Opening With Lobos in MWC Tourney

PROVO, Utah -- The BYU baseball team [29-25, 11-12] opens play at the Mountain West Conference Tournament Tuesday against New Mexico [16-39, 10-14) at Tony Gwynn Stadium in San Diego, California.

In conjunction with the start of the tournament, Jaycob Brugman and Matthew Neil received 2011 All-MWC honors. Brugman was named a first-team outfielder and freshman of the year while Neil was one of four starting pitchers named to the second team.

Brugman led the Cougars in hitting with a .339 batting average in 2011, while adding nine home runs, 18 doubles and 47 RBI.

After posting a 6-4 recording with a 2.22 ERA during the regular season, Neil is slated to start against the No. 6 seeded Lobos, with opening pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. PT.

"We haven't been hitting balls on the button the way we are capable of doing," said BYU coach Vance Law. "New Mexico is a good team that competes well. I'm guessing they will throw Jaramillo who was effective against us. We are looking forward to playing them."

The winner of Tuesday's game will move on to play Utah Wednesday at 3 p.m. PT. The loser will play the loser of the San Diego State, UNLV game Wednesday at 11 a.m. PT.

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2011 All-Mountain West Baseball Team
First Team
Catcher            Garrett Custons      Air Force    So.   Sarasota, Fla.
First Base         C.J. Cron#           Utah         Jr.   Phoenix, Ariz.
Second Base        Jerome Pena#         TCU          Sr.   Cave Creek, Ariz.
Second Base        Michael Beltran      Utah         Sr.   Lakewood, Calif.
Shortstop          Taylor Featherston!# TCU          Jr.   Katy, Texas
Third Base         Jantzen Witte        TCU          So.   Arlington, Texas
Outfielder         Jaycob Brugman       BYU          Fr.   Phoenix, Ariz.
Outfielder         Jason Coats#         TCU          Jr.   Plano, Texas
Outfielder         Shaun Cooper         Utah         Jr.   Tuscon, Ariz.
DH/Utility         Brandon Bayardi      UNLV         So.   Phoenix, Ariz.
Pitcher            Kyle Winkler#        TCU          Jr.   Sugar Land, Texas
Pitcher            Tanner Peters#       UNLV         Jr.   Simi Valley, Calif.
Pitcher            Rick Anton#          Utah         Sr.   Prescott, Ariz.
Relief Pitcher     Tyler Wagner         Utah         So.   Las Vegas, Nev.
Second Team
Catcher            Josh Elander         TCU          So.   Round Rock, Texas
First Base         Trent Cook           UNLV         Jr.   Centerville, Utah
Shortstop          James Brooks         Utah         Jr.   Melbourne, Australia
Third Base         Quay Grant           New Mexico   Jr.   Burkburnett, Texas
Third Base         Trey Nielsen         Utah         Fr.   Salt Lake City, Utah
Outfielder         Cody Smith           SDSU         Fr.   San Diego, Calif.
Outfielder         Chris Wilson         SDSU         Jr.   San Diego, Calif.
Outfielder         Brance Rivera#       TCU          Jr.   Muscatine, Iowa
Outfielder         Trevor Kirk          UNLV         Jr.   Las Vegas, Nev.
DH/Utility         Brandon Meredith!#   SDSU         Jr.   Chula Vista, Calif.
Pitcher            Sean Carley          Air Force    So.   Melbourne, Fla.
Pitcher            Matthew Neil         BYU          Sr.   Mesa, Ariz.
Pitcher            Cole Swanson         SDSU         Fr.   San Diego, Calif.
Pitcher            Steven Maxwell#      TCU          Sr.   The Woodlands, Texas
Relief Pitcher     Trent Appleby!       TCU          Sr.   McKinney, Texas
Relief Pitcher     Stefan Crichton      TCU          Fr.   Katy, Texas
#2010 All-MW selection 
!2009 All-MW selection
Player of the Year -   C.J. Cron, Utah
Pitcher of the Year -  Tanner Peters, UNLV
Freshman of the Year - Jaycob Brugman, BYU
Coach of the Year -    Jim Schlossnagle, TCU