Three-Run Shot by Taylor Helps Beat Monmouth, 11-6

FRESNO -- Three-RBI performances from Brandon Taylor and Ryan Chambers helped BYU defeat Monmouth 11-6 on Thursday.

The win is the Cougars' fifth straight and fourth in a row at the Pepsi Johnny Quik Classic hosted by Fresno State. BYU is the only undefeated team in the six-team tournament. With the win, the Cougars improve to 9-15 on the season while the Hawks fall to 2-8 and 1-3 in the tournament.

Chambers went 2-for-4 for the second consecutive day, hitting a double and his second triple in as many days while scoring twice. Taylor finished 2-for-5, hitting his team-leading fourth home run.

Nathan Hess (2-2) picked up his second win, pitching five innings. He struck out five giving up two earned runs on five hits and walking none. Joshua Barrett (0-1) picked up his first save after pitching the final three innings and holding Monmouth to one unearned run on two hits with four strikeouts.

Led by Taylor's blast, the Cougars scored five runs in the third inning to take the early lead. Singling in Adam Wilkes, Wade Vest extended his hitting streak to seven games in the inning. Rob Itri also had a sacrifice fly to score Chambers.

Four singles and a BYU error helped the Hawks score three runs in the bottom of the third to trail 5-3. BYU answered with a two-run double by Chambers in the fourth after Jeff Hiestand walked and Tim Law singled for the seventh straight game.

The Cougars then scored an eighth run in the fifth off a sacrifice fly from Ben Saylor. An RBI triple by Chambers in the sixth, an RBI by Blair Lucas and a Hawk error gave BYU an 11-3 lead.

The Hawks scored two runs in the sixth and an unearned run in the eighth but couldn't catch up to the Cougars' early lead.

BYU will play Portland (3-11) on Friday at 10 a.m. (PST). The Pilots are 3 1 in the tournament, losing their only game to Fresno State. In other Friday tournament games, Dallas Baptist will play Chicago State at 1:30 p.m. (PST) and Fresno State will play Monmouth at 6:30 p.m. (PST).

Friday will be the last regular tournament game schedule with the championship games taking place on Saturday. If the Cougars beat Portland, they will play in the tournament's championship game. In six attempts, BYU has only won the Pepsi-Johnny Quik Classic once, winning it in 1983 with Wally Joyner as the Classic's MVP.

The BYU-Portland game is not available for live stats or live audio, but check www.byucougars.com for immediate results following the game.

Brigham Young vs Monmouth
Mar 11, 2004 at Fresno, Calif. (Beiden Field)
Brigham Young 11 (9-15)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
CHAMBERS, Ryan cf........  4  2  2  3   1  0  2  0   0
VEST, Wade 2b............  3  1  1  1   0  1  0  3   0
WIENS, Ranger 3b.........  1  1  0  0   2  1  0  1   0
 HALES, Brad ph/2b.......  2  1  0  0   0  1  2  1   1
 LUCAS, Blair ph/3b......  1  0  0  1   0  0  0  0   0
ITRI, Rob dh.............  3  1  0  1   2  1  0  0   0
TAYLOR, Brandon ss.......  5  1  2  3   0  0  1  1   0
SAYLOR, Ben rf/1b........  4  0  1  1   0  0  4  0   1
HIESTAND, Jeff lf........  2  1  0  0   1  1  2  0   1
 BILLS, Kevin ph/lf......  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   2
LAW, Tim 1b..............  2  1  1  0   1  0  5  0   1
 KNELL, Kory rf..........  2  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
WILKES, Adam c...........  2  2  0  0   2  0 11  0   0
HESS, Nathan p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 PARSONS, Kalen p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BARRETT, Joshua p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
Totals................... 32 11  7 10   9  6 27  9   7
Monmouth 6 (2-8)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Apicelli lf..............  1  0  0  0   0  0  2  0   0
 Lewis lf................  4  1  2  1   0  1  3  0   0
Hardie 2b................  5  0  0  0   0  1  1  3   3
Massari ss...............  4  2  3  1   0  1  2  4   0
Rotella rf...............  4  0  0  0   0  2  2  0   1
Pilitowski cf............  4  1  1  0   0  1  1  0   0
Weres 3b.................  4  0  1  2   0  1  1  2   0
Corvino dh...............  3  1  1  0   0  2  0  0   0
 Ciminiello ph...........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
Braun 1b.................  2  0  0  0   0  1  5  0   0
 Laspada ph/1b...........  2  0  1  0   0  0  5  0   1
 Marsh pr................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
DeFilippo c..............  2  1  1  0   0  0  4  2   0
 Hussa c.................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Ogorzat ph..............  0  0  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
Conner p.................  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  2   0
 Marc-Aurele p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Schneider p.............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 Petillo p...............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 36  6 10  4   1 11 27 15   5
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young....... 005 213 000 - 11  7  2
Monmouth............ 003 002 010 -  6 10  3
-------------------------------------------
E - CHAMBERS; LUCAS; Massari 2; Braun. DP - Cougars 1; Hawks 1. LOB -
Cougars 7; Hawks 5. 2B - CHAMBERS; Pilitowski. 3B - CHAMBERS. HR -
TAYLOR(4). HBP - LUCAS; BILLS; DeFilippo. SH - WILKES. SF - SAYLOR. SB -
VEST(4); WIENS(6).
Brigham Young          IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
HESS, Nathan........  5.0  5  3  2  0  5 19 20
PARSONS, Kalen......  1.0  3  2  2  0  2  6  6
BARRETT, Joshua.....  3.0  2  1  0  1  4 11 12
Monmouth               IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Conner..............  4.0  4  7  7  6  2 14 21
Marc-Aurele.........  2.0  3  4  3  2  4 10 13
Schneider...........  2.0  0  0  0  1  0  6  8
Petillo.............  1.0  0  0  0  0  0  2  3
Win - HESS (2-2).  Loss - Conner ().  Save - BARRETT (1).
WP - BARRETT; Marc-Aurele; Schneider. HBP - by HESS (DeFilippo); by Schneider
(LUCAS); by Petillo (BILLS). BK - Marc-Aurele. PB - DeFilippo 2.
Umpires - HP: Dwayne Finley  1B: Tom Chandler  3B: Blake Jenson
Start: 1:00 pm   Time: 2:49   Attendance: 65
Play-by-Play 
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young....... 005 213 000 - 11  7  2
Monmouth............ 003 002 010 -  6 10  3
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young starters: 22/cf CHAMBERS; 5/2b VEST; 8/3b WIENS; 21/dh ITRI;
   3/ss TAYLOR; 25/rf SAYLOR; 16/lf HIESTAND; 1/1b LAW; 24/c WILKES; 18/p
   HESS;
Monmouth starters: 12/lf Apicelli; 2/2b Hardie; 26/ss Massari; 8/rf Rotella;
   1/cf Pilitowski; 21/3b Weres; 18/dh Corvino; 33/1b Braun; 14/c DeFilippo;
   17/p Conner;
Brigham Young - inning 1
   CHAMBERS flied out to rf. VEST struck out swinging. WIENS struck out
   looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 1
   Apicelli grounded out to 2b. Hardie flied out to rf. Massari struck out
   looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young - inning 2
   ITRI walked. TAYLOR flied out to cf. SAYLOR fouled out to lf. HIESTAND
   flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 2
   Lewis to lf for Apicelli. Rotella struck out looking. Pilitowski struck
   out looking. Weres flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young - inning 3
   LAW walked. WILKES reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on
   an error by ss; LAW out at second 2b to ss. WILKES advanced to third on a
   passed ball. CHAMBERS walked. VEST singled to shortstop, RBI; CHAMBERS
   advanced to second; WILKES scored. WIENS walked; VEST advanced to second;
   CHAMBERS advanced to third. ITRI flied out to lf, RBI; CHAMBERS scored.
   WIENS stole second; VEST stole third. TAYLOR homered down the lf line, 3
   RBI; WIENS scored; VEST scored. SAYLOR grounded out to p. 5 runs, 2 hits,
   1 error, 0 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 3
   Corvino singled. Braun grounded out to p; Corvino advanced to second.
   DeFilippo singled to center field; Corvino advanced to third. Lewis
   singled to right field, RBI; DeFilippo advanced to second; Corvino
   scored. Hardie flied out to lf. Massari singled to center field, advanced
   to third, RBI; Lewis advanced to third, scored on an error by cf,
   unearned; DeFilippo scored. Rotella flied out to lf. 3 runs, 4 hits, 1
   error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young - inning 4
   HIESTAND walked. LAW singled to left field; HIESTAND advanced to second.
   WILKES grounded out to p, SAC; LAW advanced to second; HIESTAND advanced
   to third. CHAMBERS doubled to left center, 2 RBI; LAW scored; HIESTAND
   scored. VEST grounded out to 3b. WIENS walked; CHAMBERS advanced to third
   on a passed ball. CHAMBERS out at home c to ss to p. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0
   errors, 1 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 4
   Pilitowski grounded out to 2b. Weres grounded out to 3b. Corvino struck
   out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young - inning 5
   Marc-Aurele to p for Conner. ITRI walked. ITRI advanced to second on a
   balk. TAYLOR singled, advanced to second; ITRI advanced to third. SAYLOR
   flied out to lf, SAC, RBI; ITRI scored. TAYLOR advanced to third on a
   wild pitch. HIESTAND struck out swinging. LAW popped up to 3b. 1 run, 1
   hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 5
   Braun struck out. DeFilippo hit by pitch. Lewis singled, bunt; DeFilippo
   advanced to second. Hardie grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b;
   Lewis out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young - inning 6
   WILKES walked. CHAMBERS tripled to left center, RBI; WILKES scored. HALES
   pinch hit for WIENS. HALES pinch hit for VEST. WIENS to 3b for HALES.
   HALES struck out swinging, reached first on an error by 1b. LUCAS pinch
   hit for WIENS. LUCAS grounded out to 3b, RBI; HALES advanced to second;
   CHAMBERS scored. ITRI struck out looking. TAYLOR reached on an error by
   ss; HALES scored, unearned. SAYLOR singled to second base; TAYLOR
   advanced to second. BILLS pinch hit for HIESTAND. BILLS struck out
   swinging, out at first c to 1b. 3 runs, 2 hits, 2 errors, 2 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 6
   HALES to 2b. LUCAS to 3b. SAYLOR to 1b. BILLS to lf. KNELL to rf for LAW.
   PARSONS to p for HESS. Massari singled to right center. Rotella struck
   out swinging. Pilitowski doubled to center field; Massari advanced to
   third. Weres singled, advanced to second, 2 RBI; Pilitowski scored;
   Massari scored. Corvino struck out swinging. Laspada pinch hit for Braun.
   Laspada grounded out to 2b. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young - inning 7
   Laspada to 1b. Schneider to p for Marc-Aurele. KNELL lined out to ss.
   WILKES walked. CHAMBERS flied out to lf. WILKES advanced to second on a
   wild pitch. HALES grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 7
   BARRETT to p for PARSONS. DeFilippo fouled out to 1b. Lewis grounded out
   to p. Hardie struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young - inning 8
   LUCAS hit by pitch. ITRI out at first p to 2b to 1b; LUCAS advanced to
   second. TAYLOR grounded out to ss; LUCAS advanced to third. SAYLOR
   grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 8
   Massari singled up the middle. Rotella popped up to 2b. Massari advanced
   to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third. Pilitowski reached on a
   fielder's choice, out at second p to 2b; Massari scored on an error by
   3b, unearned. Weres struck out swinging. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young - inning 9
   Petillo to p for Schneider. Hussa to c for DeFilippo. BILLS hit by pitch.
   KNELL flied out to rf. WILKES grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b;
   BILLS out on the play. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Monmouth - inning 9
   Ciminiello pinch hit for Corvino. Ciminiello struck out swinging. Laspada
   singled up the middle. Marsh pinch ran for Laspada. Ogorzat pinch hit for
   Hussa. Ogorzat walked; Marsh advanced to second. Lewis struck out
   looking. Hardie flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.