PROVO -- A pair of homers highlighted BYU's slugfest Tuesday in a 23-6 victory over Southern Utah University.
Of course, it didn't hurt that BYU's final three pitchers were on stride, too in the rubber match between the two teams.
Coach Vance Law predesignated his pitching rotation with James Platt of Cedar City getting the start, followed by Jordan Muir, Mitch Woolf and Josh Barrett. SUU had won the first game of the season in Cedar City and the first tilt between the two in Provo last month. Sandwiched in between were BYU's pair of wins at SUU.
On Tuesday, BYU evened the "score" and then some en route to improving its record to 14-10 in a season-high 23-hit barrage.
"Everything we hit today fell for us and the home run by (Jeff) Hiestand got us off to a good start," said Law. "I was pleased we maintained our focus. I've been waiting for a 10-12-run ball game."
Jeff Hiestand knocked a two-run homer to left field, scoring Ben Saylor, for his second dinger of the year to give BYU a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
The Cougars came back and took a 5-3 lead with three unearned runs in the second, but they couldn't maintain the lead as Platt was chased from the mound prematurely.
Casey Nelson hit a two-run single in the third to put BYU up for good at 7-5. Muir was credited with the win at that point, having extinguished a third-inning SUU rally before setting the T-Birds down in order in the fourth and fifth innings.
A towering home run by Saylor came mid-way in the 10-run sixth inning with no outs for the Cougars. That homer, his team-leading sixth, hit the dormitory beyond rightfield and drove in Marcos Villezcas, who led the Cougars with six RBI on the afternoon.
"We came out with a ton of intensity and once it got started it was hard to stop," said Saylor. "This will help us go in with a lot of confidence for the UNLV series as we showed we can really swing it."
Every Cougar scored on their first at-bat in that seven-hit sixth inning as BYU batted around twice sans two in the order. That was the inning Seth Johnson finally extended his current hitting streak to eight games with a single.
With Woolf taking the mound in the sixth, SUU could only manage one hit from the first batter he faced in the next two innings. Barrett closed the final two innings, surrendering two hits, back-to-back singles in the ninth.
BYU next plays on Thursday in a nationally-televised CSTV contest at UNLV to start a three-game series there.
Southern Utah at Brigham Young Univ.
April 3, 2006 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Southern Utah 6 (14-10)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Hahl lf.................. 4 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 0
Marshall lf............. 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0
Dimick ss................ 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 3
Zablan ss............... 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Sotelo cf................ 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0
Jensen cf............... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Burgess rf............... 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1
Romney ph............... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Oliverson dh............. 3 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 0
Wright 1b................ 4 0 1 1 0 2 6 0 0
Wilson, C. 3b............ 3 1 3 1 0 0 2 2 0
Sanford 3b.............. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nelson c................. 3 0 1 2 0 0 3 2 0
Richards c.............. 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0
Swenson 2b............... 3 1 0 0 1 2 1 3 2
Ellena p................. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Noyes p................. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wittwer p............... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bunker p................ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gillins p............... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ellenbrook p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 36 6 10 6 3 6 24 11 7
Brigham Young Univ. 23 (11-17)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
CARTER, Austin lf........ 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0
NIELSEN, Dane ph/lf..... 2 1 1 2 0 0 2 0 2
VILLEZCAS, Marcos ss..... 6 2 3 6 1 1 1 4 0
SAYLOR, Ben rf........... 5 3 4 3 0 0 0 0 0
BARNES, Clayton ph/1b... 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
HIESTAND, Jeff 1b........ 4 2 2 3 1 0 12 0 4
HIGHMARK, Chris ph/rf... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
KO, Kasey dh............. 2 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0
WORTHAM, Jake ph........ 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
JOHNSON, Seth cf......... 5 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 5
WALTON, Kent ph/cf...... 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0
CROSBY, Blake 3b......... 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 0
JOHNSON, Chris ph/3b.... 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 0
NELSON, Casey c.......... 2 2 2 3 1 0 3 0 0
MUSSO, J.T. ph/c........ 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0
BANKS, Stetson 2b........ 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 3 0
JOHNSON, Jason ph/2b.... 2 1 2 2 1 0 1 1 0
PLATT, James p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MUIR, Jordan p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
WOOLF, Mitch p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BARRETT, Josh p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 42 23 23 23 10 5 27 16 11
Score by Innings R H E
----------------------------------------------
Southern Utah....... 032 000 001 - 6 10 4
Brigham Young Univ.. 232 14(10) 10X - 23 23 1
----------------------------------------------
E - Dimick; Wilson, C.; Nelson; Noyes; BANKS. DP - SUU 1; BYU Cougars 1. LOB
- SUU 7; BYU Cougars 11. 2B - Marshall; Nelson; NIELSEN; NELSON. 3B - Hahl.
HR - SAYLOR(6); HIESTAND(2). HBP - Oliverson; NIELSEN; HIESTAND. SH -
CROSBY; BANKS 2. SF - MUSSO. SB - Oliverson; CARTER; VILLEZCAS. CS - CARTER.
Southern Utah IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Ellena.............. 2.0 4 6 3 3 2 10 14
Noyes............... 2.1 6 4 3 1 1 10 14
Wittwer............. 0.2 3 3 3 2 0 4 6
Bunker.............. 0.0 3 6 6 3 0 3 6
Gillins............. 2.0 7 4 4 1 0 12 15
Ellenbrook.......... 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 3 3
Brigham Young Univ. IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
PLATT, James........ 2.1 7 5 5 2 1 13 16
MUIR, Jordan........ 2.2 0 0 0 0 2 8 8
WOOLF, Mitch........ 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 7 8
BARRETT, Josh....... 2.0 2 1 1 0 2 8 8
Win - MUIR (2-0). Loss - Ellena (0-1). Save - None.
HBP - by PLATT (Oliverson); by Noyes (HIESTAND); by Gillins (NIELSEN). PB -
Nelson; NELSON.
Umpires - HP: Jeff Richardson 1B: Blyden Loutensock 3B: Al White
Start: 3:04 pm Time: 3:11 Attendance: 685
Ellena faced 1 batter in the 3rd.
Wittwer faced 1 batter in the 6th.
Bunker faced 6 batters in the 6th.
Southern Utah at Brigham Young Univ. - Play-by-Play
April 3, 2006 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Score by Innings R H E
----------------------------------------------
Southern Utah....... 032 000 001 - 6 10 4
Brigham Young Univ.. 232 14(10) 10X - 23 23 1
----------------------------------------------
Southern Utah starters: 2/lf Hahl; 7/ss Dimick; 32/cf Sotelo; 20/rf Burgess; 10/dh
Oliverson; 12/1b Wright; 28/3b Wilson, C.; 18/c Nelson; 6/2b Swenson; 1/p Ellena;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 6/lf CARTER; 10/ss VILLEZCAS; 25/rf SAYLOR; 32/1b
HIESTAND; 33/dh KO; 26/cf JOHNSON, S.; 30/3b CROSBY; 8/c NELSON; 3/2b BANKS; 7/p
PLATT;
Southern Utah 1st - Hahl grounded out to 2b. Dimick grounded out to ss.
Sotelo singled to center field. Burgess reached on a fielder's choice; Sotelo out at
second ss to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - CARTER grounded out to ss. VILLEZCAS struck out
looking. SAYLOR singled up the middle. HIESTAND homered to left field, 2 RBI; SAYLOR
scored. KO walked. JOHNSON, S. grounded out to 1b unassisted. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Southern Utah 2nd - Oliverson hit by pitch. Wright struck out swinging.
Oliverson stole second. Wilson, C. singled to left field; Oliverson advanced to
third. Nelson doubled to right center, 2 RBI; Wilson, C. scored; Oliverson scored.
Nelson out at second p to ss, picked off. Swenson walked. Hahl tripled down the rf
line, RBI; Swenson scored. Dimick grounded out to 3b. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - CROSBY reached on a fielding error by ss. NELSON
walked; CROSBY advanced to second. BANKS reached on a fielding error by 3b, assist
by p, SAC; NELSON advanced to second; CROSBY advanced to third. CARTER struck out
looking. VILLEZCAS singled to right field, 2 RBI; BANKS advanced to third; NELSON
scored, unearned; CROSBY scored, unearned. SAYLOR singled to left field, RBI;
VILLEZCAS advanced to second; BANKS scored, unearned. HIESTAND grounded into double
play ss to 2b to 1b; SAYLOR out on the play. 3 runs, 2 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Southern Utah 3rd - Sotelo grounded out to 2b. Burgess walked. Oliverson
singled down the lf line; Burgess advanced to third. Wright singled to right field,
RBI; Oliverson advanced to second; Burgess scored. Wilson, C. singled to center
field, RBI; Wright advanced to second; Oliverson scored. MUIR to p for PLATT. Nelson
grounded out to p; Wilson, C. advanced to second; Wright advanced to third. Swenson
struck out swinging. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - KO walked. Noyes to p for Ellena. JOHNSON, S.
singled to left field; KO advanced to second. CROSBY grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt;
JOHNSON, S. advanced to second; KO advanced to third. NELSON singled, out at second
rf to c to ss, 2 RBI; JOHNSON, S. scored; KO scored. BANKS struck out swinging,
grounded out to c unassisted. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Southern Utah 4th - Hahl grounded out to p. Dimick flied out to cf. Sotelo
flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - CARTER walked. CARTER advanced to second on a
throwing error by c. CARTER advanced to third on a throwing error by p. VILLEZCAS
singled to second base, RBI; CARTER scored, unearned. SAYLOR flied out to cf.
VILLEZCAS stole second. HIESTAND hit by pitch. KO popped up to ss. JOHNSON, S.
reached on a fielder's choice; HIESTAND advanced to second; VILLEZCAS out at third
3b unassisted. 1 run, 1 hit, 2 errors, 2 LOB.
Southern Utah 5th - Burgess grounded out to 3b. Oliverson struck out looking.
Wright grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - CROSBY singled to left center. CROSBY advanced to
second on a passed ball. NELSON doubled to left center, RBI; CROSBY scored. BANKS
grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt; NELSON advanced to third. CARTER singled to right
field, RBI; NELSON scored. Wittwer to p for Noyes. CARTER stole second. CARTER out
at third c to 3b, caught stealing. VILLEZCAS walked. SAYLOR singled through the
right side; VILLEZCAS advanced to third. HIESTAND singled to left field, RBI; SAYLOR
advanced to second; VILLEZCAS scored. KO singled through the right side, RBI;
HIESTAND advanced to third; SAYLOR scored. JOHNSON, S. lined out to ss. 4 runs, 6
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Southern Utah 6th - WOOLF to p for MUIR. Wilson, C. singled to shortstop.
Nelson reached on a fielder's choice; Wilson, C. out at second 3b to 2b. Swenson
flied out to cf. Hahl reached on a fielding error by 2b; Nelson advanced to second.
Hahl advanced to second on a passed ball; Nelson advanced to third. Dimick grounded
out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - JOHNSON, C. pinch hit for CROSBY. JOHNSON, C.
walked. Richards to c for Nelson. MUSSO pinch hit for NELSON. Bunker to p for
Wittwer. MUSSO walked; JOHNSON, C. advanced to second. JOHNSON, J. pinch hit for
BANKS. JOHNSON, J. walked; MUSSO advanced to second; JOHNSON, C. advanced to third.
NIELSEN pinch hit for CARTER. NIELSEN doubled to right center, 2 RBI; JOHNSON, J.
advanced to third; MUSSO scored; JOHNSON, C. scored. VILLEZCAS singled up the
middle, 2 RBI; NIELSEN scored; JOHNSON, J. scored. SAYLOR homered to right field, 2
RBI; VILLEZCAS scored. HIESTAND walked. Gillins to p for Bunker. WORTHAM pinch hit
for KO. WORTHAM singled to left field; HIESTAND advanced to second. JOHNSON, S.
singled to left field; WORTHAM advanced to second; HIESTAND advanced to third.
JOHNSON, C. singled to left center, RBI; JOHNSON, S. advanced to second; WORTHAM
advanced to third; HIESTAND scored. MUSSO flied out to lf, SF, RBI; WORTHAM scored.
JOHNSON, J. singled to right field, RBI; JOHNSON, C. advanced to second; JOHNSON, S.
scored. NIELSEN hit by pitch; JOHNSON, J. advanced to second; JOHNSON, C. advanced
to third. VILLEZCAS reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; NIELSEN out at second 2b to
ss; JOHNSON, J. advanced to third; JOHNSON, C. scored. BARNES pinch hit for SAYLOR.
BARNES walked; VILLEZCAS advanced to second. HIESTAND grounded out to 2b. 10
runs, 7 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Southern Utah 7th - NIELSEN to lf. JOHNSON, C. to 3b. MUSSO to c. JOHNSON, J.
to 2b. Sotelo walked. Burgess grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; Sotelo out
on the play. Oliverson struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits,
0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - Sanford to 3b for Wilson, C.. WORTHAM flied out to
lf. WALTON pinch hit for JOHNSON, S.. WALTON singled to right field. JOHNSON, C.
singled to left field; WALTON advanced to second. MUSSO flied out to cf. JOHNSON, J.
singled to center field, RBI; JOHNSON, C. advanced to third; WALTON scored. NIELSEN
flied out to lf. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Southern Utah 8th - WALTON to cf. BARRETT to p for WOOLF. Wright struck out
swinging. Sanford grounded out to 3b. Richards flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - Marshall to lf for Hahl. Zablan to ss for Dimick.
Jensen to cf for Sotelo. Ellenbrook to p for Gillins. VILLEZCAS popped up to lf.
BARNES struck out swinging. HIGHMARK pinch hit for HIESTAND. HIGHMARK struck out
looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Southern Utah 9th - BARNES to 1b. HIGHMARK to rf. Swenson struck out
swinging. Marshall doubled to right center. Zablan singled to center field, RBI;
Marshall scored. Jensen flied out to cf. Romney pinch hit for Burgess. Romney flied
out to lf. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.