Home Season Begins

A showdown between the defending conference champion and the pre season pick to win the league starts Thursday when BYU's baseball team hosts San Diego State University.

The league-leading Cougars, 9-12-1 overall and 3-0 in the Mountain West Conference, open their home season at Larry H. Miller Field with favored SDSU, 18-9 and 2-1, with a pair of 7 p.m. Games on Thursday and Friday. Saturday's finale in the three-game series starts at 1 p.m.

Sophomore Jeff Mousser (3-1, 2.92) is scheduled to start Thursday evening's game for BYU. Ryan Adams (1-3, 7.43) is expected to get the call for Friday's game and Scott Koffman (2-2, 5.56) is the probable starter for Saturday afternoon.

"We are used to playing on the road, but now it will be nice to be home and not worry so much about classes in a different way," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "San Diego State is always good. They have good pitching and are aggressive on the bases.

"We are starting to play with a lot more confidence. I like our chances as good as anyone else in the league."

SDSU was voted by the MWC coaches to win the conference crown, while BYU was picked second, Utah third, then New Mexico, UNLV and Air Force. The visiting teams will all make a return visit to Miller Park at the end of the season when BYU hosts the MWC Tournament in May.

The Cougars started off last week sweeping the series at UNLV to start the MWC season, while the Aztecs lost the middle game of its series hosting AFA.

BYU lost, won and tied over the weekend at Washington, while SDSU lost Monday evening hosting USC.

Individual baseball game prices at Miller Park are $5 for public and $3 for students, faculty, staff and senior citizens. Season reserved seats can be obtained with a Cougar Card for $30. Otherwise, reserved seats for the season are $30 for students or $60 for public. For groups of 15 or more, there is a special rate of $2 per person. For reserved tickets, phone 801 378-BYU1.

All-sport and Cougar Cards must be shown at the ticket office on the game day and redeemed for a reserved seat, based on availability. Tickets are on sale at the ticket office on the north side of Miller Park.

This is the first full season for BYU at Larry H. Miller Field. Last season the Cougars posted a 10-4 record at Miller Park and averaged 1,241 fans.

Locally KOVO Radio (960 AM) will broadcast all of BYU's games this week and the games are also available on the Internet through SDSU's website at goaztecs.fansonly.com/sports/m-basebl/sched/sdsu-m-basebl-sched.html.