Utes, then Gaels on tap this week

PROVO, Utah - To the winner of Tuesday night's BYU-Utah rubber match in Provo goes the baseball portion of the Deseret Duel Trophy and more.

“It's all about bragging rights,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said. “We want to approach it just like it is a league game. It's a huge game for us, just like any time we play Utah.”

Utah, 17-29 overall, comes to Provo for the second time this season after last week's scheduled game in Salt Lake City was cancelled due to rain. Tuesday's game at 6 p.m. MDT, is a makeup of the April 23 postponement in Provo, also due to weather.

BYU, 26-19, is scheduled to start left-hander Mark Anderson (4-1, 4.46) against the Utes. Utah won the first game this season, 5-4 in 10 innings in Salt Lake City. BYU won the second game, 9-3 in Provo.

“I just want to win the series,” Littlewood said. “We always talk about Utah being a big game and it is, however you want to spin it. Fortunately we get to play it at home.”

Following the Utah game, the Cougars get ready for the final three games of the regular season when they host Saint Mary's College in West Coast Conference action. Desmond Poulson (6-2, 3.01) is scheduled to start on Thursday for BYU, followed by Jeff Barker (4-3, 4.15) on Friday. On Saturday afternoon, Adam Miller (3-7, 5.54) takes the mound for BYU.

The Cougars, 12-9 in WCC action, and Gaels, 11-10 in the league, control their own destiny to gain the fourth spot in the conference tournament next week. Two wins by BYU guarantees a berth from the three-game series or a sweep would favor the Gaels. Gonzaga, San Francisco and San Diego have already punched tickets for the May 23-25 tourney at Stockton, Calif.

For more information, please see the 11-page PDF game notes below: