Win Comes Despite Rain Delay

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PROVO -- Michael Bowen’s walk-off single gave BYU a 12-11 win over New Mexico on Saturday, leaving both teams tied in first place of the Mountain West Conference standings.

Game three of the series was officially called Saturday afternoon because of rain after UNM had taken a 9-3 lead through four complete innings of a now non-counting game which will not be made up. Both teams currently hold an 11-6 record in the MWC, with the Lobos at 31-12 overall and BYU at 24-16.

The Cougars led 11-9 through the first seven innings on Friday before play was suspended at 10:03 p.m. with 2:54 minutes of playing time at that point. After a mandatory 30-minute delay the game was postponed until Saturday morning.

BYU’s Marc Oslund was credited with the win, improving to 5-1 on the season. He came in with the score tied 11-all in the ninth, recording one strikeout and a pop up to centerfield.

Stetson Banks stepped up to hit a double to the left as the Cougars tried to secure the win. Bryce Ayoso’s sacrifice bunt moved Banks to third. Intentional walks on Kent Walton and Steve Parker loaded the bases. With two outs Bowen hit a walk-off single, plating Banks for the win.

Blake Torgerson pitched the first six innings for BYU, with Nathan Bunch relieving him, while the Lobos rotated five pitchers.

New Mexico was first to score after a home run to right field in the second inning. Two extra-base hits for a pair of runs gave the Lobos a 3-0 lead. BYU’s Bowen stepped to the plate, walking to first after getting hit by a pitch, while Chad Nacapoy’s fielder’s choice advanced Bowen to third, putting Cougar runners on the corners. With two outs, a line drive to centerfield from Andrew Law brought Bowen in for BYU’s first score of the game.

The Cougars tied it up three-all after Banks doubled to left field, sending Nacapoy and Law to home plate. BYU pulled ahead 5-3 after hits from Ayoso and Walton. The big hits kept coming for the Cougars as Parker tripled to left field allowing Walton to score, while Bowen batted in Parker. The Cougars plated seven runs on eight hits in the second inning to go up 7-3.

“After New Mexico scored those first three runs it was really important for us to answer,” said Law. “To come back with seven runs, all with two outs, was really big.”

The Lobos narrowed the deficit to 7-5 with two scores in the third inning.

In the fourth BYU’s Walton remained 3-for-3 on the night with a single to right field then stole second before the pitcher toed the rubber. With runners on second and third Parker stepped to the plate. The Cougars scored two more runs on Parker’s base hit up the middle, giving BYU a 9-5 advantage.

After stealing second in the bottom of the fifth off a pitch in the dirt, Banks ran home on Ayoso’s fly ball to right field, giving BYU a 10-5 lead.

New Mexico’s Mike Brownstein’s triple to left centerfield and another single to left field scored two runs for the Lobos.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, a wild pitch into the dirt sent Bowen back to the disc, improving the Cougars lead to 11-7. The Lobos’ Rafael Neda responded with a home run to left field at the top of the seventh. A double sent another runner home to bring New Mexico within two and keep its comeback hopes alive, however heavy rain suspended the game for the night.

BYU’s Jordan Muir came in to pitch as the game resumed at the top of the eighth on Saturday. After the Lobos singled to left to get within one at 11-10, Muir struck out New Mexico’s Brian Cavazos-Galvez swinging.

New Mexico at BYU
4/24-25/2009 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
New Mexico 11 (31-12,11-6 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BROWNSTEIN 2b............  5  1  1  1   1  1  2  1   1
WILLETT, M cf............  5  2  2  1   0  0  1  0   1
HONEYCUTT, R dh..........  4  1  2  0   1  1  0  0   1
 MONGER, C pr............  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
NEDA, R c................  5  1  3  3   1  0  9  0   2
HAMILTON, D 3b...........  3  2  2  2   1  0  2  3   0
CAVAZOS-GALV rf..........  5  1  1  1   0  1  2  1   1
ATKINSON, K 1b...........  5  1  2  1   0  0  8  0   4
COURCHA, A lf............  4  0  1  1   0  1  0  0   0
 HOWARD, J ph............  1  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
 JUAREZ, C pr/lf.........  0  1  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
GONZALEZ, D ss...........  4  1  1  0   1  0  2  4   1
CARL, E p................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 TOVES, K p..............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 KERR, W p...............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 OATMAN, J p.............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 WHITE, C p..............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 GRUBBS, D p.............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 42 11 16 10   5  5 26 10  11
BYU 12 (24-16,11-6 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BANKS, Stetson cf........  6  3  3  2   0  1  3  0   2
AYOSO, Bryce lf..........  5  2  3  2   0  2  1  0   0
WALTON, Kent dh..........  4  2  3  1   2  0  0  0   0
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  5  1  2  3   1  1  1  1   1
RELF, Brandon ss.........  4  0  0  0   2  2  2  6   1
BOWEN, Michael rf........  4  2  2  2   1  0  1  0   0
KO, Kasey 1b.............  3  0  1  0   0  2  6  2   2
 BILLS, Thomas 1b........  2  0  1  0   0  0  5  0   0
NACAPOY, Chad c..........  3  1  1  0   2  0  4  1   0
LAW, Andrew 2b...........  5  1  1  1   0  1  2  4   4
TORGERSON, Blake p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  2  1   0
 BUNCH, Nathan p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 MUIR, Jordan p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 OSLUND, Marc p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 41 12 17 11   8  9 27 15  13
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
New Mexico.......... 032 002 211 - 11 16  0
BYU................. 070 211 001 - 12 17  3
-------------------------------------------
Note: 2 outs, 3 runners LOB when the game ended.
E - PARKER 2(13); RELF(21). DP - Lobos 1; Cougars 2. LOB - Lobos 11; Cougars
13. 2B - HONEYCUTT, R(11); HAMILTON, D(18); CAVAZOS-GALV(14); ATKINSON,
K(13); HOWARD, J(8); BANKS 2(8); AYOSO 2(4); WALTON(9). 3B - BROWNSTEIN(10);
PARKER(2). HR - NEDA, R(5); HAMILTON, D(4). HBP - BOWEN. SH - WILLETT, M(8);
AYOSO(2). SF - HAMILTON, D(3). SB - CAVAZOS-GALV(13); COURCHA, A(3);
BANKS(15); WALTON 3(14); NACAPOY(2).
New Mexico             IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
CARL, E.............  1.2  6  6  6  0  1 11 12  44
TOVES, K............  0.0  2  1  1  1  0  2  3  15
KERR, W.............  2.0  3  2  2  2  2  9 11  47
OATMAN, J...........  1.2  3  2  2  1  0  7  8  31
WHITE, C............  1.2  0  0  0  2  4  5  7  37
GRUBBS, D...........  1.2  3  1  1  2  2  7 10  37
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
TORGERSON, Blake....  6.0 11  8  5  2  2 28 31  93
BUNCH, Nathan.......  1.0  2  1  1  0  1  5  5  18
MUIR, Jordan........  1.0  3  2  1  3  1  7 10  44
OSLUND, Marc........  1.0  0  0  0  0  1  2  3  13
Win - OSLUND (5-1).  Loss - GRUBBS, D (2-1).  Save - None.
WP - KERR, W(4); WHITE, C(2); MUIR 3(3). HBP - by CARL, E (BOWEN).
Pitches/strikes: CARL, E 44/29; TOVES, K 15/6; KERR, W 47/30; OATMAN, J 31/20;
WHITE, C 37/20; GRUBBS, D 37/19; TORGERSON 93/58; BUNCH 18/13; MUIR 44/21;
OSLUND 13/8.
Umpires - HP: Asa Howard  1B: Dominic Giarratano  3B: Randy Upton
Start: 11 am   Time: 2:51   Attendance: 1105
Weather: 50 degrees, some rain
TOVES, K faced 3 batters in the 2nd.
TORGERSON faced 1 batter in the 7th.
MUIR faced 3 batters in the 9th.
Play-by-Play
New Mexico 1st - BROWNSTEIN struck out looking (3-2). WILLETT, M
grounded out to ss (2-1). HONEYCUTT, R struck out swinging, out at first c to
1b (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 1st - BANKS flied out to cf (0-0). AYOSO struck out swinging (2-2).
WALTON doubled to right field (1-0). PARKER grounded out to 2b (0-0). 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 2nd - NEDA, R flied out to cf (1-1). HAMILTON, D homered to
right field, RBI (0-0). CAVAZOS-GALV reached on a fielding error by ss (3-2).
CAVAZOS-GALV stole second. ATKINSON, K doubled down the rf line, RBI (2-0);
CAVAZOS-GALV scored, unearned. COURCHA, A singled up the middle, RBI (0-1);
ATKINSON, K scored. COURCHA, A stole second. GONZALEZ, D grounded out to ss
(0-1); COURCHA, A advanced to third. BROWNSTEIN grounded out to ss (0-0). 3
runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU 2nd - RELF grounded out to 3b (3-2). BOWEN hit by pitch (3-1). KO
singled to right field (0-1); BOWEN advanced to second. NACAPOY reached on a
fielder's choice (3-2); KO out at second rf to ss; BOWEN advanced to third.
LAW, An. singled to center field, RBI (2-2); NACAPOY advanced to second; BOWEN
scored. BANKS doubled to left field, 2 RBI (0-0); LAW, An. scored; NACAPOY
scored. AYOSO doubled to right center, RBI (1-2); BANKS scored. WALTON singled
to left field, RBI (0-1); AYOSO scored. TOVES, K to p for CARL, E. WALTON stole
second. PARKER tripled to left field, RBI (3-1); WALTON scored. RELF walked
(3-1). BOWEN singled to right field, RBI (2-2); RELF advanced to second; PARKER
scored. KERR, W to p for TOVES, K. KO struck out looking (1-2). 7 runs, 7
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico 3rd - WILLETT, M singled up the middle (0-0). HONEYCUTT, R
doubled to right field (0-0); WILLETT, M advanced to third. NEDA, R singled up
the middle, RBI (0-0); HONEYCUTT, R advanced to third; WILLETT, M scored.
HAMILTON, D flied out to cf, SF, RBI (1-1); HONEYCUTT, R scored. CAVAZOS-GALV
grounded out to p (0-1); NEDA, R advanced to second. ATKINSON, K flied out to
lf (0-0). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 3rd - NACAPOY fouled out to 3b (1-0). LAW, An. grounded out to 3b
(1-1). BANKS fouled out to rf (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 4th - COURCHA, A out at first 1b to p (2-1). GONZALEZ, D
walked (3-0). BROWNSTEIN flied out to cf (0-2). WILLETT, M flied out to rf
(1-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 4th - AYOSO doubled to center field (0-0). WALTON singled to right
field (1-1); AYOSO advanced to third. WALTON stole second. PARKER singled up
the middle, 2 RBI (2-1); WALTON scored; AYOSO scored. RELF reached on a
fielder's choice (1-2); PARKER out at second ss to 2b. BOWEN walked (3-1); RELF
advanced to second. KO struck out swinging (1-2). BOWEN advanced to second;
RELF advanced to third on a wild pitch. NACAPOY walked (3-2). OATMAN, J to p
for KERR, W. LAW, An. grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-1). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0
errors, 3 LOB.
New Mexico 5th - HONEYCUTT, R singled to center field (2-0). NEDA, R
walked (3-1); HONEYCUTT, R advanced to second. HAMILTON, D grounded into double
play 1b to ss to p (0-1); NEDA, R out on the play; HONEYCUTT, R advanced to
third. CAVAZOS-GALV grounded out to ss (0-0). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
BYU 5th - BANKS singled to right field (2-0). BANKS stole second. AYOSO
singled to right field, RBI (2-1); BANKS scored. WALTON flied out to rf (0-2).
PARKER grounded into double play ss to 1b (0-1); AYOSO out on the play. 1
run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 6th - ATKINSON, K singled to shortstop (3-2). BILLS to 1b for
KO. COURCHA, A grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b (3-1); ATKINSON, K out
on the play. GONZALEZ, D reached on a fielding error by 3b (0-1). BROWNSTEIN
tripled to center field, RBI (1-1); GONZALEZ, D scored, unearned. WILLETT, M
singled to left field, RBI (1-0); BROWNSTEIN scored, unearned. HONEYCUTT, R
lined out to 3b (0-2). 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU 6th - RELF walked (3-2). BOWEN reached on a fielder's choice (2-2);
RELF out at second ss to 2b. BILLS singled to third base (1-2); BOWEN advanced
to second. WHITE, C to p for OATMAN, J. NACAPOY walked (3-1); BILLS advanced to
second; BOWEN advanced to third. LAW, An. fouled out to 3b (3-2). NACAPOY
advanced to second; BILLS advanced to third; BOWEN scored on a wild pitch.
BANKS struck out swinging (1-2). 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico 7th - NEDA, R homered to left field, RBI (1-0). BUNCH to p
for TORGERSON. HAMILTON, D doubled to left field (1-0). CAVAZOS-GALV doubled
through the left side, RBI (1-2); HAMILTON, D scored. ATKINSON, K grounded out
to 2b (0-2); CAVAZOS-GALV advanced to third. COURCHA, A struck out looking
(2-2). GONZALEZ, D grounded out to 2b (1-0). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
BYU 7th - AYOSO struck out swinging (3-2). WALTON walked (3-0). PARKER
struck out looking (2-2). WALTON stole second. RELF struck out swinging (0-2).
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 8th - GRUBBS, D to p for WHITE, C. MUIR to p for BUNCH.
BROWNSTEIN popped up to ss (1-0). WILLETT, M reached on a fielding error by 3b
(2-2). HONEYCUTT, R walked (3-1); WILLETT, M advanced to second. MONGER, C
pinch ran for HONEYCUTT, R. NEDA, R singled to left field, RBI (3-1); MONGER, C
advanced to second; WILLETT, M scored, unearned. HAMILTON, D walked (3-1);
NEDA, R advanced to second; MONGER, C advanced to third. CAVAZOS-GALV struck
out swinging (1-2). ATKINSON, K grounded out to 2b (0-1). 1 run, 1 hit, 1
error, 3 LOB.
BYU 8th - BOWEN grounded out to ss (1-0). BILLS grounded out to 3b
(1-1). NACAPOY singled to right field (0-1). NACAPOY stole second. LAW, An.
struck out looking (3-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 9th - HOWARD, J pinch hit for COURCHA, A. HOWARD, J doubled
to left field (1-1). JUAREZ, C pinch ran for HOWARD, J. JUAREZ, C advanced to
third on a wild pitch. JUAREZ, C scored on a wild pitch. GONZALEZ, D singled to
shortstop (3-1). GONZALEZ, D advanced to second on a wild pitch. BROWNSTEIN
walked (3-2). OSLUND to p for MUIR. WILLETT, M grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt
(0-1); BROWNSTEIN advanced to second; GONZALEZ, D advanced to third. MONGER, C
struck out swinging (3-2). NEDA, R popped up to 2b (2-1). 1 run, 2 hits, 0
errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 9th - JUAREZ, C to lf. BANKS doubled through the left side (1-0).
AYOSO grounded out to p, SAC, bunt (1-1); BANKS advanced to third. WALTON
intentionally walked (3-0). PARKER intentionally walked (3-0); WALTON advanced
to second. RELF struck out swinging (1-2). BOWEN singled to left field, RBI
(2-2); PARKER advanced to second; WALTON advanced to third; BANKS scored. 1
run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.