FORT COLLINS -- In the first game of the Mountain West Conference Championships, the No. 6 seed New Mexico upset No. 3 seed BYU in a close 1-0 battle in 10 innings at Ram Field on Friday.

With the loss, the Cougars were eliminated from the MWC Tournament and end their season with a 34-18 overall record, while the Lobos post a 30-34 overall record and advanced to the second round.

"We had a nice season and it's too bad it had to end the way it did, but I wouldn't trade these kids for anything," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We're still hoping for an NCAA at-large bid and feel we deserve consideration."

After seven scoreless innings the game propelled into extra frames. But it wasn't until the top of the tenth inning that New Mexico scored the lone run of the game off a BYU fielding error.

The Cougars tried to rally in the bottom of the tenth inning, but the damage was done and the Lobos ran away with the close 1-0 victory.

Lauren Watson, Belinda Osborn, Paige Paramore, Kate Walker and Jennifer Whiteley all contributed to the six BYU hits in the game.

Defensively, the Cougars turned their 19th double play of the year against the Lobos to end the year with the season-high 19 double plays turned.

Junior Niki Andersen (18-7) started on the mound for BYU and pitched 9.1 innings until she was relieved in the top of the tenth inning by sophomore Brooke Boyce (13-8). Andersen got the loss, while New Mexico pitcher Iraina Ogas (10-9) got the win in a complete 10 innings on the mound.

After rain delay canceled the first day of MWC play, the tournament then turned from double elimination to single-elimination style for the first time to eliminate BYU the first round.

The No. 6 seed New Mexico will now advance to play the No. 2 seed San Diego State at 2 p.m., and the winner of No. 4 Utah and No. 5 UNLV will play the No. 1 seed Colorado State at 4:30 p.m.

The MWC Championship game will be played on Saturday, May 15, at 2 p.m. MST with the winner receiving an automatic bid into the 2004 NCAA Softball Championship.

The NCAA Tournament selection show is scheduled to be televised on ESPNews between 5 and 6 p.m. on Sunday.

New Mexico vs BYU
May 14, 2004 at Fort Collins, Colo. (Ram Field)
New Mexico 1 (30-34)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
HODGINS rf...............  5  0  2  0   0  1  1  0   0
BYNUM cf.................  3  0  1  1   0  0  3  0   0
KENNEDY 2b...............  4  0  0  0   0  1  4  6   1
OGAS dp..................  5  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   4
 SENA pr.................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
CHAVEZ 3b................  3  0  0  0   1  1  1  1   2
HENSLEY ss...............  4  0  1  0   0  0  4  4   0
HUTSON c.................  2  0  0  0   1  0  8  1   0
 KORSAK ph...............  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
SHARTZER 1b..............  4  1  1  0   0  1  8  1   0
SANDBERG lf..............  4  0  1  0   0  1  1  0   2
PERKINS p................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 35  1  6  1   2  5 30 15   9
BYU 0 (34-18)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
WATSON, Lauren dp........  5  0  1  0   0  1  0  0   0
OSBORN, Belinda rf.......  5  0  1  0   0  3  0  0   1
PARAMORE, Paige c........  5  0  1  0   0  1  5  1   0
 JONES, Milli pr.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
LE`I, Ianeta 1b..........  3  0  0  0   1  0 13  1   1
 GERHAUSER, Lindsey pr...  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
RUSSELL, Ashlyn 3b.......  3  0  0  0   1  0  1  6   0
WALKER, Kate 2b..........  2  0  1  0   2  0  5  4   0
 CHAMBERLAIN, Krystle pr.  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
NORTON, Jodi ss..........  3  0  0  0   0  0  2  2   2
DODDS, Debbie cf.........  4  0  0  0   0  3  2  0   2
WHITELEY, Jennifer lf....  4  0  2  0   0  0  1  0   3
ANDERSEN, Niki p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
 BOYCE, Brooke p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 34  0  6  0   4  8 30 15   9
Score by Innings                      R  H  E
---------------------------------------------
New Mexico.......... 000 000 000 1 -  1  6  1
BYU................. 000 000 000 0 -  0  6  2
---------------------------------------------
E - KENNEDY; LE`I(11); NORTON(17). DP - UNM 1; BYU 1. LOB - UNM 9; BYU 9. 2B
- WATSON(4). HBP - KENNEDY. SH - BYNUM 2; NORTON(11). SB - NORTON(9). CS -
WATSON(1).
New Mexico             IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
PERKINS.............  0.0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0
OGAS................ 10.0  6  0  0  4  8 34 39
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
ANDERSEN, Niki......  9.1  5  1  0  2  4 31 35
BOYCE, Brooke.......  0.2  1  0  0  0  1  4  5
Win - OGAS (10-9).  Loss - ANDERSEN (18-7).  Save - None.
HBP - by BOYCE (KENNEDY).
Umpires - HP: Dani Carson  1B: Paul Edds  3B: Bobby Shelton
Start: 9:00 am   Time: 2:47   Attendance:
Game: 1MWC
 
Play-by-Play
Score by Innings                      R  H  E
---------------------------------------------
New Mexico.......... 000 000 000 1 -  1  6  1
BYU................. 000 000 000 0 -  0  6  2
---------------------------------------------
New Mexico starters: 31/rf HODGINS; 5/cf BYNUM; 15/2b KENNEDY; 0/dp OGAS;
   3/3b CHAVEZ; 1/ss HENSLEY; 22/c HUTSON; 2/1b SHARTZER; 4/lf SANDBERG;
   12/p PERKINS;
BYU starters: 11/dp WATSON; 18/rf OSBORN; 19/c PARAMORE; 66/1b LE`I; 25/3b
   RUSSELL; 5/2b WALKER; 8/ss NORTON; 20/cf DODDS; 3/lf WHITELEY; 24/p
   ANDERSEN;
New Mexico - inning 1
   HODGINS singled up the middle. BYNUM out at first 3b to 2b, SAC, bunt;
   HODGINS advanced to second. KENNEDY popped up to 2b. OGAS grounded out to
   2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 1
   OGAS to p. PERKINS. WATSON struck out swinging. OSBORN struck out
   swinging. PARAMORE grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico - inning 2
   CHAVEZ struck out looking. HENSLEY singled up the middle. HUTSON hit into
   double play 2b to ss to 1b; HENSLEY out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
   errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 2
   LE`I walked. GERHAUSER pinch ran for LE`I. RUSSELL flied out to rf.
   WALKER walked; GERHAUSER advanced to second. NORTON reached on a
   fielder's choice; WALKER out at second ss to 2b; GERHAUSER advanced to
   third. NORTON stole second. DODDS struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
   errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico - inning 3
   LE`I to 1b for GERHAUSER. SHARTZER popped up to 1b. SANDBERG grounded out
   to 3b. HODGINS struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 3
   WHITELEY singled to second base. WATSON reached on a fielder's choice;
   WHITELEY out at second 2b to ss. WATSON out at second c to ss, caught
   stealing. OSBORN struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico - inning 4
   BYNUM grounded out to 2b. KENNEDY struck out swinging, out at first c to
   1b. OGAS grounded out to 1b unassisted. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 4
   PARAMORE singled to shortstop. LE`I grounded out to 2b; PARAMORE advanced
   to second. JONES, M. pinch ran for PARAMORE. RUSSELL intentionally
   walked. WALKER reached on a fielder's choice; RUSSELL advanced to second;
   JONES, M. out at third ss to 3b. NORTON popped up to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
   errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico - inning 5
   PARAMORE to c for JONES, M.. CHAVEZ walked. HENSLEY popped up to c.
   HUTSON walked; CHAVEZ advanced to second. SHARTZER flied out to cf.
   SANDBERG grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU - inning 5
   DODDS struck out swinging. WHITELEY singled up the middle. WATSON flied
   out to lf. OSBORN grounded out to p. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico - inning 6
   HODGINS out at first 1b to 2b. BYNUM singled to second base. KENNEDY
   grounded out to 2b; BYNUM advanced to second. OGAS reached on an error by
   ss; BYNUM advanced to third. SENA pinch ran for OGAS. CHAVEZ flied out to
   cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.
BYU - inning 6
   OGAS to p for SENA. PARAMORE struck out swinging. LE`I grounded out to
   3b. RUSSELL grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico - inning 7
   HENSLEY popped up to 3b. KORSAK pinch hit for HUTSON. KORSAK grounded out
   to 3b. SHARTZER struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 7
   HUTSON to c for KORSAK. WALKER singled to right field. CHAMBERLAIN pinch
   ran for WALKER. NORTON out at first 1b to 2b, SAC, bunt; CHAMBERLAIN
   advanced to second. DODDS struck out swinging. WHITELEY grounded out to
   2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico - inning 8
   WALKER to 2b for CHAMBERLAIN. SANDBERG singled, bunt. HODGINS popped up
   to p, bunt. BYNUM out at first p to 2b, SAC, bunt; SANDBERG advanced to
   second. KENNEDY grounded out to 1b unassisted. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
   LOB.
BYU - inning 8
   WATSON doubled up the middle. OSBORN struck out looking. PARAMORE popped
   up to cf. LE`I flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico - inning 9
   OGAS grounded out to 3b. CHAVEZ flied out to lf. HENSLEY lined out to ss.
   0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 9
   RUSSELL flied out to cf. WALKER walked. NORTON reached on a fielder's
   choice; WALKER out at second ss to 2b. DODDS reached on an error by 2b;
   NORTON advanced to third. WHITELEY grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1
   error, 2 LOB.
New Mexico - inning 10
   HUTSON grounded out to 3b. SHARTZER singled down the lf line. BOYCE to p
   for ANDERSEN. SANDBERG struck out swinging. HODGINS singled to pitcher;
   SHARTZER advanced to second. BYNUM reached on an error by 1b, RBI;
   HODGINS advanced to third; SHARTZER scored, unearned. KENNEDY hit by
   pitch; BYNUM advanced to second. OGAS reached on a fielder's choice;
   KENNEDY out at second ss to 2b. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB.
BYU - inning 10
   WATSON lined out to ss. OSBORN singled, bunt. PARAMORE hit into double
   play 2b to ss to 1b; OSBORN out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0
   LOB.

PROVO -- The BYU softball team will head to Fort Collins, Colo., to compete in the MWC Softball Championship Tournament Thursday through Saturday. Tournament host Colorado State is this season's regular season champions and is coming off a MWC Tournament win in 2003.

The Cougars go into the tournament as the No. 3 seed with a 34-17, 11-8 MWC record. BYU will play the No. 6 seed New Mexico on Thursday, May 13 at 9 a.m. The winner of that game will then face the No. 2 seed San Diego State at 2 p.m.

BYU is coming off a 3-1 MWC weekend with road games against UNLV and SDSU. The Cougars split with UNLV L 3-2, W 10-4 and swept the No. 1 conference leader SDSU 4-1, 5-1.

"It was an all-around great team effort," BYU defense and recruiting coach Mindy Hanson said. "We're disappointed with the loss against UNLV, but the girls came back very focused and determined. It's giving us good momentum going into the tournament."

Offense

As a team the Cougars are batting .307 and are ranked No. 15 in the nation in batting average and No. 11 in the nation in scoring (5.45 runs per game). Leading the way offensively for the Cougars is Paige Paramore with a .361 batting average. She is followed by teammates Ianeta Le`i (.355), Debbie Dodds (.339), Jodi Norton (.331), Kate Walker (.323) and Ashlyn Russell (.294). Paramore leads the team in hits (53) and Le`i leads the team in runs scored (32). Paramore, Le`i and Norton each post a team-high 11 extra base doubles this season and Lauren Watson leads in triples (4). Norton posts a team-high 39 RBI. BYU continues its long-ball offense hitting 54 home runs in 51 games with Russell leading the way with 11 home runs so far this season. Krystle Chamberlain leads in stolen bases with 11-out-of 12 attempts.

Double Plays

The BYU defense has turned 18 double plays so far this season, which breaks a new BYU record for most double plays in a season.

2003 season - - 13 DP's

2002 season - - 14 DP's

2001 season - - 11 DP's

2000 season - - 4 DP's

Pitching

The pitching staff is posting a 2.35 overall ERA led by sophomore Brooke Boyce who registers a 1.74 ERA in 30 appearances. Boyce has pitched 15 complete games and posts a 13-8 overall record with 60 strikeouts. Junior Niki Andersen leads the trio with an 18-6 record and 116 strikeouts. Andersen has a 2.27 ERA and has pitched 13 complete games this season for BYU while appearing in 29 games. Junior Ariel Capra has appeared in 17 games this season to post a 4.20 ERA and a 3-3 record.

Final MWC Conference Softball Standings
			                   Conference 	Overall
1.  Colorado State	   16-4		      40-13	 
2.  San Diego State	  14-6		      36-22
3.  BYU		             11-8		      34-17
4.  Utah		            8-12		      20-31
5.  UNLV		            7-13		      25-34
6.  New Mexico	       3-16		      29-34