Craig Hurls A Shutout Gem

FORT WORTH -- Jesse Craig pitched a complete game shutout as BYU snapped No. 27 TCU's 19-game home-winning streak, with a 5-0 win on Thursday night.

Apana Nakayama finally put BYU on the scoreboard in the eighth as he stepped up to the plate and hit a 2-2 pitch over the right field wall to give BYU the 1-0 edge. In the ninth the Cougars caught fire with great hitting and base running to add four more runs to their lead and giving Craig all the run support he needed to secure the 5-0 victory.

BYU (22-14, 7-3) came into the game in second place in the MWC trailing first place TCU (28-10, 10-2) and just ahead of third place San Diego State. Now the Cougars are in second place, two games out of first behind the Horned Frogs.

The match-up featured both teams' ace going at it, with Craig facing off against Jake Arrieta. The two battled it out pitching shutout baseball until the eighth inning when Nakayama hit his home run sending Arrieta to the dugout. Craig, 6-2, picked up the win for BYU, while Arrieta, 6-3, picked up the loss.

"Jesse (Craig) gave us a gem, he was dealing," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "Our aggressiveness paid off today, especially in the ninth inning."

The Cougars got insurance runs in that ninth frame when Danny Vargas hit a one-out double, stole third and scored off Collin Fanning's two-out single up the middle. Pinch-hitter Stephen Wells' double scored Fanning. Then Wells surprisingly scored when Kent Walton legged out a single to second, then stole second and scored the fourth run of that inning off Steve Parker's single.

In the first inning BYU wasn't able to do much against Arrieta, but Nakayama was able to get a single to right field for the only Cougar hit of the inning. In the bottom frame Craig came out and after giving up a lead-off double, caused the next batter to ground into a double play on a leaping catch by Walton and then forced another ground out to end the inning.

In the second inning the Cougars were retired in order as Arrieta continued to pitch well, and Craig matched him step for step retiring the TCU side, while striking out two.

The Cougars had their first scoring opportunity after Leon Johnson singled to right field and then stole second. Fanning was up next and after a wild pitch that advanced Johnson to third, drew a walk from Arrieta. The top of the inning ended as BYU couldn't convert with a man on first and third.

Craig and Arrieta continued to battle heading into the fifth inning with the score still 0-0. BYU had another opportunity to score in the top of the inning with two men on and one out, but they couldn't bring them around to score as TCU held defensively. In the bottom frame Craig gave up a lead-off single, but then proceeded to force the next two batters to ground out and got the third to strike out swinging.

"Jesse got out of a tough, tough jam," said Law. "How do you get out of that? It's with pretty good pitching."

BYU found itself once again with two men on with two outs in the top of the sixth after Parker singled up the middle, and then stole second. Then designated hitter Jason Johnson was issued an intentional walk. But for the second time in as many innings the Cougars couldn't convert.

In the seventh inning, Arrieta and Craig battled and didn't show any fatigue as they both retired the opposing teams' side.

Shortstop Vargas started for the second straight game after being out for over a month with a strain of his MCL. Vargas assisted in turning two double-plays defensively for BYU, and went 1-3 with a double and a run, and recorded a stolen base.

Nakayama's home-run in the eighth gave him a team-high of eight on the year.

"I knew I had to be at my best," said Craig, who threw 130 pitches. "I wanted to finish off the game. The coaches asked me if I wanted to come out and I said 'no.' I was hitting my spots."

BYU and TCU will play two more games down in Fort Worth on Friday and Saturday, with start time for both games at 6:30 p.m. CT.

2007 at Fort Worth, Texas (Lupton Stadium)
BYU Cougars 5 (22-14,7-3 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
JOHNSON, Leon cf/lf......  5  0  2  0   0  1  1  1   0
FANNING, Collin rf.......  4  1  1  1   1  0  2  0   0
NAKAYAMA, Apana lf.......  4  1  2  1   0  1  2  0   4
 WELLS, Stephen cf.......  1  1  1  1   0  0  0  0   0
WALTON, Kent 2b..........  5  1  1  1   0  1  3  2   1
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  4  0  2  1   1  0  0  1   0
KO, Kasey 1b.............  5  0  2  0   0  1 10  0   1
JOHNSON, Jason dh........  3  0  0  0   1  0  0  0   2
MUSSO, J.T. c............  4  0  0  0   0  1  6  1   2
VARGAS, Dan ss...........  3  1  1  0   1  2  2  3   0
CRAIG, Jesse p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  3   0
Totals................... 38  5 12  5   4  7 27 11  10
TCU Horned Frogs 0 (28-9,10-2 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
KERVIN, Bryan ss.........  4  0  3  0   0  0  3  1   1
TROUT, Steven 3b.........  3  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
ADAMS, Austin rf.........  4  0  0  0   0  1  1  0   2
WALKER, Andrew c.........  4  0  0  0   0  1  8  1   2
VERN, Matt 1b............  4  0  1  0   0  2  6  1   0
ARNOLD, Clint cf.........  3  0  0  0   0  0  4  0   0
ELLINGTON, Steve lf......  3  0  0  0   0  0  2  0   0
McGUIRK, Matt dh.........  3  0  1  0   0  2  0  0   1
CARRUTHERS, Ben 2b.......  3  0  2  0   0  0  1  1   0
ARRIETA, Jake p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  2  1   0
 DEMEL, Sam p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 DUNBAR, Cody p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 31  0  7  0   0  6 27  6   6
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
BYU Cougars......... 000 000 014 -  5 12  1
TCU Horned Frogs.... 000 000 000 -  0  7  0
-------------------------------------------
E - VARGAS(8). DP - BY 2. LOB - BY 10; TCU 6. 2B - WELLS(4); KO(10);
VARGAS(3); KERVIN(12). HR - NAKAYAMA(8). HBP - TROUT. SH - ARNOLD(5). SB -
JOHNSON, L.(17); WALTON(8); PARKER(3); VARGAS(2); KERVIN(5). CS - PARKER(2).
BYU Cougars            IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
CRAIG, Jesse........  9.0  7  0  0  0  6 31 33 130
TCU Horned Frogs       IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
ARRIETA, Jake.......  7.1  6  1  1  4  4 28 32 120
DEMEL, Sam..........  1.1  3  2  2  0  2  6  6  22
DUNBAR, Cody........  0.1  3  2  2  0  1  4  4  12
Win - CRAIG (6-2).  Loss - ARRIETA (6-3).  Save - None.
WP - ARRIETA(4). HBP - by CRAIG (TROUT). Inherited runners/scored: DEMEL 1/0;
DUNBAR 1/1. Pitches/strikes: CRAIG 130/89; ARRIETA 120/72; DEMEL 22/14; DUNBAR
12/8.
Umpires - HP: Gus Rodriguez  1B: Ray Belfiore  3B: Scott Johnstone
Start: 6:31 pm   Time: 3:05   Attendance: 1716
BYU Cougars starters: 14/cf JOHNSON, L.; 17/rf FANNING; 24/lf NAKAYAMA; 9/2b
WALTON; 5/3b PARKER; 22/1b KO; 7/dh JOHNSON, J.; 10/c MUSSO; 13/ss VARGAS; 35/p
CRAIG;
TCU Horned Frogs starters: 1/ss KERVIN; 16/3b TROUT; 44/rf ADAMS; 6/c WALKER;
21/1b VERN; 5/cf ARNOLD; 18/lf ELLINGTON; 32/dh McGUIRK; 20/2b CARRUTHERS; 34/p
ARRIETA;
BYU Cougars 1st - JOHNSON, L. flied out to cf (1-2 FBK). FANNING
grounded out to 2b (2-2 KBBK). NAKAYAMA singled through the right side (2-2
KFBB). WALTON struck out looking (0-2 KKK). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 1st - KERVIN doubled to left field (1-0 B). TROUT lined
into double play 2b to ss (2-1 BBK); KERVIN out on the play. ADAMS grounded out
to p (1-2 KFB). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU Cougars 2nd - PARKER flied out to cf (0-0). KO flied out to cf to
right center (2-2 KBKB). JOHNSON, J. out at first 1b to p (0-0). 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 2nd - WALKER struck out swinging (2-2 KBKBS). VERN
struck out swinging (1-2 KBKS). ARNOLD flied out to lf to left center (0-0).
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU Cougars 3rd - MUSSO flied out to lf (0-0). VARGAS struck out looking
(2-2 FBKFBK). JOHNSON, L. singled to right field (2-1 KBB). JOHNSON, L. stole
second. FANNING walked (3-2 BBBKFFB); JOHNSON, L. advanced to third on a wild
pitch. NAKAYAMA lined out to rf (1-0 B). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 3rd - ELLINGTON lined out to 2b (2-2 KKBB). McGUIRK
singled to left field (1-2 KBKF). CARRUTHERS singled to right center, out at
first cf to ss to 1b (1-1 FB); McGUIRK advanced to third. KERVIN flied out to
lf (1-1 BK). 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU Cougars 4th - WALTON fouled out to 2b (0-0). PARKER popped up to ss
(0-0). KO doubled down the lf line (1-2 KKB). JOHNSON, J. grounded out to 1b
unassisted (1-2 KFB). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 4th - TROUT flied out to cf to left center (1-1 KB).
ADAMS reached on a fielding error by ss (1-0 B). WALKER grounded into double
play p to ss to 1b (1-1 KB); ADAMS out on the play. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error,
0 LOB.
BYU Cougars 5th - MUSSO grounded out to ss (1-1 BK). VARGAS walked (3-2
BFBFBFB). JOHNSON, L. singled through the left side (1-1 BK); VARGAS advanced
to second. FANNING fouled out to c (2-1 BFB). NAKAYAMA struck out swinging (2-2
BKBKS). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 5th - VERN singled to shortstop (0-1 K). ARNOLD
grounded out to p, SAC (2-1 BFB); VERN advanced to second. ELLINGTON grounded
out to ss (0-0); VERN advanced to third. McGUIRK struck out swinging (1-2
BKFS). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU Cougars 6th - WALTON grounded out to p (0-1 S). PARKER singled up
the middle (1-0 B). PARKER stole second. KO popped up to ss (3-1 BKBB).
JOHNSON, J. intentionally walked (3-1 KBBBB). MUSSO popped up to p (2-2 BKBK).
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 6th - CARRUTHERS singled to right field (1-2 BKF).
KERVIN singled through the right side (2-2 BKFFB); CARRUTHERS advanced to
third. TROUT popped up to 1b, bunt (0-0). ADAMS struck out looking (2-2
BFBKFFK); KERVIN stole second. WALKER fouled out to 1b (1-2 BSK). 0 runs, 2
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU Cougars 7th - VARGAS struck out looking (0-2 KSK). JOHNSON, L.
grounded out to 3b, bunt (0-1 K). FANNING lined out to cf (3-1 BKBB). 0
runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 7th - VERN struck out swinging (1-2 KKBFS). ARNOLD
grounded out to 3b (1-2 FBS). ELLINGTON grounded out to 2b (2-1 BBK). 0
runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU Cougars 8th - NAKAYAMA homered to right field, RBI (2-2 BSKB).
WALTON fouled out to 1b (1-2 SBS). PARKER walked (3-2 BBKBKB). DEMEL to p for
ARRIETA. PARKER out at second c to ss, caught stealing. KO singled to pitcher
(2-0 BB). JOHNSON, J. flied out to lf (1-0 B). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 8th - McGUIRK struck out swinging (2-2 SBFFFFBS).
CARRUTHERS grounded out to c (0-1 K). KERVIN singled up the middle (3-2 BFBFB).
TROUT hit by pitch (2-2 KBKBF); KERVIN advanced to second. JOHNSON, L. to lf.
WELLS to cf for NAKAYAMA. ADAMS grounded out to p unassisted (0-1 S). 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU Cougars 9th - MUSSO struck out swinging (0-2 KSS). VARGAS doubled to
left center (0-0). JOHNSON, L. struck out swinging (2-2 BSSBFS). VARGAS stole
third. FANNING singled up the middle, RBI (3-2 BKBKBF); VARGAS scored. DUNBAR
to p for DEMEL. WELLS doubled to left center, RBI (1-1 BF); FANNING scored.
WALTON singled to second base, RBI (0-0); WELLS scored. WALTON stole second.
PARKER singled through the right side, RBI (2-1 KBB); WALTON scored. KO struck
out swinging (1-2 KBFS). 4 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 9th - WALKER lined out to rf (1-2 BKK). VERN popped up
to 2b (1-2 FBF). ARNOLD flied out to rf (3-2 BFKBFBF). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.