PROVO -- A chance to get to .500 for the first time slipped through BYU's grasp as it fell to UNLV, 11-5, on Saturday at Larry H. Miller Field.

The Cougars dropped to 10-12 overall and 3-3 in the Mountain West Conference, while UNLV improved to 15-10 and 1-2.

The game was close for the first seven innings, with both teams exchanging runs early on. It was not until the eighth inning that UNLV pulled away, taking an 11-5 lead they would not relinquish in the final two innings.

“It was really a good game for seven innings,” BYU head coach Vance Law said. “But once we got to the eighth we started to elevate some pitches, and they were able to take advantage of our lack of execution on the mound.”

Brandon Relf led the way for the Cougars, going 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored. Relf also played solid defense, showing good range at second base.

The game got off to a quick start, with UNLV scoring three first inning runs off freshman pitcher Chunner Nyberg. BYU responded in the bottom half of the inning with a leadoff Sean McNaughton home run on the first pitch, followed by a run by Relf on a passed ball.

Things calmed down in the second inning, with Nyberg settling in and holding the Rebels to one hit and no runs. BYU tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom half, with Wes Guenther driving in Jonathon Cluff.

Defense dominated the third and fourth innings, with Nyberg retiring six Rebel batters in order and UNLV holding the Cougars to just one hit, one walk and no runs in the two innings.

Both teams scored two runs in the fifth inning, UNLV by way of a Drew Beuerlein two-RBI double and BYU with a two-RBI double of its own by catcher Bryce Ayoso.

Pitching ruled the next two innings, with BYU relief pitcher Justin Shutt throwing 2.1 innings of shutout ball. The Cougars managed only two base runners during the two innings and no runs.

The Rebels blew the game wide open in the eighth inning, batting through their order and scoring six runs on three Cougar pitchers. BYU had a chance to end the inning after allowing four runs, but a throwing error on shortstop

Austin Hall allowed two more UNLV runs to make the score 11-5.

BYU was unable to respond to the Rebels’ big inning. The team failed to get a runner on base in their half of the eighth, with Ayoso, Ryan Bernal and Cluff all grounding out to the UNLV defense.

The ninth inning went smoothly for Cougar pitcher David Parry. Parry struck out two Rebel batters, walked one and got another to fly out for a quick three out inning.

The Cougars final chance to come back in the game came up short in the bottom of the ninth. Cougar batters Wes Guenther, Hall and Stephen Wells all flew out, ending the game at 11-5.

“I am still really pleased with all our guys’ effort,” Law said. “It is tough to sweep a series, and now we are looking forward to our games in the Bay Area next week.”

BYU will be back in action next week, starting a series of four games in California against San Francisco University at the Benedetti Diamond on Wednesday March 31.

UNLV at BYU
Mar 27, 2010 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
UNLV 11 (15-10,1-2 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BEATY, Hunter 2b.........  3  3  1  0   1  0  1  3   1
FRIERSON, Jarred cf......  3  1  1  1   1  0  6  0   0
BEUERLEIN, Drew c........  5  1  2  4   0  1  8  1   0
BAYARDI, Brandon lf......  5  1  2  0   0  1  2  0   1
KRETCHMER, Kyle dh.......  3  1  2  2   0  0  0  0   0
 GILBERTSON, Brian dh....  1  0  1  1   0  0  0  0   0
 KOGLIN, Adam pr.........  0  1  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 FEINER, Travis ph.......  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   2
ARNOLD, RJ 3b............  5  1  1  0   0  2  0  1   0
DE LA CRUZ, Robbie 1b....  4  1  1  0   1  1  6  1   0
JIMENEZ, Richie ss.......  3  0  0  1   1  0  3  1   0
THOMAS, Cash rf..........  5  1  2  1   0  1  0  0   3
HUTCHISON, Matt p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 DeWEESE, Glenn p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
Totals................... 38 11 13 10   4  6 27  7   7
BYU 5 (10-12,3-3 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
McNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  4  1  1  1   0  1  5  0   0
RELF, Brandon 2b.........  3  2  2  0   1  0  0  4   0
WOLFE, Alex 3b...........  3  1  1  0   1  0  0  2   1
AYOSO, Bryce c...........  3  0  1  2   1  0  6  0   0
BERNAL, Ryan 1b..........  4  0  0  0   0  2  8  1   3
CLUFF, Jonathan rf.......  4  1  2  0   0  0  3  0   0
GUENTHER, Wes dh.........  4  0  0  1   0  1  0  0   0
HALL, Austin ss..........  4  0  0  0   0  2  2  1   0
WELLS, Stephen cf........  4  0  0  0   0  1  2  0   0
NYBERG, Chunner p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 SHUTT, Justin p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
 MICHON, Brandon p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BREWER, Devin p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 ANDERSON, Mark p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PARRY, David p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 33  5  7  4   3  7 27 11   4
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
UNLV................ 300 020 060 - 11 13  0
BYU................. 210 020 000 -  5  7  1
-------------------------------------------
E - HALL(4). LOB - LV 7; Cougars 4. 2B - BEUERLEIN, D 2(11); BAYARDI,
B.(11); GILBERTSON(2); THOMAS, Cash(4); AYOSO(9). 3B - CLUFF(3). HR -
KRETCHMER(4); McNAUGHTON(3). HBP - BEATY, H.. SH - FRIERSON, J.(6). SF -
JIMENEZ, R.(1). SB - BEATY, H.(2); JIMENEZ, R.(2). CS - CLUFF(2).
UNLV                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
HUTCHISON, Matt.....  7.0  7  5  4  3  7 27 30
DeWEESE, Glenn......  2.0  0  0  0  0  0  6  6
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
NYBERG, Chunner.....  4.2  4  5  5  2  3 17 21
SHUTT, Justin.......  2.1  3  1  1  0  1 10 10
MICHON, Brandon.....  0.0  2  3  3  1  0  2  3
BREWER, Devin.......  0.1  1  1  0  0  0  1  2
ANDERSON, Mark......  0.2  3  1  0  0  0  5  5
PARRY, David........  1.0  0  0  0  1  2  3  4
Win - HUTCHISON, M (3-0).  Loss - SHUTT (1-4).  Save - None.
HBP - by NYBERG (BEATY, H.). BK - HUTCHISON, M 2(3). PB - BEUERLEIN, D(2).
Umpires - HP: Asa Howard  1B: Kevin Daugherty  3B: Ray Leible
Start: 1:01 pm   Time: 2:50   Attendance: 882
Weather: sunny, some clouds, 43 degrees
SHUTT faced 1 batter in the 8th.
MICHON faced 3 batters in the 8th.
UNLV 1st - BEATY, H. walked. FRIERSON, J. grounded out to p, SAC, bunt;
BEATY, H. advanced to second. BEUERLEIN, D doubled to right center, RBI; BEATY,
H. scored. BAYARDI, B. flied out to lf. KRETCHMER homered to right field, 2
RBI; BEUERLEIN, D scored. ARNOLD, RJ out at first p to ss to 1b. 3 runs, 2
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 1st - McNAUGHTON homered to right center, RBI. RELF singled to right
field. WOLFE flied out to lf. RELF advanced to second on a balk. AYOSO flied
out to cf; RELF advanced to third. RELF scored on a passed ball, unearned.
BERNAL struck out swinging. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 2nd - DE LA CRUZ struck out swinging. JIMENEZ, R. popped up to ss.
THOMAS, Cash doubled to left field. BEATY, H. flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1
hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 2nd - CLUFF tripled to left center. GUENTHER grounded out to 3b,
RBI; CLUFF scored. HALL grounded out to 2b. WELLS flied out to cf. 1 run, 1
hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 3rd - FRIERSON, J. grounded out to 2b. BEUERLEIN, D struck out
swinging. BAYARDI, B. struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
BYU 3rd - McNAUGHTON flied out to cf. RELF grounded out to 2b. WOLFE
singled up the middle. AYOSO walked; WOLFE advanced to second. BERNAL struck
out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UNLV 4th - KRETCHMER flied out to lf. ARNOLD, RJ flied out to cf. DE LA
CRUZ flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 4th - CLUFF flied out to cf. GUENTHER struck out looking. HALL
struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 5th - JIMENEZ, R. flied out to rf. THOMAS, Cash grounded out to 3b.
BEATY, H. hit by pitch. BEATY, H. stole second. FRIERSON, J. walked. BEUERLEIN,
D doubled to right center, 2 RBI; FRIERSON, J. scored; BEATY, H. scored. SHUTT
to p for NYBERG. BAYARDI, B. grounded out to 2b. 2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
BYU 5th - WELLS struck out swinging. McNAUGHTON struck out swinging.
RELF singled up the middle. RELF advanced to second on a balk. WOLFE walked.
AYOSO doubled to left center, 2 RBI; WOLFE scored; RELF scored. BERNAL grounded
out to 1b unassisted. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 6th - KRETCHMER singled up the middle. ARNOLD, RJ struck out
looking. DE LA CRUZ singled to right field; KRETCHMER advanced to second.
JIMENEZ, R. grounded out to 3b; DE LA CRUZ advanced to second; KRETCHMER
advanced to third. THOMAS, Cash grounded out to p. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors,
2 LOB.
BYU 6th - CLUFF singled, bunt. GUENTHER fouled out to c, bunt. CLUFF out
at second c to 2b, caught stealing. HALL struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit,
0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 7th - BEATY, H. out at first 1b to p. FRIERSON, J. grounded out to
2b. BEUERLEIN, D flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 7th - WELLS popped up to ss. McNAUGHTON grounded out to 2b. RELF
walked. WOLFE flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 8th - BAYARDI, B. doubled to left field. MICHON to p for SHUTT.
GILBERTSON to dh for KRETCHMER. GILBERTSON doubled to center field, RBI;
BAYARDI, B. scored. KOGLIN, Adam pinch ran for GILBERTSON. ARNOLD, RJ singled
to center field, advanced to second on the throw; KOGLIN, Adam advanced to
third. DE LA CRUZ walked. BREWER to p for MICHON. JIMENEZ, R. flied out to rf,
SF, RBI; ARNOLD, RJ advanced to third; KOGLIN, Adam scored. THOMAS, Cash
singled up the middle, RBI; DE LA CRUZ advanced to second; ARNOLD, RJ scored.
ANDERSON to p for BREWER. BEATY, H. singled, bunt; THOMAS, Cash advanced to
second; DE LA CRUZ advanced to third. FRIERSON, J. singled to right field, RBI;
BEATY, H. advanced to second; THOMAS, Cash advanced to third; DE LA CRUZ
scored. BEUERLEIN, D reached on a throwing error by ss, RBI; FRIERSON, J. out
at second 2b to ss; BEATY, H. scored, unearned; THOMAS, Cash scored, unearned.
BAYARDI, B. singled to shortstop; BEUERLEIN, D advanced to second. FEINER, T.
pinch hit for KOGLIN, Adam. FEINER, T. flied out to lf. 6 runs, 7 hits, 1
error, 2 LOB.
BYU 8th - DeWEESE, G. to p for HUTCHISON, M. AYOSO popped up to ss.
BERNAL out at first 1b to p. CLUFF grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 9th - PARRY to p for ANDERSON. ARNOLD, RJ struck out swinging. DE
LA CRUZ flied out to lf. JIMENEZ, R. walked. JIMENEZ, R. stole second. THOMAS,
Cash struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 9th - GUENTHER flied out to lf. HALL flied out to cf. WELLS lined
out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Home again, this time it is BYU’s baseball team’s first league games in Provo as it hosts UNLV in a three-game series starting Thursday.

BYU, 8-11 overall and 1-2 in Mountain West Conference action, hosts UNLV, 14-8, in the Rebels’ first league games.

The probable BYU pitching rotation will be freshman Chris Capper (1-0, 2.16) and sophomore Matthew Neil (2-2, 5.62) for Thursday and Friday’s games which both start at 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s likely pitcher for the Cougars at Miller Park will be freshman Chunner Nyberg (0-2, 10.12) with a start time of 1 p.m.

The Cougars are fresh off a 5-4 upset over then No. 4 TCU in the final game against the MWC defending champion. Among those to keep an eye on are senior Sean McNaughton, who leads the team with a 12-game hitting streak.

The confines of Miller Park proved friendly earlier this month when BYU won two of three games against Washington. In that three-game series with Washington, the Cougars improved their batting average from .299 to .329 and Alex Wolfe ended up being named the West Region Player of the Week and MWC Player of the Week when he belted three of BYU’s eight homers in that series.