PROVO -- The BYU and New Mexico women's softball teams had a hard fought doubleheader on Thursday night as each team came out with one victory. New Mexico won the first game 3-1, and BYU came back to win the second game 9-5.

These were the first Mountain West Conference games for both of these teams this season. The Cougars are now 22-14, while the Lobos are 17-13.

BYU was led on the evening by shortstop Amanda Vance who had two RBI and three hits on the evening. The BYU loss to the Lobos was the first time the Cougars have fallen to UNM in the last 13 meetings between these schools, dating back to 2004.

The first game saw very strong pitching by the two starters. BYU's Christina Trice and UNM's Kelly Ninemire each retired the first six batters they faced as neither pitcher allowed a base runner in the first two innings.

That streak ended in the bottom of the third inning. BYU freshman Cashjen Davis was the first to reach on base as she led off the third inning for the Cougars with a double into the right-center gap. Davis advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by the next batter. Then, with only one out, Monica Gonzales stepped to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to score Davis and put the Cougars up 1-0.

After a strong start by Trice from in the circle for BYU, she loaded up the bases in the sixth inning with two walks and a single, but was able to get out of the jam without allowing a run, and the Cougars went into the final frame with the narrow 1-0 lead.

The Lobos would not go away quietly in their last at bat as they put together an impressive seventh inning and produced three runs. Analise Rubalcava stepped to the plate for UNM with no outs and one runner on base and hit a home run over the centerfield wall for two RBI.

The Lobos manufactured one more run in the seventh inning and the Cougars could not respond in their last at bat, ending the game 3-1 UNM win.

The second game had a completely different personality than the first as the bats and runs were coming in bunches early. New Mexico scored three runs in its first at bat of the game taking the early 3-0 lead.

BYU responded with one run in the bottom of the first inning to pull the score within two. Lead-off batter Kristen Delahoussaye hit a double and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Delahoussaye was batted in by Vance, which was Vance's 23rd RBI of the season.

After holding the Lobos scoreless in the top of the second inning, the Cougars had a big second inning at the plate which helped give them their first lead of the game. Shaylyn Jenkins, Delahoussaye, Vance and Daniela Snow all hit RBI during the inning to boost the Cougars with four runs. The score was 5-3 in favor of the Cougars after two innings.

BYU was able to tack on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth the Cougars had Gonzales and Delahoussaye cross the plate on a throwing error by the New Mexico catcher to increase the score to 7-3. Then in the fifth inning Stephanie Platt-Hopkins hit a solo homerun to extend the BYU lead to 8-3.

Snow hit a double that rolled to the outfield fence in the sixth inning that scored Vance all the way from first base to make the score 9-3. UNM put up two final runs in the top of the seventh inning to make the final score 9-5.

The Cougars will be in action Friday afternoon as Colorado State comes to take on BYU in Provo with a doubleheader. The first game starts at 5 p.m. and the second is slated for 7 p.m.

Box Score
                            The Automated ScoreBook
                    New Mexico Lobos at Brigham Young Univ.
                Apr 03, 2008 at Provo, Utah (Gail Miller Field)
New Mexico Lobos 5 (16-13,1-1)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
HUGHES, Samantha cf......  1  2  0  0   3  0  0  0   0
LOEFFELHOLZ, Sara lf.....  3  2  1  0   1  1  0  0   1
ELCESS, Lindsey 1b.......  3  0  1  2   0  2  6  1   0
PARRA, Gabriella rf......  4  1  0  1   0  1  1  0   1
GILMORE, Katie 2b........  2  0  2  2   1  0  5  3   0
RUBALCAVA, Analise 3b....  3  0  0  0   0  1  1  0   0
ALLEN, Ashley dp.........  3  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   3
BRANDOW, Erin c..........  3  0  0  0   0  1  3  1   0
GEORGE, Tianna ss........  3  0  0  0   0  2  1  3   0
NINEMIRE, Kelly p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 MACHAC, Madelyn p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  2   0
Totals................... 25  5  4  5   5  9 18 12   5
Brigham Young Univ. 9 (22-13,1-1)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
DELAHOUSSAYE,Kristin 2b..  3  3  2  1   1  0  3  1   0
PURCELL, Jessica dp......  2  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
VANCE, Amanda ss.........  4  1  2  2   0  0  0  1   0
SNOW, Daniela 1b.........  4  0  2  2   0  0  6  1   0
 NIX, Whitney pr.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
QUIOCHO, Angeline 3b.....  4  0  0  0   0  0  1  5   5
DAVIS, Caschjen lf.......  2  1  0  0   1  1  2  1   0
WILLING, Emi rf..........  1  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HOPKINS, Stephanie rf...  1  1  1  1   0  0  0  0   0
JENKINS, Shaylyn c.......  3  1  1  1   0  2  9  1   0
GONZALES, Monica cf......  3  2  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
ZINANTI, Christie p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 27  9 10  7   2  3 21 11   5
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
New Mexico Lobos.... 300 000 2 -  5  4  2
Brigham Young Univ.. 140 211 X -  9 10  1
-----------------------------------------
E - ELCESS; BRANDOW; SNOW. LOB - NM 5; BY 5. 2B - ELCESS; DELAHOUSSAYE 2;
SNOW 2; WILLING. HR - HOPKINS. HBP - ELCESS; PURCELL. SH - PURCELL; WILLING.
SB - HUGHES; LOEFFELHOLZ; PARRA. CS - WILLING.
New Mexico Lobos       IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
NINEMIRE, Kelly.....  1.1  5  5  5  1  0  8 10
MACHAC, Madelyn.....  4.2  5  4  2  1  3 19 22
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
ZINANTI, Christie...  7.0  4  5  4  5  9 25 31
Win - ZINANTI (8-6).  Loss - NINEMIRE (11-9).  Save - None.
WP - NINEMIRE 2. HBP - by MACHAC (PURCELL); by ZINANTI (ELCESS).
Umpires - HP: Brett Higgins  1B: Ray Meibos  3B: Willie Newman
Start: 8:36   Time: 2:30   Attendance: 275
Game: UNM2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play-by-Play
                            The Automated ScoreBook
             New Mexico Lobos at Brigham Young Univ. - Play-by-Play
                Apr 03, 2008 at Provo, Utah (Gail Miller Field)
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
New Mexico Lobos.... 300 000 2 -  5  4  2
Brigham Young Univ.. 140 211 X -  9 10  1
-----------------------------------------
New Mexico Lobos starters: 4/cf HUGHES; 12/lf LOEFFELHOLZ; 20/1b ELCESS; 21/rf
PARRA; 24/2b GILMORE; 2/3b RUBALCAVA; 1/dp ALLEN; 16/c BRANDOW; 7/ss GEORGE;
9/p NINEMIRE;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 10/dp PURCELL; 6/ss VANCE;
22/1b SNOW; 33/3b QUIOCHO; 9/lf DAVIS; 18/rf WILLING; 16/c JENKINS; 24/cf
GONZALES; 14/p ZINANTI;
New Mexico Lobos 1st - HUGHES walked. LOEFFELHOLZ singled to right
field; HUGHES advanced to third. ELCESS struck out swinging. PARRA reached on
an error by 1b, RBI; LOEFFELHOLZ advanced to second; HUGHES scored. PARRA stole
second; LOEFFELHOLZ stole third. GILMORE singled, 2 RBI; PARRA scored,
unearned; LOEFFELHOLZ scored. RUBALCAVA grounded out to p; GILMORE advanced to
second. ALLEN grounded out to 3b. 3 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - DELAHOUSSAYE doubled down the lf line.
DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to third on a wild pitch. PURCELL grounded out to p.
VANCE grounded out to 2b, RBI; DELAHOUSSAYE scored. SNOW doubled to left field.
QUIOCHO flied out to 2b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos 2nd - BRANDOW flied out to lf. GEORGE struck out
swinging. HUGHES walked. HUGHES stole second. LOEFFELHOLZ struck out swinging.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - DAVIS walked. WILLING out at first p to 2b,
SAC; DAVIS advanced to second. DAVIS advanced to third on a wild pitch. JENKINS
singled up the middle, RBI; DAVIS scored. GONZALES singled, bunt; JENKINS
advanced to second. DELAHOUSSAYE doubled to left field, RBI; GONZALES advanced
to third; JENKINS scored. MACHAC to p for NINEMIRE. PURCELL hit by pitch. VANCE
singled up the middle, RBI; PURCELL advanced to second; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced
to third; GONZALES scored. SNOW reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; VANCE
advanced to second; PURCELL out at third ss to 3b; DELAHOUSSAYE scored. QUIOCHO
grounded out to 2b. 4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos 3rd - ELCESS hit by pitch. PARRA reached on a fielder's
choice; ELCESS out at second 3b to 2b. GILMORE walked; PARRA advanced to
second. RUBALCAVA grounded out to 3b; GILMORE advanced to second; PARRA
advanced to third. ALLEN grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - DAVIS grounded out to ss. WILLING doubled to
right center. JENKINS struck out swinging. WILLING out at second c to ss,
caught stealing. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos 4th - HOPKINS to rf for WILLING. BRANDOW struck out
looking. GEORGE struck out looking. HUGHES grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - GONZALES reached on an error by 1b.
DELAHOUSSAYE walked; GONZALES advanced to second. PURCELL out at first p to 2b,
SAC; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to second; GONZALES advanced to third. VANCE reached
on a fielder's choice, advanced to second; DELAHOUSSAYE scored, unearned;
GONZALES scored on an error by c, unearned. SNOW out at first ss to 2b. QUIOCHO
flied out to rf. 2 runs, 0 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos 5th - LOEFFELHOLZ grounded out to 3b. ELCESS struck out
swinging. PARRA out at first c to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - DAVIS struck out swinging. HOPKINS homered to
right center, RBI. JENKINS struck out swinging. GONZALES out at first 1b to 2b.
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos 6th - GILMORE singled, out at second lf to 2b to 1b to
2b. RUBALCAVA struck out looking. ALLEN struck out looking. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - DELAHOUSSAYE grounded out to 2b. PURCELL
grounded out to p. VANCE singled to shortstop. SNOW doubled to right center,
RBI; VANCE scored. NIX pinch ran for SNOW. QUIOCHO lined out to p. 1 run, 2
hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos 7th - SNOW to 1b for NIX. BRANDOW flied out to lf.
GEORGE fouled out to 3b. HUGHES walked. LOEFFELHOLZ walked; HUGHES advanced to
second. ELCESS doubled, 2 RBI; LOEFFELHOLZ scored; HUGHES scored. PARRA struck
out looking. 2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
============================================================
Box Score
                            The Automated ScoreBook
                    New Mexico Lobos at Brigham Young Univ.
                Apr 03, 2008 at Provo, Utah (Gail Miller Field)
New Mexico Lobos 3 (16-12,1-0)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
HUGHES, Samantha cf......  3  0  1  1   1  1  1  0   0
LOEFFELHOLZ, Sara lf.....  4  0  1  0   0  2  1  1   1
ELCESS, Lindsey 1b.......  2  0  0  0   1  0  9  1   0
 TAYLOR, Marsha pr.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
PARRA, Gabriella rf......  3  0  0  0   0  0  2  0   3
GILMORE, Katie 2b........  3  0  2  0   0  0  3  1   0
 TURCOTTE, Scottie Jo pr.  0  1  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
RUBALCAVA, Analise 3b....  3  1  1  2   0  2  0  1   0
ALLEN, Ashley c..........  2  1  0  0   1  0  3  0   1
MACHAC, Madelyn dp.......  3  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
GEORGE, Tianna ss........  3  0  0  0   0  2  1  4   0
NINEMIRE, Kelly p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  2   0
Totals................... 26  3  5  3   3  8 21 10   5
Brigham Young Univ. 1 (21-13,0-1)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
DELAHOUSSAYE,Kristin 2b..  3  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
PURCELL, Jessica dp......  3  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
VANCE, Amanda ss.........  3  0  1  0   0  0  0  1   0
SNOW, Daniela 1b.........  3  0  1  0   0  0  6  0   0
QUIOCHO, Angeline 3b.....  3  0  1  0   0  0  2  1   0
WILLING, Emi c...........  3  0  1  0   0  1  8  0   0
 NIX, Whitney pr.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
DAVIS, Caschjen lf.......  3  1  2  0   0  0  2  0   0
HOPKINS, Stephanie rf....  2  0  0  0   0  1  2  0   1
GONZALES, Monica cf......  1  0  0  1   0  0  0  0   2
TRICE, Christina p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
Totals................... 24  1  6  1   0  2 21  5   4
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
New Mexico Lobos.... 000 000 3 -  3  5  0
Brigham Young Univ.. 001 000 0 -  1  6  1
-----------------------------------------
E - QUIOCHO. LOB - NM 5; BY 4. 2B - GILMORE; VANCE; QUIOCHO; DAVIS. HR -
RUBALCAVA. SH - HOPKINS. SF - GONZALES. SB - GILMORE; ALLEN.
New Mexico Lobos       IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
NINEMIRE, Kelly.....  7.0  6  1  1  0  2 24 26
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
TRICE, Christina....  7.0  5  3  3  3  8 26 29
Win - NINEMIRE (11-8).  Loss - TRICE (8-5).  Save - None.
WP - TRICE.
Umpires - HP: Willie Newman  1B: Brett Higgins  3B: Ray Meibos
Start: 6:06   Time: 2:04   Attendance: 275
Game: NMU1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play-by-Play
                            The Automated ScoreBook
             New Mexico Lobos at Brigham Young Univ. - Play-by-Play
                Apr 03, 2008 at Provo, Utah (Gail Miller Field)
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
New Mexico Lobos.... 000 000 3 -  3  5  0
Brigham Young Univ.. 001 000 0 -  1  6  1
-----------------------------------------
New Mexico Lobos starters: 4/cf HUGHES; 12/lf LOEFFELHOLZ; 20/1b ELCESS; 21/rf
PARRA; 24/2b GILMORE; 2/3b RUBALCAVA; 1/c ALLEN; 10/dp MACHAC; 7/ss GEORGE; 9/p
NINEMIRE;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 10/dp PURCELL; 6/ss VANCE;
22/1b SNOW; 33/3b QUIOCHO; 18/c WILLING; 9/lf DAVIS; 5/rf HOPKINS; 24/cf
GONZALES; 11/p TRICE;
New Mexico Lobos 1st - HUGHES struck out looking. LOEFFELHOLZ struck out
swinging. ELCESS flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - DELAHOUSSAYE lined out to p. PURCELL grounded
out to 3b. VANCE flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos 2nd - PARRA fouled out to rf. GILMORE flied out to rf.
RUBALCAVA struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - SNOW grounded out to p. QUIOCHO fouled out to
1b. WILLING flied out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos 3rd - ALLEN grounded out to p. MACHAC grounded out to
ss. GEORGE struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - DAVIS doubled to left center. HOPKINS grounded
out to p, SAC; DAVIS advanced to third. GONZALES flied out to rf, SF, RBI;
DAVIS scored. DELAHOUSSAYE flied out to rf. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
New Mexico Lobos 4th - HUGHES grounded out to 2b. LOEFFELHOLZ struck out
looking. ELCESS flied out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - PURCELL grounded out to ss. VANCE grounded out
to ss. SNOW flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos 5th - PARRA grounded out to 3b. GILMORE singled up the
middle. GILMORE stole second. RUBALCAVA struck out swinging. ALLEN flied out to
lf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - QUIOCHO flied out to 2b. WILLING singled to
shortstop. NIX pinch ran for WILLING. DAVIS singled through the right side,
advanced to second on the throw; NIX advanced to third. HOPKINS flied out to
2b. GONZALES out at first 1b to 2b. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos 6th - WILLING to c for NIX. MACHAC fouled out to 3b.
GEORGE fouled out to 1b. HUGHES walked. LOEFFELHOLZ singled through the left
side; HUGHES advanced to second. ELCESS walked; LOEFFELHOLZ advanced to second;
HUGHES advanced to third. TAYLOR pinch ran for ELCESS. PARRA grounded out to p.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - ELCESS to 1b for TAYLOR. DELAHOUSSAYE grounded
out to 2b. PURCELL grounded out to ss. VANCE doubled to left field. SNOW
singled through the left side; VANCE advanced to third, out at home lf to c.
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico Lobos 7th - GILMORE doubled to right center. TURCOTTE pinch
ran for GILMORE. RUBALCAVA homered, 2 RBI; TURCOTTE scored. ALLEN walked.
MACHAC struck out swinging. GEORGE struck out looking; ALLEN stole second.
ALLEN advanced to third on a wild pitch. HUGHES singled, bunt, advanced to
second on a throwing error by 3b, RBI; ALLEN scored. LOEFFELHOLZ lined out to
3b. 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - GILMORE to 2b for TURCOTTE. QUIOCHO doubled to
center field. WILLING struck out swinging. DAVIS grounded out to ss; QUIOCHO
advanced to third. HOPKINS struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.

PROVO -- The BYU women's softball team opens up Mountain West Conference play at home with a doubleheader against New Mexico at 6 p.m. on Thursday, followed by a doubleheader against Colorado State at 5 p.m. on Friday.

After taking an eight-day game break, the Cougars are now 20-12 on the season and 2-0 at home, while New Mexico is 15-12 and 1-6 on the road, and Colorado State is 19-11 and 3-2 on the road.

"Our preparation has been good leading into conference play," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "If we use the lessons we learned during our practices, I feel confident we will have success."

BYU looks to defend its title as MWC Champions as the Cougars won their third-ever MWC title in 2007. In the Conference pre-season poll, BYU was selected No.1, but the team is currently trailing both San Diego State and Colorado State in the overall conference standings.

CBS College Sports will broadcast the doubleheader against New Mexico at Gail Miller Field. It is the first two of seven games that will be carried live.