Bullpen Blanks Wolverines

PROVO -- On a perfect night for baseball, the BYU's bullpen allowed no runs to Utah Valley State in a 6-2 win to improve to 32-18 on the year.

"We tried to do some match-up today and give some guys some work," BYU head coach Vance Law said. "Each of them, including our starter, came in and did what they were supposed to do. I'm proud of all our pitchers today."

BYU scored its six runs on six hits and one UVSC error. UVSC scored its two runs on nine hits and no BYU errors. Starter Blaine Howell recorded the win for the Cougars to improve his record to 2-2 on the year.

UVSC falls to 22-28 on the year with the loss attributed to starting pitcher Dan Christensen who falls to 4-6 on the season.

Through two innings, Howell had only given up one hit and no runs with three strikeouts to Christensen's perfect two innings.

Howell's shutout was disrupted in the third inning when the Wolverines scored two runs on three hits and one walk. In the bottom half of the inning Christensen continued throw deep into hitter's counts, but kept runners off the bases with two strikeouts.

Undeterred, Howell got back on the hill in the top of the fourth to retire the side and tally his fourth strikeout of the game. Christensen started the fourth with 49 pitches already thrown and the wear and tear apparently got to him.

Christensen gave up two runs on three singles and an error in the fifth. Runners were at the corners with one out when he struck out Chase Frampton looking and picked off Steve Parker attempting to steal second to end the inning.

The Cougars took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Leon Johnson walked to start the inning and stole second base. Wes Guenther came on to pinch hit for J.T. Musso and moved Leon Johnson to third on a 3-1 sacrifice bunt. Austin Hall then hit an R.B.I. double off the wall in left center field to give BYU a 3-2 lead.

Right-hander Michael Ward came on in relief with two outs and runners on second and third in the top of the sixth inning. Howell pitched five and two-thirds innings, gave up two runs on six hits and one error with eight strikeouts.

With the Wolverines threatening to tie the game, designated hitter Kevin Arendse hit a hard ground ball to the left side of the infield. Parker dove to his left to make the highlight reel and throw Arendse out at first to prevent UVSC from tying the game.

Not only did Parker save a run from scoring in the top of the sixth with a diving grab, he also produced with his bat in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs and no one on base, Parker his a 2-0 fastball on the inside part of the plate over the right center wall for a solo homerun, increasing the BYU-lead to 4-2.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, UVSC's Bryan Smith came in to relieve Christensen with one out and a runner on second base. Christensen's day ended after he gave up four runs on five hits and one error, including the solo homerun from Parker in six and one-third innings.

Ward's night ended after giving up three hits and no runs in two innings of work. Left-hander Clayton Barnes came in during the top of the eighth inning with two outs and a runner on second base. With a runner in scoring position, Adam Openshaw ended the Wolverine eighth with a fly-out to left field.

UVSC made its own pitching change in the bottom of the eighth after Smith gave up a lead-off walk to Stephen Wells and got behind in the count, 2-0, to Dan Vargas, BYU's second batter of the inning. Right-hander Craig Brimhall came in to try to keep the BYU lead at 4-2 before UVSC's last chance to close the gap.

Wells stole second base, but first was quickly occupied by Vargas who also drew a walk on a full count. The Cougar's big hitter, Apana Nakayama, came to the plate with two runners on and no outs and fouled off one pitch before he was walked to load the bases.

Kasey Ko then came to the plate and lined a 2-0 fast ball the opposite way to left field that scored two and extended the Cougar lead to 6-2 with runners at first and second with no outs.

Two runs were all BYU would get out of the eighth. Parker struck out swinging and pinch-hitter Thomas Bills hit into a double play to end the threat and send the game into the top of the ninth.

Right-hander Jacob Perez came on to close the game for the Cougars in the top of the ninth. Perez got both pinch-hitter Josh Hinckley and Keiki Albino to strike out looking as the first two batters of the Wolverine ninth and Scott Croshaw grounded out to short stop to end the game.

BYU's next game will be on Thursday at home against rival Utah at 7 p.m. in the first of a three-game set that will run Friday and Saturday as well.

Utah Valley State at Brigham Young Univ.
May 15, 2007 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Utah Valley State 2 (22-28)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Tyler Garretson cf.......  4  0  2  0   0  2  2  0   0
Eli Slesk ss.............  3  1  1  1   0  0  2  2   2
Derrick Thomas c.........  4  0  1  1   0  2  5  1   0
Austin Heaps lf..........  4  0  0  0   0  2  0  0   2
Jace Brinkerhoff 3b......  4  0  2  0   0  0  2  2   0
Adam Openshaw 1b.........  4  0  1  0   0  0 10  2   1
Kevin Arendse dh.........  3  0  0  0   0  2  0  0   2
 Josh Hinckley ph........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
Keiki Albino 2b..........  2  0  1  0   2  1  1  2   0
Scott Croshaw rf.........  4  1  1  0   0  1  1  0   0
Dan Christensen p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  2   0
 Bryan Smith p...........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Craig Brimhall p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 33  2  9  2   2 11 24 11   7
Brigham Young Univ. 6 (32-18)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
WELLS, Stephen cf........  3  2  1  0   1  0  0  0   0
VARGAS, Dan ss...........  2  2  0  0   1  0  3  3   1
NAKAYAMA, Apana lf.......  3  0  0  0   1  1  3  1   0
KO, Kasey 1b.............  4  0  2  3   0  0  9  0   0
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  4  1  2  2   0  1  0  1   0
FRAMPTON, Chase dh.......  3  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
 BILLS, Thomas ph........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   1
JOHNSON, Leon rf.........  1  1  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
MUSSO, J.T. c............  1  0  0  0   0  1  4  1   0
 GUENTHER, Wes c/ph......  1  0  0  0   0  0  7  0   0
HALL, Austin 2b..........  3  0  1  1   0  1  0  3   0
HOWELL, Blaine p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  2   0
 WARD, Michael p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 PARRY, David p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BARNES, Clayton p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 PEREZ, Jacob p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 26  6  6  6   4  5 27 12   3
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Utah Valley State... 002 000 000 -  2  9  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 000 211 02X -  6  6  0
-------------------------------------------
E - Christensen(2). DP - Wolverines 1; BYU Cougars 1. LOB - Wolverines 7;
BYU Cougars 3. 2B - Thomas(18); Brinkerhoff(12); Openshaw(5); HALL(10). HR -
PARKER(6). HBP - JOHNSON, L.. SH - Slesk(5); VARGAS(4); GUENTHER(1). SB -
Garretson(8); WELLS(6); JOHNSON, L.(26). CS - PARKER(4); JOHNSON, L.(6).
Utah Valley State      IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Dan Christensen.....  6.1  5  4  3  1  4 22 26
Bryan Smith.........  0.2  0  1  1  1  0  1  2
Craig Brimhall......  1.0  1  1  1  2  1  3  5
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
HOWELL, Blaine......  5.2  6  2  2  2  8 21 24
WARD, Michael.......  1.1  2  0  0  0  1  5  5
PARRY, David........  0.2  1  0  0  0  0  3  3
BARNES, Clayton.....  0.1  0  0  0  0  0  1  1
PEREZ, Jacob........  1.0  0  0  0  0  2  3  3
Win - HOWELL (2-2).  Loss - Christensen (4-6).  Save - None.
WP - HOWELL(3). HBP - by Christensen (JOHNSON, L.).
Umpires - HP: Matt Marziale  1B: Blyden Loutensock  3B: Terry Balser
Start: 6:10 pm   Time: 2:59   Attendance: 1193
Game notes:
BYU's game times for Utah have changed to 7 Thursday, 7:30 Friday and
4 p.m. on Saturday because of the NCAA Softball Regionals here
Smith faced 1 batter in the 8th.
Utah Valley State starters: 1/cf Garretson; 2/ss Slesk; 17/c Thomas; 19/lf Heaps;
10/3b Brinkerhoff; 12/1b Openshaw; 18/dh Arendse; 5/2b Albino; 3/rf Croshaw; 15/p
Christensen;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 1/cf WELLS; 13/ss VARGAS; 24/lf NAKAYAMA; 22/1b KO;
5/3b PARKER; 16/dh FRAMPTON; 14/rf JOHNSON, L.; 10/c MUSSO; 18/2b HALL; 15/p HOWELL;
Utah Valley State 1st - Garretson singled to center field. Slesk grounded out
to p, SAC, bunt; Garretson advanced to second. Garretson stole third. Thomas struck
out swinging. Heaps struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - WELLS grounded out to ss. VARGAS fouled out to ss.
NAKAYAMA grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Utah Valley State 2nd - Brinkerhoff lined out to p. Openshaw grounded out to
2b. Arendse struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - KO grounded out to 3b. PARKER grounded out to 1b
unassisted. FRAMPTON out at first 1b to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Utah Valley State 3rd - Albino walked. Croshaw reached on a fielder's choice;
Albino out at second p to ss. Garretson singled to right field; Croshaw advanced to
second. Slesk singled to left field, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; Garretson
advanced to second, out at second lf to ss; Croshaw scored. Thomas doubled to right
field, RBI; Slesk scored. Heaps grounded out to ss. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - JOHNSON, L. flied out to cf. MUSSO struck out
swinging. HALL struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Utah Valley State 4th - Brinkerhoff grounded out to 2b. Openshaw grounded out
to c. Arendse struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - WELLS singled up the middle. VARGAS reached on a
fielding error by p, SAC, bunt; WELLS advanced to second. NAKAYAMA grounded out to
1b unassisted; VARGAS advanced to second; WELLS advanced to third. KO singled to
center field, RBI; VARGAS advanced to third; WELLS scored. PARKER singled down the
rf line, RBI; KO advanced to third; VARGAS scored, unearned. FRAMPTON struck out
looking. PARKER out at second p to 1b to ss, caught stealing. 2 runs, 3 hits, 1
error, 1 LOB.
Utah Valley State 5th - GUENTHER to c for MUSSO. Albino walked. Albino
advanced to second on a wild pitch. Croshaw struck out swinging. Garretson struck
out swinging. Slesk flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - JOHNSON, L. walked. GUENTHER pinch hit for MUSSO.
JOHNSON, L. stole second. GUENTHER grounded out to p, SAC, bunt; JOHNSON, L.
advanced to third. HALL doubled to left center, RBI; JOHNSON, L. scored. WELLS flied
out to cf; HALL advanced to third. VARGAS popped up to 2b. 1 run, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Utah Valley State 6th - GUENTHER to c. Thomas struck out swinging. Heaps
struck out looking. Brinkerhoff singled up the middle. Openshaw doubled to left
center; Brinkerhoff advanced to third. WARD to p for HOWELL. Arendse grounded out to
3b. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - NAKAYAMA struck out looking. KO grounded out to ss.
PARKER homered to center field, RBI. FRAMPTON grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 1 hit, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Utah Valley State 7th - Albino singled to shortstop. Croshaw singled to left
field; Albino advanced to second. Garretson struck out swinging. Slesk grounded into
double play p to ss to 1b; Croshaw out on the play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - JOHNSON, L. hit by pitch. GUENTHER grounded out to
1b unassisted; JOHNSON, L. advanced to second. Smith to p for Christensen. JOHNSON,
L. out at third c to 3b, caught stealing. HALL flied out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Utah Valley State 8th - PARRY to p for WARD. Thomas flied out to lf. Heaps
grounded out to 2b. Brinkerhoff doubled down the lf line. BARNES to p for PARRY.
Openshaw flied out to lf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - WELLS walked. Brimhall to p for Smith. WELLS stole
second. VARGAS walked. NAKAYAMA walked; VARGAS advanced to second; WELLS advanced to
third. KO singled to left field, 2 RBI; NAKAYAMA advanced to second; VARGAS scored;
WELLS scored. PARKER struck out swinging. BILLS pinch hit for FRAMPTON. BILLS
grounded into double play 3b to 1b; NAKAYAMA out on the play. 2 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Utah Valley State 9th - PEREZ to p for BARNES. Hinckley pinch hit for
Arendse. Hinckley struck out looking. Albino struck out looking. Croshaw grounded
out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.