by pitch; BOWEN advanced to second. WALTON reached on a fielder's choice;
MUSSO out at second ss to 2b; BOWEN advanced to third. LAW, An. singled to
second base, RBI; WALTON advanced to second; BOWEN scored. McNAUGHTON singled
to third base; LAW, An. advanced to second; WALTON advanced to third. WOLFE
struck out looking. 3 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Univ. of Portland 4th - KRAUS, B singled to left field. POWELL, C
reached on a fielder's choice; KRAUS, B out at second 2b to ss. THOMPSON, T
grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; POWELL, C out on the play. 0 runs,
1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 4th - PARKER grounded out to 2b. CLUFF grounded out to p. RELF
grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Portland 5th - PEARCE, A flied out to rf. GALE, R flied out to
rf. MARDESICH, M struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 5th - BOWEN doubled down the lf line. MUSSO walked. WALTON struck
out swinging. LAW, An. doubled to left field, RBI; MUSSO advanced to third;
BOWEN scored. McNAUGHTON flied out to cf, SF, RBI; MUSSO scored. WOLFE grounded
out to 1b unassisted. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Portland 6th - KAUPPILA, K doubled to left center. SMITH, C
flied out to cf; KAUPPILA, K advanced to third. HENRICKS, R struck out looking.
KRAUS, B singled to left field, RBI; KAUPPILA, K scored. POWELL, C singled to
left field; KRAUS, B advanced to second. THOMPSON, T struck out swinging. 1
run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 6th - PARKER flied out to lf. CLUFF walked. RELF grounded into
double play ss to 2b to 1b; CLUFF out on the play. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors,
0 LOB.
Univ. of Portland 7th - PEARCE, A doubled down the rf line. GALE, R
grounded out to ss; PEARCE, A advanced to third. ARMJO, K pinch hit for
MARDESICH, M. ARMJO, K grounded out to 2b, RBI; PEARCE, A scored. KAUPPILA, K
flied out to rf. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 7th - ARMJO, K to 3b. PRESSLER, B to p for PANTHER, B. BOWEN singled
up the middle. BOWEN out at second c to 2b, caught stealing. MUSSO struck out
swinging. WALTON singled to left field. LAW, An. grounded out to 2b. 0 runs,
2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Portland 8th - OSLUND to p for TOOLE. SMITH, C struck out
swinging. HENRICKS, R struck out looking. KRAUS, B walked. POWELL, C hit by
pitch; KRAUS, B advanced to second. THOMPSON, T struck out looking. 0 runs,
0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 8th - NIELSEN pinch hit for McNAUGHTON. NIELSEN popped up to ss.
BILLS pinch hit for WOLFE. BILLS grounded out to 3b. SLOAN pinch hit for
PARKER. SLOAN grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Portland 9th - WHITNEY to 2b for LAW, An.. NIELSEN to lf. BILLS
to 1b. SLOAN to 3b. LAW, Ad. to ss for RELF. PEARCE, A hit by pitch. GALE, R
grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b; PEARCE, A out on the play. ARMJO, K
struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

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Thursday’s home opener between BYU and the University of Portland at Larry H. Miller Field is the earliest start in school history.

The Cougars, 1-4, host the Pilots, 2-1, in a three-game series with games Thursday and Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. There is no admission charge for BYU baseball games until it hosts perennial power St. John’s on March 6.

Scheduled to start on the mound for BYU is JC transfer Jeremy Toole (0-1, 9.64) on Thursday, followed by fellow junior righthander Blake Torgerson (0-1, 1.59) on Friday and freshman Adam Miller (0-0, 3.20) on Saturday.

“It’s nice to be at home and we think the weather will cooperate,” said BYU coach Vance Law. “We think we are going to be very good. We played a few good games on our trip to Oklahoma and Texas. We are a fun team to watch and I think we will be in contention for the upper spots in our league.”

Another bit of news that has Coach Law excited is the recent clearance of senior Kent Walton from his shoulder surgery last Fall. Walton should be available to take a few at-bats in games.

The earliest start prior to this season was in 1980 when BYU won a doubleheader on March 7 against the Colorado School of Mines.

Following the three-game series with Portland, BYU readies to travel for a two-game series starting Monday at Wichita State.

For more information, please download the multi-page PDF document at the top of this page.