PROVO -- Retiring nine of the final 10 batters, Kalen Parsons picked up his first win in a 7-4 BYU victory over Utah on Thursday.
Parsons (1-0) entered the game in relief in the top of the sixth after starter Patrick Wells (5-3) was ejected for contesting a balk. After Nate Schlieman hit Parsons first pitch, a hanging slider, for a two-run single to tie the game, the junior college transfer from the College of Eastern Utah settled down, retiring the next nine straight.
"Kalen just pitched well," said BYU head coach Vance Law. "He just threw strikes and located his slider very well other than the first pitch he threw. I don't think he threw another pitch out of the zone besides that pitch."
Parsons' last appearance came in a 10-6 loss to San Diego State where he pitched four scoreless innings against the Aztecs. With the 3 1/3 scoreless innings Thursday, Parsons has not allowed a run in 7 1/3 innings. During that stretch, he has only allowed five hits.
The Cougars, who improved their record to 17-25 and 7-9 in the Mountain West Conference, took a four-run lead into the fourth inning at Larry H. Miller Field. Ryan Chambers got the scoring started for BYU in the first inning with a solo home run off Utah starter Jason Price's (2-7) second pitch in the game. Chambers finished 2-for-5 with two RBI.
With two outs and Utes on first and second in the sixth inning, first base umpire Ray Belfiore called a balk on a pickoff attempt by Wells to second base. Runners then advanced a base and Belfiore ejected Wells for arguing the call. Parsons had been warming in the bullpen but the ejection forced him to enter the game a little earlier than planned, leading to Schlieman's game tying two-run single.
The Cougars came right back in the bottom of the sixth, gaining their three runs back behind a two-run single by Kory Knell. The three-run lead was more than enough for Parsons to close the door on the Utes who are now 13-24 and 5-11. The win is the 11th straight for BYU against Utah and the fourth straight this year.
Wells picked up a no decision after giving up four runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Price picked up his seventh loss.
Game two of the three-game series between the Cougars and Utes at Miller Field is Friday at 7 p.m. KOVO 960 will broadcast the game live. The game can also be followed through live stats. A link to the webcast can be found on BYU baseball's schedule page at www.byucougars.com.
University of Utah at Brigham Young Univ.
Apr 29, 2004 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
University of Utah 4 (13-24,5-11 MWC)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
KHOURY, Ryan ss.......... 4 0 1 0 1 0 1 4 1
BROSSMAN, Jay dh......... 5 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 1
CIARAMELLA, Matt cf...... 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 4
CHEVALIER, Eric rf....... 4 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0
PENA, Jared 2b........... 3 0 1 0 0 0 5 2 0
WESTFALL, Mike 1b........ 4 1 1 1 0 0 8 1 0
WELSH, John lf........... 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1
WILSON, Cort 3b.......... 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 0
SCHLIEMAN, Nate c........ 4 0 1 2 0 0 5 0 0
PRICE, Jason p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
BUCK, Ben p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Totals................... 36 4 9 4 1 5 24 12 7
Brigham Young Univ. 7 (17-25,7-9 MWC)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
CHAMBERS, Ryan cf........ 5 2 2 2 0 0 3 0 0
KNELL, Kory lf........... 3 0 2 2 1 0 4 0 0
TAYLOR, Brandon ss....... 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 0
ITRI, Rob dh............. 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0
SAYLOR, Ben 1b........... 2 0 0 1 1 0 10 0 1
LAW, Tim 1b............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
BILLS, Kevin rf.......... 2 2 1 0 2 1 1 0 0
WIENS, Ranger 3b......... 3 2 1 1 1 0 2 1 5
CLOWARD, Casey c......... 3 1 1 1 0 0 4 1 0
VEST, Wade 2b............ 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 0
WELLS, Patrick p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
PARSONS, Kalen p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 28 7 8 7 7 5 27 9 6
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
University of Utah.. 000 103 000 - 4 9 0
Brigham Young Univ.. 121 003 00X - 7 8 0
-------------------------------------------
DP - Utah Utes 1. LOB - Utah Utes 7; BYU Cougars 6. 2B - CHEVALIER; PENA;
BILLS; WIENS. HR - CHEVALIER(5); CHAMBERS(3). HBP - SAYLOR. SH - PENA. SF -
CLOWARD. SB - CHAMBERS; WIENS. CS - KNELL 2.
University of Utah IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
PRICE, Jason........ 6.0 7 7 7 6 4 22 29
BUCK, Ben........... 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 6 8
Brigham Young Univ. IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
WELLS, Patrick...... 5.2 7 4 4 1 2 24 26
PARSONS, Kalen...... 3.1 2 0 0 0 3 12 12
Win - PARSONS (1-0). Loss - PRICE (2-7). Save - None.
WP - BUCK. HBP - by BUCK (SAYLOR). BK - WELLS.
Umpires - HP: Dan Weikle 1B: Ray Belfiore 3B: Terry Balser
Start: 7:05 pm Time: 2:32 Attendance: 1138
Game notes:
Game 1 of 3
The AFA-BYU game times have been finalized for May 20 and 21 are DH at
4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on May 22 a doubleheader at 11 a.m., and 2 p.m.
Wells ejected in 6th with 1-1 count on Schlieman after contested balk
Play-by-Play
University of Utah at Brigham Young Univ. - Play-by-Play
Apr 29, 2004 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
University of Utah.. 000 103 000 - 4 9 0
Brigham Young Univ.. 121 003 00X - 7 8 0
-------------------------------------------
University of Utah starters: 2/ss KHOURY; 18/dh BROSSMAN; 25/cf CIARAMELLA;
5/rf CHEVALIER; 3/2b PENA; 6/1b WESTFALL; 33/lf WELSH; 13/3b WILSON; 4/c
SCHLIEMAN; 15/p PRICE;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 22/cf CHAMBERS; 12/lf KNELL; 3/ss TAYLOR;
21/dh ITRI; 25/1b SAYLOR; 11/rf BILLS; 8/3b WIENS; 9/c CLOWARD; 5/2b
VEST; 4/p WELLS;
University of Utah - inning 1
KHOURY flied out to cf. BROSSMAN grounded out to ss. CIARAMELLA flied out
to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 1
CHAMBERS homered to right field, RBI. KNELL popped up to 2b. TAYLOR
struck out looking. ITRI struck out swinging. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
University of Utah - inning 2
CHEVALIER grounded out to 2b. PENA doubled down the lf line. WESTFALL
flied out to cf; PENA advanced to third. WELSH flied out to lf. 0 runs, 1
hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 2
SAYLOR grounded out to 3b. BILLS walked. WIENS doubled down the lf line,
RBI; BILLS scored. WIENS stole third. CLOWARD flied out to cf, SF, RBI;
WIENS scored. VEST flied out to cf. 2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
University of Utah - inning 3
WILSON popped up to 2b. SCHLIEMAN flied out to lf. KHOURY walked.
BROSSMAN singled up the middle; KHOURY advanced to second. CIARAMELLA
flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 3
CHAMBERS singled to center field. CHAMBERS stole second. KNELL walked.
TAYLOR flied out to lf; CHAMBERS advanced to third. ITRI walked; KNELL
advanced to second. SAYLOR walked, RBI; ITRI advanced to second; KNELL
advanced to third; CHAMBERS scored. BILLS struck out looking. WIENS
reached on a fielder's choice; SAYLOR out at second ss to 2b. 1 run, 1
hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
University of Utah - inning 4
CHEVALIER homered to center field, RBI. PENA grounded out to ss. WESTFALL
grounded out to 2b. WELSH grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 4
CLOWARD flied out to rf. VEST grounded out to 1b unassisted. CHAMBERS
lined out to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
University of Utah - inning 5
WILSON singled to left field. SCHLIEMAN reached on a fielder's choice;
WILSON advanced to second. KHOURY reached on a fielder's choice;
SCHLIEMAN advanced to second; WILSON out at third 3b unassisted. BROSSMAN
struck out swinging. CIARAMELLA struck out swinging, out at first c to
1b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 5
KNELL singled to left field. TAYLOR struck out swinging; KNELL advanced
to second. KNELL out at second p to 3b to 2b, caught stealing. ITRI
walked. SAYLOR grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
University of Utah - inning 6
CHEVALIER doubled to left center. PENA grounded out to p, SAC; CHEVALIER
advanced to third. WESTFALL singled to center field, RBI; CHEVALIER
scored. WELSH popped up to 2b. WILSON singled to pitcher; WESTFALL
advanced to second. WILSON advanced to second on a balk; WESTFALL
advanced to third. PARSONS to p for WELLS. SCHLIEMAN singled to left
field, advanced to second on the throw, 2 RBI; WILSON scored; WESTFALL
scored. KHOURY grounded out to 1b unassisted. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 6
BILLS doubled down the lf line. WIENS walked. CLOWARD singled to right
field; WIENS advanced to second; BILLS advanced to third. VEST popped up
to 2b. CHAMBERS grounded out to 1b unassisted, RBI; CLOWARD advanced to
second; WIENS advanced to third; BILLS scored. KNELL singled to center
field, 2 RBI; CLOWARD scored; WIENS scored. KNELL out at second p to 1b
to 2b, caught stealing. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
University of Utah - inning 7
BROSSMAN struck out swinging. CIARAMELLA fouled out to 3b. CHEVALIER
grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 7
BUCK to p for PRICE. TAYLOR singled up the middle. TAYLOR advanced to
second on a wild pitch. ITRI grounded out to 2b; TAYLOR advanced to
third. SAYLOR hit by pitch. BILLS walked; SAYLOR advanced to second.
WIENS grounded into double play p to 2b to ss to 1b; BILLS out on the
play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
University of Utah - inning 8
PENA flied out to lf. WESTFALL fouled out to 1b. WELSH struck out
swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. - inning 8
CLOWARD grounded out to ss. VEST struck out swinging. CHAMBERS flied out
to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
University of Utah - inning 9
LAW to 1b for SAYLOR. WILSON flied out to lf. SCHLIEMAN grounded out to
3b, bunt. KHOURY singled to center field. BROSSMAN struck out swinging. 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.