Tournament Ends Abruptly for Cougars

LAS -- In an unlikely turn of events, two teams BYU swept during the regular season eliminated the Cougars in the first day of the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Wednesday.

After Utah clobbered BYU 10-4 in the opening game, Air Force snapped a 34-game losing streak by knocking the Cougars from the tournament with a 5-3 victory.

The Falcons' Clayton Couch (3-7) dominated the Cougar hitters as he pitched a complete game five hitter for his first victory since Feb. 28. Couch controlled the pace of the game as he struck out seven and walked none.

Four BYU errors factored into the game's result as three of the five Air Force runs were unearned.

The Cougars took a 2-1 lead after the first inning on RBIs by Ryan Chambers and Jeff Hiestand, but were held to only a lone run in the fourth the rest of the game. BYU attempted to make a comeback in the ninth after a Blair Lucas single gave the Cougars its first hit since the fifth inning, but a double play ended BYU's hopes and season.

The Cougars finish the year 28-30 while Air Force improves to 6-48 and advance to a 7 p.m. (PST) Thursday game against the loser of the UNLV-New Mexico game. Earlier on Wednesday, Air Force nearly came back to beat UNLV, losing 13-9 after having an 8-0 first inning deficit.

After singling in the first inning, Ben Saylor ends the season with a 15-game hitting streak.

For Utah, it is the first win against the Cougars since May 9, 2002. BYU is now split, 2-2, with the Utes in MWC tournament games. With the win, Utah improves to 22-34 and will face San Diego State at 3 p.m. (PST) on Thursday.

Continuing his hot hitting, Collegiate Baseball's National Player of the Week Kory Knell finished 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Chambers also had three hits in the game and finished 3-for-5 with a run scored. Brandon Taylor knocked in two runs including a solo home run, his 14th of the season.

The Utes laid down 15 hits including a conference tournament record tying seven doubles in the game. Michael Westfall finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs scored and two doubles.

Patrick Wells (7-5) picked up the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits through 5 1/3 innings. He had three strikeouts in the game.

Jason Price (4-8) earned the victory after holding the Cougars to four runs on 10 hits. He made it through eight innings and struck out five before Clay Westmoreland came in to pitch a perfect ninth.

Utah vs BYU
May 26, 2004 at Las Vegas, Nev. (Earl E. Wilson)
Utah 10 (22-34)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
KHOURY, Ryan ss..........  4  1  2  1   1  1  2  2   1
BROSSMAN, Jay 3b.........  5  2  3  0   0  0  0  1   1
CIARAMELLA, Matt cf......  5  1  2  1   0  1  3  0   0
CHEVALIER, Eric rf.......  4  1  0  0   0  2  0  0   0
PENA, Jared 2b...........  5  1  2  1   0  0  3  3   3
WESTFALL, Mike 1b........  4  2  2  3   0  0  7  2   0
OLSON, Tyson dh..........  5  2  3  2   0  0  0  0   1
WELSH, John lf...........  4  0  1  2   0  1  4  0   1
SCHLIEMAN, Nate c........  4  0  0  0   0  1  8  0   0
PRICE, Jason p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  3   0
 WESTMORELAND, Clay p....  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 40 10 15 10   1  6 27 11   7
BYU 4 (28-29)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
CHAMBERS, Ryan cf........  5  1  3  0   0  1  3  0   0
KNELL, Kory lf...........  4  2  3  1   0  0  1  0   0
TAYLOR, Brandon ss.......  3  1  1  2   0  0  1  4   0
BILLS, Kevin dh..........  3  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   1
SAYLOR, Ben rf...........  4  0  1  0   0  1  3  0   2
WIENS, Ranger 3b.........  3  0  1  0   0  1  0  4   0
LAW, Tim 1b..............  3  0  1  0   0  1 11  0   0
 LUCAS, Blair ph.........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
WILKES, Adam c...........  4  0  0  0   0  2  6  1   0
VEST, Wade 2b............  4  0  0  0   0  0  2  2   3
WELLS, Patrick p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PARSONS, Kalen p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 34  4 10  3   0  7 27 11   6
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Utah................ 011 013 202 - 10 15  1
BYU................. 101 010 100 -  4 10  0
-------------------------------------------
E - CHEVALIER(5). DP - Utah 1. LOB - Utah 7; BYU 6. 2B - BROSSMAN(11);
WESTFALL 2(8); OLSON 3(15); WELSH(8); CHAMBERS(11); KNELL(13). HR -
KHOURY(6); TAYLOR(14). HBP - CHEVALIER; BILLS; WIENS. SF - WESTFALL(2);
WELSH(2); TAYLOR(4). SB - BROSSMAN(4); CIARAMELLA(9); CHEVALIER(12);
OLSON(8); KNELL 2(8). CS - LAW(3).
Utah                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
PRICE, Jason........  8.0 10  4  3  0  5 31 34
WESTMORELAND, Clay..  1.0  0  0  0  0  2  3  3
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
WELLS, Patrick......  5.1  9  6  6  1  3 24 26
PARSONS, Kalen......  3.2  6  4  4  0  3 16 18
Win - PRICE (4-8).  Loss - WELLS (7-5).  Save - None.
HBP - by PRICE (BILLS); by PRICE (WIENS); by PARSONS (CHEVALIER). BK - PRICE(3).
Umpires - HP: Jeff Jenkins  1B: Raymond Belfiore  2B: Kevin Daugherty  3B: Ken
Bayne  Start: 11:03 AM   Time: 2:41   Attendance:
 Play-by-Play
Utah vs BYU - Play-by-Play
May 26, 2004 at Las Vegas, Nev. (Earl E. Wilson)
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Utah................ 011 013 202 - 10 15  1
BYU................. 101 010 100 -  4 10  0
-------------------------------------------
Utah starters: 2/ss KHOURY; 18/3b BROSSMAN; 25/cf CIARAMELLA; 5/rf
   CHEVALIER; 3/2b PENA; 6/1b WESTFALL; 16/dh OLSON; 33/lf WELSH; 4/c
   SCHLIEMAN; 15/p PRICE;
BYU starters: 22/cf CHAMBERS; 12/lf KNELL; 3/ss TAYLOR; 11/dh BILLS; 25/rf
   SAYLOR; 8/3b WIENS; 1/1b LAW; 24/c WILKES; 5/2b VEST; 4/p WELLS;
Utah - inning 1
   KHOURY walked. BROSSMAN singled to third base; KHOURY advanced to second.
   CIARAMELLA reached on a fielder's choice; BROSSMAN out at second ss to
   2b; KHOURY advanced to third. CHEVALIER popped up to ss. PENA grounded
   out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU - inning 1
   CHAMBERS flied out to lf to left center. KNELL doubled down the lf line.
   KNELL stole third. TAYLOR flied out to lf, SF, RBI; KNELL scored. BILLS
   hit by pitch. SAYLOR struck out swinging. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Utah - inning 2
   WESTFALL grounded out to 3b. OLSON doubled down the rf line. OLSON stole
   third. WELSH flied out to cf, SF, RBI; OLSON scored. SCHLIEMAN struck out
   looking. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 2
   WIENS struck out looking. LAW singled up the middle. LAW out at second p
   to 1b to ss, caught stealing. WILKES grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
   errors, 0 LOB.
Utah - inning 3
   KHOURY grounded out to 1b unassisted. BROSSMAN doubled to right center.
   CIARAMELLA singled to center field, RBI; BROSSMAN scored. CHEVALIER
   struck out swinging. PENA reached on a fielder's choice; CIARAMELLA out
   at second 3b to 2b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 3
   VEST fouled out to c. CHAMBERS singled to right center. CHAMBERS out at
   second p to 1b to ss, picked off. KNELL singled to right field. KNELL
   advanced to second on a balk. TAYLOR reached on an error by rf, advanced
   to second, unearned; KNELL scored, unearned. BILLS grounded out to 3b. 1
   run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Utah - inning 4
   WESTFALL grounded out to ss. OLSON grounded out to 1b unassisted. WELSH
   flied out to lf to left center. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 4
   SAYLOR singled to second base. WIENS singled to second base; SAYLOR
   advanced to second. LAW struck out swinging. WILKES struck out looking.
   VEST flied out to cf to left center. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Utah - inning 5
   SCHLIEMAN grounded out to 2b. KHOURY homered to left field, RBI. BROSSMAN
   flied out to rf. CIARAMELLA struck out swinging. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors,
   0 LOB.
BYU - inning 5
   CHAMBERS doubled down the rf line. KNELL singled to second base, RBI;
   CHAMBERS scored. TAYLOR popped up to 2b. BILLS struck out looking; KNELL
   stole second. SAYLOR flied out to lf. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Utah - inning 6
   CHEVALIER grounded out to c, bunt. PENA singled to left field. WESTFALL
   doubled up the middle, RBI; PENA scored. OLSON doubled to right field,
   RBI; WESTFALL scored. WELSH doubled to right center, RBI; OLSON scored.
   PARSONS to p for WELLS. SCHLIEMAN grounded out to 3b. KHOURY struck out
   swinging. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 6
   WIENS hit by pitch. LAW popped up to 1b. WILKES grounded out to p; WIENS
   advanced to second. VEST popped up to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1
   LOB.
Utah - inning 7
   BROSSMAN singled to left field. CIARAMELLA flied out to rf. BROSSMAN
   stole second. CHEVALIER hit by pitch. PENA singled to left field, RBI;
   CHEVALIER advanced to second; BROSSMAN scored. CHEVALIER stole third.
   WESTFALL flied out to rf, SF, RBI; PENA advanced to second; CHEVALIER
   scored. OLSON grounded out to 2b. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 7
   CHAMBERS singled to right center. KNELL grounded into double play ss to
   2b to 1b; CHAMBERS out on the play. TAYLOR homered to left field, RBI.
   BILLS flied out to lf to left center. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Utah - inning 8
   WELSH flied out to cf. SCHLIEMAN grounded out to 3b, bunt. KHOURY singled
   to shortstop. BROSSMAN grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
   LOB.
BYU - inning 8
   SAYLOR flied out to cf. WIENS grounded out to ss. LUCAS pinch hit for
   LAW. LUCAS flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Utah - inning 9
   BILLS to rf. SAYLOR to 1b. LUCAS to dh. CIARAMELLA singled to left field.
   CHEVALIER struck out swinging; CIARAMELLA stole second. PENA flied out to
   cf. WESTFALL doubled to left center, RBI; CIARAMELLA scored. OLSON
   doubled to right field, RBI; WESTFALL scored. WELSH struck out swinging.
   2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 9
   WESTMORELAND to p for PRICE. WILKES struck out swinging. VEST grounded
   out to 2b. CHAMBERS struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Air Force vs BYU
May 26, 2004 at Las Vegas, Nev. (Earl E. Wilson Stad.)
Air Force 5 (6-48)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
WOLFRAM, Josh cf.........  4  2  1  0   1  0  3  0   0
LAMSON, Reid lf..........  3  1  0  0   2  2  2  0   1
TITTLE, Brent dh.........  5  0  2  2   0  0  0  0   1
BROWN, Jason rf..........  4  0  2  0   0  2  0  0   0
BOLT, Karl 3b............  4  0  0  0   0  2  1  3   2
FUGLER, Travis 1b........  4  1  1  0   0  0 10  1   0
DeROHAN, Nathan ss.......  2  1  1  0   1  1  0  5   0
WALTER, Colton 2b........  1  0  1  0   0  0  1  2   0
 SALAZAR, Geno 2b........  2  0  0  0   0  2  2  2   3
POLSTON, Jon c...........  3  0  1  0   0  1  7  0   0
COUCH, Clayton p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  2   0
Totals................... 32  5  9  2   4 10 27 15   7
BYU 3 (28-30)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
VEST, Wade 2b............  3  1  0  0   0  2  3  3   0
CHAMBERS, Ryan cf........  4  1  2  1   0  0  0  0   0
TAYLOR, Brandon ss.......  4  0  0  0   0  0  3  3   0
HIESTAND, Jeff dh........  3  0  0  1   0  1  0  0   2
SAYLOR, Ben rf...........  4  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
KNELL, Kory lf...........  4  1  0  0   0  2  2  0   2
LAW, Tim 1b..............  4  0  1  0   0  0  8  2   0
LUCAS, Blair 3b..........  4  0  1  0   0  1  0  2   1
CLOWARD, Casey c.........  2  0  0  0   0  0  8  2   1
 BILLS, Kevin ph.........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
 WILKES, Adam c..........  1  0  0  0   0  0  3  1   0
SEARLE, Bryce p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BARRETT, Joshua p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 JACINTO, Paul p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 34  3  5  2   0  7 27 16   6
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Air Force........... 102 200 000 -  5  9  3
BYU................. 200 100 000 -  3  5  4
-------------------------------------------
E - WALTER; SALAZAR 2; LUCAS; CLOWARD; BARRETT 2. DP - Air Force 1; BYU 3.
LOB - Air Force 7; BYU 6. 2B - FUGLER; CHAMBERS. HBP - DeROHAN; POLSTON;
VEST; HIESTAND. SH - WALTER. SB - WOLFRAM 2; LAMSON; TITTLE. CS - DeROHAN;
WALTER.
Air Force              IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
COUCH, Clayton......  9.0  5  3  2  0  7 34 36
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
SEARLE, Bryce.......  2.1  4  3  2  3  1  8 12
BARRETT, Joshua.....  4.2  4  2  0  0  7 18 20
JACINTO, Paul.......  2.0  1  0  0  1  2  6  7
Win - COUCH (3-7).  Loss - SEARLE (2-2).  Save - None.
WP - SEARLE 2. HBP - by COUCH (VEST); by SEARLE (POLSTON); by BARRETT (DeROHAN);
by COUCH (HIESTAND). PB - POLSTON.
Umpires - HP: Raymond Belfiore  1B: Keith Bailey  2B: Ken Bayne  3B: Dan
Perugini  Start: 7:00 PM   Time: 3:30   Attendance: 663
Game notes:
ID-263972
2004 MWC Tournament Game Three
Air Force advances to Thursday, BYU is eliminated
Day 1 Session Attendance - 663
BARRETT faced 3 batters in the 8th.
Play-by-Play
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Air Force........... 102 200 000 -  5  9  3
BYU................. 200 100 000 -  3  5  4
-------------------------------------------
Air Force starters: 6/cf WOLFRAM; 1/lf LAMSON; 3/dh TITTLE; 10/rf BROWN J.;
   13/3b BOLT; 17/1b FUGLER; 8/ss DeROHAN; 4/2b WALTER; 26/c POLSTON; 23/p
   COUCH;
BYU starters: 5/2b VEST; 22/cf CHAMBERS; 3/ss TAYLOR; 16/dh HIESTAND; 25/rf
   SAYLOR; 12/lf KNELL; 1/1b LAW; 6/3b LUCAS; 9/c CLOWARD; 26/p SEARLE;
Air Force - inning 1
   WOLFRAM walked. WOLFRAM stole second. WOLFRAM advanced to third on a wild
   pitch. LAMSON walked. TITTLE grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b,
   RBI; LAMSON out on the play; WOLFRAM scored. BROWN J. singled through the
   left side. BROWN J. advanced to second on a wild pitch. BOLT struck out.
   1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 1
   VEST hit by pitch. CHAMBERS singled to right field, RBI, advanced to
   second on the throw; VEST scored. TAYLOR flied out to cf; CHAMBERS
   advanced to third. HIESTAND out at first 1b to p, RBI; CHAMBERS scored.
   SAYLOR singled to left field. KNELL flied out to lf. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0
   errors, 1 LOB.
Air Force - inning 2
   FUGLER grounded out to 2b. DeROHAN singled through the left side. DeROHAN
   out at second c to 2b, caught stealing. WALTER singled to center field.
   WALTER out at second c to 2b, caught stealing. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors,
   0 LOB.
BYU - inning 2
   LAW grounded out to 2b. LUCAS grounded out to ss. CLOWARD grounded out to
   3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Air Force - inning 3
   POLSTON hit by pitch. WOLFRAM reached on a fielder's choice; POLSTON out
   at second 3b to ss. WOLFRAM stole second, advanced to third on an error
   by c. LAMSON walked. TITTLE singled, RBI; LAMSON advanced to second,
   advanced to third on an error by 3b; WOLFRAM scored. BARRETT to p for
   SEARLE. TITTLE stole second; LAMSON stole home, unearned. BROWN J. struck
   out. BOLT struck out looking. 2 runs, 1 hit, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 3
   VEST grounded out to 2b. CHAMBERS reached on an error by 2b. TAYLOR
   reached on a fielder's choice; CHAMBERS out at second 3b to 2b. HIESTAND
   flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Air Force - inning 4
   FUGLER doubled to center field. DeROHAN hit by pitch. WALTER out at first
   1b to 2b, SAC, bunt; DeROHAN advanced to second; FUGLER advanced to
   third. POLSTON struck out looking. WOLFRAM reached on an error by p,
   advanced to second; DeROHAN scored, unearned; FUGLER scored, unearned.
   LAMSON struck out swinging. 2 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 4
   SALAZAR to 2b for WALTER. SAYLOR reached on an error by 2b. KNELL reached
   on a fielder's choice; SAYLOR out at second 3b to 2b. LAW singled through
   the right side; KNELL advanced to third. LAW advanced to second on a
   passed ball; KNELL scored, unearned. LUCAS reached on a fielder's choice;
   LAW out at third ss to 3b. CLOWARD grounded out to p. 1 run, 1 hit, 1
   error, 1 LOB.
Air Force - inning 5
   TITTLE lined out to lf. BROWN J. struck out swinging. BOLT grounded out
   to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 5
   VEST struck out swinging. CHAMBERS doubled to right center. TAYLOR
   grounded out to ss; CHAMBERS advanced to third. HIESTAND struck out
   swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Air Force - inning 6
   FUGLER flied out to lf. DeROHAN struck out swinging. SALAZAR struck out
   swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 6
   SAYLOR grounded out to ss. KNELL struck out swinging. LAW reached on an
   error by 2b. LUCAS struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Air Force - inning 7
   POLSTON grounded out to p. WOLFRAM singled up the middle. LAMSON grounded
   into double play p to ss to 1b; WOLFRAM out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
   errors, 0 LOB.
BYU - inning 7
   BILLS pinch hit for CLOWARD. BILLS struck out swinging. VEST struck out
   swinging. CHAMBERS flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Air Force - inning 8
   WILKES to c for BILLS. TITTLE singled up the middle. BROWN J. singled to
   right field; TITTLE advanced to second. BOLT reached on an error by p;
   BROWN J. advanced to second; TITTLE advanced to third. JACINTO to p for
   BARRETT. FUGLER grounded into double play 1b to c to 1b; BOLT advanced to
   second; BROWN J. advanced to third; TITTLE out on the play. DeROHAN
   walked. SALAZAR struck out. 0 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB.
BYU - inning 8
   TAYLOR flied out to cf. HIESTAND hit by pitch. SAYLOR out at first p to
   2b to 1b; HIESTAND advanced to second. KNELL struck out looking. 0 runs,
   0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Air Force - inning 9
   POLSTON singled to right field. WOLFRAM out at first p to ss to 1b;
   POLSTON advanced to second. LAMSON struck out looking. TITTLE grounded
   out to 3b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU - inning 9
   LAW grounded out to 1b unassisted. LUCAS singled up the middle. WILKES
   grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; LUCAS out on the play. 0 runs,
   1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.