Bernal's Slam Stops No. 20 Kansas St.

PROVO -- Ryan Bernal’s grand slam secured the BYU baseball team a 15-9 upset of No. 20 Kansas State Tuesday night.

With the victory, the Cougars are now flirting with .500 at 15-16 while the Wildcats fall to 23-7.

“Your emotions go back and forth with this team,” BYU coach Vance Law said. “It’s amazing how quickly the momentum shifts.”

Kansas State’s Kent Urban walked and then stole second base. Blair DeBord doubled to bring in the first run of the ball game.

BYU wasted no time in responding, scoring three runs of its own in the bottom of the second. Jonathan Cluff got on first base on a walk before stealing second. Austin Hall hit a single and then also stole second. With runners on second and third, Stephen Wells hit a single that brought in both players.

Wells advanced on a walk and a fly out and scored on a wild pitch. The Wildcats’ Kayvon Bahramzadeh walked one more batter before being replaced by on the mound. The Wildcats’ first baseman Matt Giller leaned over the boundary fence to make the catch in foul territory and retire the Cougars.

In the third inning, BYU added three more runs to its total to go ahead 6-1. Sean McNaughton singled and moved to second on a balk. Bernal hit an infield single and Cluff’s sac fly brought McNaughton home. Hall walked and a missed throw loaded the bases. A double by Dane Nielsen scored Hall and Wells before Kansas State tallied three outs.

After three innings of solid pitching, Mark Anderson gave up one hit and walked four batters in the fourth. The Wildcats capitalized, scoring three runs before Justin Shutt came out to relieve Anderson.

The fourth inning brought bookend triples for BYU, beginning with one by Bryce Ayoso and ending with one by Dane Nielsen. In between, Bernal hit his first of two homers, this one over 400 yards to score two more runs for the Cougars.

KSU’s pitcher Matt Applegate struggled in the fifth inning, hitting Nielsen and Ayoso and then walking McNaughton. With the bases juiced, Bernal made him pay by hitting a grand slam, the Cougars’ first of the year, over the left field scoreboard to extend BYU’s lead to 12-4. The home run brought Bernal’s season total to a team-high nine.

“It was a 3-2 pitch, and Bernal was patient at the plate,” Law said. “That’s one of his strengths.”

Shutt allowed two singles to begin the sixth inning before hitting Adam Muenster to load the bases. Carter Jurica hit a 2 RBI single and the Wildcats notched another run on an error.

After a scoreless half inning for the Cougars, the Wildcats scored on another BYU error. Chris Capper took over on the mound in a save situation, and Kansas State brought one more run in on an infield single to bring the score to 12-9.

Cluff led off the next at-bat with a double down the third base line, and Hall followed it with a bunt single. The Wildcats chose to walk Brandon Relf to get to Nielsen. Alex Wolfe got his first hit of the game with a two out, two RBI single. BYU scored once more and held Kansas State in the top of the ninth to finish the game at 15-9.

“To get a win in these circumstances is a confidence booster for the players,” Law said. “This is a big homestand for us, and we keep battling and keep learning every game.”

KSU's Nick Martini had his 26-game hitting streak snapped wiht an 0-for-3 night.

The Cougars will finish up the two-game series with Kansas State Wednesday at 11 a.m.

#20 Kansas State at BYU
Apr 13, 2010 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Kansas State 9 (23-7)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Muenster, Adam 3b........  5  1  1  0   0  0  2  0   2
Jurica, Carter ss........  5  0  2  3   1  1  2  3   1
Martini, Nick lf/cf......  3  1  0  0   2  0  1  0   0
Dellasega, Daniel c......  4  1  1  0   0  0  5  0   3
Urban, Kent rf/1b........  3  2  0  0   2  0  4  0   4
Giller, Matt 1b/lf.......  3  1  0  0   0  2  5  0   0
DeBord, Blair dh.........  4  1  2  1   1  0  0  0   0
Witt, Tanner 2b..........  2  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   1
 Brown, Jake ph/2b.......  2  2  1  0   1  0  0  1   0
Moore, Ryan cf...........  1  0  0  0   1  0  3  0   0
 Kindel, Mike ph/rf......  2  0  0  0   0  1  1  0   0
 Graskewicz, Chase ph....  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
Bahramzadeh, Kayvon p....  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Rooke, Thomas p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Applegate, Matt p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 Giannonatti, Tyler p....  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 35  9  7  4   8  5 24  5  11
BYU 15 (15-16)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
RELF, Brandon ss.........  4  1  0  0   2  1  2  3   0
NIELSEN, Dane 2b.........  4  1  1  2   1  0  1  7   1
WOLFE, Alex 1b...........  5  0  1  2   1  0 13  1   2
AYOSO, Bryce c...........  5  2  3  1   0  0  4  1   2
McNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  3  2  1  0   1  2  0  0   2
 HANCOCK, Alex pr/lf.....  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   2
BERNAL, Ryan dh..........  5  3  3  6   0  0  0  0   1
CLUFF, Jonathan rf.......  3  2  1  1   1  0  1  0   0
HALL, Austin 3b..........  3  3  3  0   2  0  0  1   0
WELLS, Stephen cf........  5  1  1  2   0  1  6  0   1
ANDERSON, Mark p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 SHUTT, Justin p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 CAPPER, Chris p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 McKNIGHT, David p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 38 15 14 14   8  4 27 15  11
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Kansas State........ 010 303 200 -  9  7  0
BYU................. 033 240 03X - 15 14  5
-------------------------------------------
E - RELF 2(18); NIELSEN 2(5); AYOSO. LOB - KS 11; Cougars 11. 2B - DeBord,
Blai(9); CLUFF(11). 3B - AYOSO(1); HALL(2). HR - BERNAL 2(9). HBP -
Muenster, Ad; Dellasega, D; NIELSEN; AYOSO; McNAUGHTON. SH - Giller,
Matt(3). SF - CLUFF(1). SB - Urban, Kent(9); CLUFF(9); HALL 2(5). CS -
Jurica, Cart(4). Reached on CI - Giller, Matt.
Kansas State           IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Bahramzadeh, Kayvon.  1.2  3  3  3  4  1  8 12
Rooke, Thomas.......  1.2  5  5  3  1  2 10 12
Applegate, Matt.....  1.2  2  4  4  2  0  7 11
Giannonatti, Tyler..  3.0  4  3  3  1  1 13 15
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
ANDERSON, Mark......  3.2  2  4  3  6  0 11 18
SHUTT, Justin.......  3.0  3  5  0  1  2 15 19
CAPPER, Chris.......  1.1  1  0  0  1  1  5  6
McKNIGHT, David.....  1.0  1  0  0  0  2  4  4
Win - SHUTT (3-4).  Loss - Bahramzadeh (0-2).  Save - None.
WP - Bahramzadeh(3); ANDERSON 2(4). HBP - by SHUTT (Dellasega, D); by Applegate,
M (NIELSEN); by Applegate, M (AYOSO); by SHUTT (Muenster, Ad); by Giannonatti
(McNAUGHTON). BK - Rooke, Thoma(1); Giannonatti(1). CI - AYOSO.
Umpires - HP: Blake Jensen  1B: Jared Ferrans  3B: Matt Marziale
Start: 6:34 pm   Time: 3:25   Attendance: 421
Weather: 47 degrees, cloudy, breezy
Applegate, M faced 1 batter in the 6th.
Kansas State 1st - Muenster, Ad grounded out to ss. Jurica, Cart
grounded out to ss. Martini, Nic grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 1st - RELF walked. NIELSEN flied out to cf. WOLFE flied out to cf.
AYOSO singled to right field; RELF advanced to second. McNAUGHTON struck out
swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Kansas State 2nd - Dellasega, D grounded out to 2b. Urban, Kent walked.
Urban, Kent stole second. Giller, Matt flied out to cf. DeBord, Blai doubled to
left field, RBI; Urban, Kent scored. Witt, Tanner flied out to rf. 1 run, 1
hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 2nd - BERNAL fouled out to 3b. CLUFF walked. CLUFF stole second.
HALL singled to left center; CLUFF advanced to third. HALL stole second. WELLS
singled to center field, advanced to second on the throw, 2 RBI; HALL scored;
CLUFF scored. RELF flied out to rf; WELLS advanced to third. NIELSEN walked.
NIELSEN advanced to second; WELLS scored on a wild pitch. WOLFE walked. Rooke,
Thoma to p for Bahramzadeh. AYOSO fouled out to 1b. 3 runs, 2 hits, 0
errors, 2 LOB.
Kansas State 3rd - Moore, Ryan flied out to cf. Muenster, Ad flied out
to cf. Jurica, Cart walked. Jurica, Cart out at second p to 1b to ss, caught
stealing. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 3rd - McNAUGHTON singled to left field. McNAUGHTON advanced to
second on a balk. BERNAL singled to third base; McNAUGHTON advanced to third.
CLUFF flied out to cf, SF, RBI; McNAUGHTON scored. HALL walked; BERNAL advanced
to second. WELLS reached on a fielder's choice; HALL advanced to second; BERNAL
advanced to third. RELF struck out swinging. NIELSEN singled through the left
side, 2 RBI; WELLS advanced to second; HALL scored, unearned; BERNAL scored,
unearned. WOLFE popped up to 2b. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Kansas State 4th - Martini, Nic walked. Dellasega, D singled to center
field; Martini, Nic advanced to third. Urban, Kent walked; Dellasega, D
advanced to second; Martini, Nic scored on a wild pitch. Giller, Matt grounded
out to p, SAC, bunt; Urban, Kent advanced to second; Dellasega, D advanced to
third. DeBord, Blai walked; Urban, Kent advanced to third; Dellasega, D scored
on a wild pitch. Urban, Kent scored on a throwing error by 2b, unearned. Witt,
Tanner flied out to cf. Moore, Ryan walked; DeBord, Blai advanced to second.
SHUTT to p for ANDERSON. Muenster, Ad reached on a fielder's choice; Moore,
Ryan out at second 2b to ss. 3 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.
BYU 4th - AYOSO tripled to right center. McNAUGHTON struck out swinging.
BERNAL homered to center field, 2 RBI; AYOSO scored. Applegate, M to p for
Rooke, Thoma. CLUFF grounded out to ss. HALL tripled to right center. WELLS
grounded out to 1b unassisted. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Kansas State 5th - Jurica, Cart flied out to cf. Martini, Nic flied out
to cf. Dellasega, D hit by pitch. Urban, Kent grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 5th - RELF fouled out to c. NIELSEN hit by pitch. WOLFE flied out to
lf. AYOSO hit by pitch; NIELSEN advanced to second. McNAUGHTON walked; AYOSO
advanced to second; NIELSEN advanced to third. BERNAL homered to left field, 4
RBI; McNAUGHTON scored; AYOSO scored; NIELSEN scored. CLUFF grounded out to ss.
4 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Kansas State 6th - Giller, Matt reached on catcher's interference.
DeBord, Blai grounded out to 3b; Giller, Matt advanced to second. Brown, Jake
pinch hit for Witt, Tanner. Brown, Jake singled up the middle; Giller, Matt
advanced to third. Kindel, Mike pinch hit for Moore, Ryan. Kindel, Mike struck
out swinging. Muenster, Ad hit by pitch; Brown, Jake advanced to second.
Jurica, Cart singled up the middle, 2 RBI; Muenster, Ad advanced to second;
Brown, Jake scored, unearned; Giller, Matt scored, unearned. Martini, Nic
reached on a fielding error by ss; Jurica, Cart advanced to second; Muenster,
Ad advanced to third. Dellasega, D reached on a fielding error by ss; Martini,
Nic advanced to second; Jurica, Cart advanced to third; Muenster, Ad scored,
unearned. Urban, Kent reached on a fielder's choice; Dellasega, D out at second
2b unassisted. 3 runs, 2 hits, 3 errors, 3 LOB.
BYU 6th - Martini, Nic to cf. Urban, Kent to 1b. Giller, Matt to lf.
Brown, Jake to 2b. Kindel, Mike to rf. HALL walked. Giannonatti to p for
Applegate, M. HALL stole second. WELLS struck out swinging. RELF flied out to
rf. HALL advanced to third on a balk. NIELSEN grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Kansas State 7th - Giller, Matt struck out looking. DeBord, Blai singled
to second base. Brown, Jake walked; DeBord, Blai advanced to second. Kindel,
Mike grounded out to 1b unassisted; Brown, Jake advanced to second; DeBord,
Blai advanced to third. Muenster, Ad reached on a fielding error by 2b; Brown,
Jake advanced to third; DeBord, Blai scored, unearned. CAPPER to p for SHUTT.
Jurica, Cart singled to shortstop, RBI; Muenster, Ad advanced to second; Brown,
Jake scored, unearned. Martini, Nic walked; Jurica, Cart advanced to second;
Muenster, Ad advanced to third. Dellasega, D grounded out to 2b. 2 runs, 2
hits, 1 error, 3 LOB.
BYU 7th - WOLFE popped up to ss. AYOSO flied out to lf. McNAUGHTON hit
by pitch. HANCOCK pinch ran for McNAUGHTON. BERNAL popped up to 3b. 0 runs,
0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Kansas State 8th - HANCOCK to lf. Urban, Kent grounded out to 2b.
Giller, Matt struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b. DeBord, Blai grounded
out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 8th - CLUFF doubled down the lf line. HALL singled, bunt; CLUFF
advanced to third. WELLS grounded out to p; HALL advanced to second. RELF
walked. NIELSEN popped up to ss. WOLFE singled up the middle, 2 RBI; RELF
advanced to third; HALL scored; CLUFF scored. AYOSO singled to left field, RBI;
WOLFE advanced to second; RELF scored. HANCOCK grounded out to ss. 3 runs, 4
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Kansas State 9th - McKNIGHT to p for CAPPER. Brown, Jake grounded out to
ss. Graskewicz pinch hit for Kindel, Mike. Graskewicz struck out looking.
Muenster, Ad singled to center field. Jurica, Cart struck out swinging. 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.