AFA First Up For Tourney Host

There will be a third game for BYU against the Air Force Academy in Provo, but this time it will be in the opening round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Third-seeded BYU, 24-28-1 overall and 15-14 in the MWC, hosts the third annual MWC Tournament at Larry H. Miller Field. First up for the Cougars in the double-elimination tourney is No. 4 seeded Air Force, 7-26 overall and 14-15, whom BYU did not get to play for a third time last month because of travel constraints. On Thursday, the Cougars will play at either 3 p.m. (if they lose Wednesday) against San Diego State or New Mexico or again at 7 p.m. (if they win on Wednesday) against either Utah or UNLV.

"Our record doesn't show the kind of ball club we have," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "I've got confidence that all of our pitchers can get people out."

Should the Cougars win four straight games and claim the MWC automatic berth to the NCAA tournament it would be the first time all season that BYU has posted a .500 record. BYU is the defending MWC Tourney champion and returned to bettering its opponents in MWC games with a .349 average compared to .347 and an ERA of 7.06 compared to 7.08 for the opposition.

In all games, BYU is batting .317 compared to .323 for its opponents and has a 6.85 ERA. First baseman Dave Jensen is the Cougar batting leader with a .394 average from 85 hits, including 26 doubles and 10 homers.

Law tabbed his ace pitcher Jeff Mousser (8-4, 5.09) to start against the Falcons, but hasn't named a starter for the rest of the tournament.

The Cougars split with AFA in Provo at the end of last month, but heavy rains delayed the start of a scheduled third game. The Falcons had a flight to catch that Saturday evening, so league rules did not allow for a make up. BYU has a 3-2 record against AFA this season.

The BYU-AFA game will be broadcast live locally by KOVO Radio (960 AM), but the AFA radio broadcast can be heard on the Internet or read live via webcast at Game Three of the MWC Tourney. All games of the MWC Tournament will be on the Internet via webcasts and games involving AFA, San Diego State and UNLV will be audiocast on the Internet.

Top-seeded San Diego State meets New Mexico at to start the tourney at 11 a.m. Game two of the tourney is Utah versus UNLV at 3 p.m.

Tickets for the MWC Tourney are $75 for a VIP pass, $25 for an All Session Pass, $15 for an student or senior citizen All-Session pass, $12 for an All-Day Pass, $8 for an all-day student/senior citizen pass, $8 for a single game or $5 for a single game for students or senior citizens. There is the possibility of 11 games in the tournament and at least 10 games as it runs its course through Saturday.

Buy your tickets at byutickets.com