Bowen's Single Wins UNLV Game

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FORT WORTH -- Michael Bowen’s walk-off single skimmed over the glove of a leaping UNLV shortstop Wednesday to keep BYU alive in the Conoco Mountain West Conference Championships.

Bowen’s line-drive came off a fastball to score Kent Walton from second base for a 5-4 victory as the Cougars improve to 29-23, while the Rebels’ season ends at 26-32.

“I was watching it the whole way,” said the senior Bowen of that single. “I knew Wally (Walton) was going to score if it cleared.”

Bowen’s game-winning RBI, his third of the year and second walk-off single of the season, soothed a wound from a tournament opening, extra-inning loss. It was BYU’s fourth walk-off as the Cougars have a 10-5 record in one-run games this year.

“The way things had been going for us, I thought he hit into a double play,” said BYU coach Vance Law.

The Cougars took leads of 2-0, 3-2 and 4-2 as the Rebels knotted the score twice.

“That’s my first victory in my two years at BYU,” said Sean Amerson, a reliever whose slider was working well. Amerson quieted the final UNLV rally in the final innings.

Stetson Banks got BYU’s second run after he advanced to second off a leftfielder throwing error and was able to score on Steve Parker’s leftfield single in the first inning. He had been preceded in scoring by Sean McNaughton who drew a lead-off walk and crossed home on a shortstop error when Walton was at bat.

UNLV got those two runs back in the second when Jeremy Toole doubled the amount of pitches he threw in the first inning. The Rebels stole four bases that inning, two by Jesse Wight, who led off with a walk and scored the first of the two runs.

Walton scored BYU’s third run after he singled, stole second and crossed home when Parker’s grounder glanced off the third baseman’s glove in the third.

With the bases juiced and two outs, Kasey Ko tried to take advantage of a passed ball, but was thrown out sliding home in the sixth.

Toole threw 106 pitches as he gave up a two-out double in the seventh. Southpaw Brandon Michon replaced him and retired J.J. Sferra on three straight pitches to end the inning.

McNaughton led off the seventh with a line-drive double off the glove of the Rebel third baseman and advanced on Bank’s sac-bunt. McNaughton easily scored off Walton’s 0-1 single to center which chased Andrew Beresford off the mound.

Then the tornado warning siren sounded on its Wednesday neighborhood test as reliever Marc Baca completed his warm-up tosses, a precursor to an oncoming Rebel rally.

With one out in the eighth, UNLV completed a double steal when Ryan Thornton slid into third, causing Parker to drop the ball after the umpire ruled him out. After an umpire conference, Thornton was ruled safe and scored off Brian Gilbertson’s single to center, forcing Michon out of the game in favor of Kevin Sloan. Sloan gave up a leftfield single to Scott Berke which tied the game at four-all and he was replaced by Amerson.

The Cougars next play second-seeded New Mexico on Thursday at 11 a.m. A BYU win puts the Cougars in a second game against top-seeded TCU at 3 p.m.

UNLV vs. BYU
May 20, 2009 at Fort Worth, Texas (Lupton Stadium)
UNLV 4 (26-32)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
SFERRA, J.J. cf..........  4  0  1  0   1  1  2  0   1
FRIERSON, Jarred 3b......  4  0  0  0   1  1  0  5   0
THORNTON, Ryan dh........  3  1  0  0   2  1  0  0   1
WIGHT, Jesse rf..........  3  2  1  0   1  1  0  0   0
KRETCHMER, Kyle 1b.......  3  0  0  0   0  1 12  0   2
 GILBERTSON, Brian ph/1b.  1  0  1  1   0  0  1  0   0
BERKE, Scott lf..........  3  1  1  1   1  0  2  0   1
MOREL, Anthony ss........  4  0  1  1   0  0  0  4   0
RESNICK, Bryan 2b........  3  0  0  1   0  0  3  4   2
DiMAGGIO, Joe c..........  4  0  1  0   0  1  3  1   1
BERESFORD, Andrew p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  2  1   0
 BACA, Marc p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 32  4  6  4   6  6 25 15   8
BYU 5 (29-23)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
McNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  4  2  1  0   1  1  2  0   0
BANKS, Stetson cf........  4  1  1  0   0  1  3  0   0
WALTON, Kent dh..........  3  2  2  2   1  0  0  0   0
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  3  0  1  1   2  0  1  3   1
BOWEN, Michael rf........  5  0  1  1   0  0  3  0   1
KO, Kasey 1b.............  3  0  1  0   1  0  8  0   1
 LAW, Adam pr............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BILLS, Thomas 1b........  0  0  0  0   0  0  2  0   0
RELF, Brandon ss.........  3  0  0  0   0  0  1  3   3
NACAPOY, Chad c..........  4  0  1  0   0  1  6  0   0
LAW, Andrew 2b...........  3  0  0  0   1  0  1  4   1
TOOLE, Jeremy p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 MICHON, Brandon p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 SLOAN, Kevin p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 AMERSON, Sean p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 32  5  8  4   6  3 27 11  11
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
UNLV................ 020 000 020 -  4  6  3
BYU................. 201 000 101 -  5  8  1
-------------------------------------------
Note: 1 out, 2 runners LOB when the game ended.
E - FRIERSON, J.(21); BERKE, Scott(1); MOREL, A.(15); LAW, An.(9). DP - LV
1; BY 1. LOB - LV 8; BY 11. 2B - DiMAGGIO, J.(6); McNAUGHTON(11). HBP -
WALTON; RELF. SH - BANKS(5). SF - RESNICK, B.(4). SB - FRIERSON, J.(4);
THORNTON, R(13); WIGHT, Jesse 3(5); BERKE, Scott(10); MOREL, A.(3); WALTON
2(17); BOWEN(13).
UNLV                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
BERESFORD, Andrew...  6.1  7  4  3  2  2 25 30 103
BACA, Marc..........  2.0  1  1  1  4  1  7 11  45
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
TOOLE, Jeremy.......  6.2  3  2  2  4  3 22 27 106
MICHON, Brandon.....  0.2  2  2  2  1  1  4  5  25
SLOAN, Kevin........  0.0  1  0  0  0  0  1  1   6
AMERSON, Sean.......  1.2  0  0  0  1  2  5  6  26
Win - AMERSON (1-0).  Loss - BACA, Marc (3-1).  Save - None.
HBP - by BERESFORD, A (WALTON); by BERESFORD, A (RELF). Pitches/strikes:
BERESFORD, A 103/65; BACA, Marc 45/20; TOOLE 106/63; MICHON 25/16; SLOAN 6/3;
AMERSON 26/17.
Umpires - HP: Ray Belfiore  1B: John Ausmus  2B: Blake Jensen  3B: Billy Van
Raaphorst  Start: 11:05 AM   Time: 2:53   Attendance: 2115
Weather: Sunny and Breezy
SLOAN faced 1 batter in the 8th.
Play-by-Play
UNLV 1st - SFERRA, J.J. lined out to lf (3-1). FRIERSON, J. walked
(3-2). THORNTON, R grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b (0-1); FRIERSON, J.
out on the play. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 1st - McNAUGHTON walked (3-2). BANKS singled, advanced to second on
a throwing error by lf (0-0); McNAUGHTON advanced to third. WALTON reached on a
fielding error by ss, RBI (2-2); BANKS advanced to third; McNAUGHTON scored.
PARKER singled to center field, RBI (2-1); WALTON advanced to second; BANKS
scored. BOWEN grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b (0-1); PARKER out on the
play; WALTON advanced to third. KO grounded out to ss (1-2). 2 runs, 2 hits,
2 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 2nd - WIGHT, Jesse walked (3-1). KRETCHMER, K struck out swinging
(0-2). WIGHT, Jesse stole second. BERKE, Scott walked (3-2). WIGHT, Jesse stole
third. MOREL, A. singled through the left side, RBI (3-2); BERKE, Scott
advanced to second; WIGHT, Jesse scored. MOREL, A. stole second; BERKE, Scott
stole third. RESNICK, B. flied out to cf, SF, RBI (2-2); BERKE, Scott scored.
DiMAGGIO, J. flied out to rf to right center (0-1). 2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors,
1 LOB.
BYU 2nd - RELF grounded out to 2b (0-1). NACAPOY grounded out to p
(1-0). LAW, An. grounded out to 3b (3-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
UNLV 3rd - SFERRA, J.J. singled up the middle (0-1). FRIERSON, J. flied
out to rf to right center (0-1). THORNTON, R walked (3-0); SFERRA, J.J.
advanced to second. WIGHT, Jesse struck out looking (1-2). KRETCHMER, K flied
out to cf (1-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 3rd - McNAUGHTON struck out swinging (2-2). BANKS grounded out to ss
(1-0). WALTON singled up the middle (0-2). WALTON stole second. PARKER reached
on a fielding error by 3b (3-2); WALTON scored, unearned. BOWEN lined out to lf
(0-0). 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
UNLV 4th - BERKE, Scott grounded out to 2b (1-1). MOREL, A. grounded out
to p (1-1). RESNICK, B. lined out to rf (1-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
BYU 4th - KO grounded out to 2b (0-0). RELF flied out to lf (1-2).
NACAPOY singled to right field (0-0). LAW, An. flied out to cf to left center
(2-1). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 5th - DiMAGGIO, J. lined out to 3b (3-2). SFERRA, J.J. grounded out
to ss (1-2). FRIERSON, J. struck out looking (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 5th - McNAUGHTON grounded out to 3b (1-2). BANKS grounded out to p
unassisted (0-1). WALTON hit by pitch (1-0). PARKER grounded out to 3b (1-0).
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 6th - THORNTON, R lined out to lf (2-1). WIGHT, Jesse grounded out
to 2b up the middle (3-2). KRETCHMER, K reached on a fielding error by 2b
(0-0). BERKE, Scott grounded out to 3b (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1
LOB.
BYU 6th - BOWEN grounded out to ss (1-1). KO singled up the middle
(2-2). RELF hit by pitch (3-2); KO advanced to second. NACAPOY struck out
swinging (1-2). LAW, An. walked (3-2); RELF advanced to second; KO advanced to
third. KO out at home c to p. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UNLV 7th - MOREL, A. grounded out to ss (0-0). RESNICK, B. grounded out
to 3b (0-1). DiMAGGIO, J. doubled to right center (2-1). MICHON to p for TOOLE.
SFERRA, J.J. struck out swinging (0-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 7th - McNAUGHTON doubled down the lf line (0-1). BANKS grounded out
to 3b, SAC (0-1); McNAUGHTON advanced to third. WALTON singled to center field,
RBI (0-1); McNAUGHTON scored. BACA, Marc to p for BERESFORD, A. PARKER walked
(3-1); WALTON advanced to second. BOWEN reached on a fielder's choice (0-2);
PARKER out at second 3b to 2b; WALTON advanced to third. BOWEN stole second. KO
walked (3-0). LAW, Ad. pinch ran for KO. RELF grounded out to 2b (1-0). 1
run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
UNLV 8th - BILLS to 1b for LAW, Ad.. FRIERSON, J. grounded out to 3b
(2-2). THORNTON, R walked (3-2). WIGHT, Jesse singled to right field (1-2);
THORNTON, R advanced to second. GILBERTSON pinch hit for KRETCHMER, K. WIGHT,
Jesse stole second; THORNTON, R stole third. GILBERTSON singled to center
field, RBI (2-2); WIGHT, Jesse advanced to third; THORNTON, R scored. SLOAN to
p for MICHON. BERKE, Scott singled to left field, RBI (3-2); GILBERTSON
advanced to second; WIGHT, Jesse scored. AMERSON to p for SLOAN. MOREL, A.
grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-2); BERKE, Scott advanced to second;
GILBERTSON advanced to third. RESNICK, B. lined out to cf (1-1). 2 runs, 3
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 8th - GILBERTSON to 1b. NACAPOY popped up to 1b (3-2). LAW, An.
popped up to 2b (1-1). McNAUGHTON flied out to cf (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 9th - DiMAGGIO, J. struck out looking (0-2). SFERRA, J.J. walked
(3-2). FRIERSON, J. reached on a fielder's choice (0-0); SFERRA, J.J. out at
second 2b to ss. FRIERSON, J. stole second. THORNTON, R struck out swinging
(3-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 9th - BANKS struck out looking (2-2). WALTON walked (3-2). WALTON
stole second. PARKER walked (3-2). BOWEN singled to left center, RBI (2-1);
PARKER advanced to second; WALTON scored. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.