Eight-Game Homestand Starts With Utah

Sweeps are hoping to be put behind both by BYU and Utah's baseball teams as the rivals tangle in Provo for a three-game series beginning Thursday.

The host Cougars, now 19-20 overall and 11-10 in the Mountain West Conference, are coming off three consecutive losses last week at No. 20 UNLV. The Utes, now 19-24 and 6-14, were swept in a three-game series last week at New Mexico.

Last month in Salt Lake City, BYU swept Utah in a three-game series, the only MWC team to sweep the Utes at home. BYU, meanwhile, has only recorded a three-game sweep over one team in the MWC, Air Force two weeks ago, since Miller Park expanded two years ago.

Projected starters for BYU remain the same with Jeff Mousser (4-5, 5.57) on Thursday at 7 p.m., Paul Jacinto (6-5, 4.14) on Friday at 7 p.m., and Ken Gravley (3-1, 4.53) on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Saturday's game will be televised live on both KBYU-TV and BYU-TV with Jay Monsen calling the play-by-play and Gary Sheide as color commentator.

All three games will also be broadcast live over KOVO Radio 960 AM and live on the Internet through links at www.byucougars.com. The live audio for games on Thursday and Friday will be delayed until 10 p.m., because of BYU Women's Conference.

The Cougars are smarting from last week's losses at UNLV, including the finale when it let a 7-1 lead through five-plus innings evaporate in an 11 10 loss. That loss was due in part to a MWC record-typing three-home-run performance by Stephen Ghutzman.

The three games against Utah start a consecutive eight-game homestand for BYU.

Among BYU's leaders in the latest NCAA statistics are Kainoa Obrey and Ranger Wiens, both tied at 15th in doubles; Doug Jackson is fifth in triples; and BYU is 29th in runs scored.