PROVO -- Ben Saylor belted two monster home runs while picking up six RBI for BYU as it defeated cross-town opponent Utah Valley State, 11-4, Tuesday night in Provo.
Saylor proved to be no match for his former team as he batted 3-for-5 with the two round-trippers and a single. The six RBI by Saylor are tied for the most in a game by one BYU player this season, giving him a team-leading 33 on the season while his home run total, which also leads the Cougars, increased to 10.
Working three complete in his first-ever collegiate start, freshman Jordan Muir (4-0, 1.14) remained undefeated in 12 appearances for BYU. He allowed just one run on three hits while striking out one. With the win BYU improves to 16-20 while the Wolverines fall to 12-27.
Saylor wasted no time in putting the Cougars ahead of the Wolverines, homering on a 1-0 fastball from UVSC starter Ryan Jessup. The blast went nearly 425 feet into the trees in center field to put BYU up 2-0 in the first inning. The hit, with Marcos Villezcas on first, was Saylor's ninth of the season.
"I was just looking for a pitch that I could drive," said Saylor. "I take the same approach in every at bat. Early in the count I'm looking for something to drive and then with two strikes I'm looking to protect. I'm always looking for a mistake from the pitcher and tonight, I think I saw a couple of those."
The Wolverines answered back for a run in the top of the second inning on an RBI groundout by Derrick Thomas, making the score 2-1.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning, Blake Crosby scored for the Cougars from third on a wild pitch to move the score to 3-1.
Saylor crushed his second consecutive homer of the game into the right center on a changeup with two men on base. The blast marked the first time this season that a Cougar has hit two home runs in a game and put BYU up 6-2 after two complete.
UVSC career home run leader Dan Bulow showed some power in the top of the fourth for the Wolverines when he crushed a 2-2 pitch from BYU reliever Matt Jensen over the 400 foot sign in center for a home run. The smash cut the Cougars' advantage to 6-2.
BYU kept loading up the bases in the bottom of the fourth as they batted around the order and picked up four runs on four hits, two walks and two errors. Saylor picked up his third hit in as many at-bats in the inning and scored his third run of the game on a bases-loaded walk. Casey Nelson nearly hit a grand slam in the frame as when he hit a double off the 400-foot sign in center field. The Cougars only managed one run on the hit as Adrian Molina was cut down at home plate for the second out.
The Wolverines showed some sharp defense in the bottom of the sixth. After Kent Walton reached on a single, UVSC shortstop Eli Slesk scooped up a grounder by Crosby in the hole up the middle and quickly flipped the ball out of his glove to former Cougar Brad Hales at second. Hales then threw to first to get the hustling Crosby for the six-four-three double play.
Pinch-hitting for Seth Johnson in the top of the seventh, Austin Carter drilled a triple to right center to lead things off for BYU. Ben Saylor got his sixth RBI of the night when he smoked a grounder to first for an out that scored Carter.
The Wolverines added two runs in the top of the eighth and two more in the top of the ninth before Cortland Andrews came in and struck out Reno Mendenhall to end the game.
BYU will play host to TCU on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week at Larry H. Miller Field. This will be first meeting between the two teams in Provo since the Horned Frogs joined the Mountain West Conference.
Utah Valley State at Brigham Young Univ.
Apr 18, 2006 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Utah Valley State 6 (12-27)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Brad Hales 2b............ 4 0 1 0 0 0 4 5 0
Keiki Albino 2b......... 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
Eli Slesk ss............. 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 5 0
Chris Benson 3b.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
Reno Mendenhall ph/3b... 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1
Canyon Vance lf.......... 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0
Dan Bulow 1b............. 3 2 3 1 0 0 11 0 0
Justin Williams ph/1b... 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Adam Openshaw dh......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Scott Croshaw ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Derrick Thomas c......... 3 0 1 1 0 0 4 1 1
Vic Hillman c........... 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Kade Boyer rf............ 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 2
Jason Zundel cf.......... 4 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0
Ryan Jessop p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Turreal Moore p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Brett Guerrero p........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kyle Wink p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 37 6 13 4 0 7 24 16 6
Brigham Young Univ. 11 (16-20)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
JOHNSON, Seth lf......... 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1
CARTER, Austin lf....... 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
VILLEZCAS, Marcos ss..... 3 2 0 0 1 1 1 2 3
VARGAS, Daniel ss....... 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 0
SAYLOR, Ben rf/1b........ 5 3 3 6 0 0 3 0 0
HIESTAND, Jeff 1b........ 2 1 1 0 1 0 9 0 0
BARNES, Clayton ph/rf... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
KO, Kasey dh............. 2 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
NIELSEN, Dane ph........ 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MOLINA, Adrian cf........ 2 0 0 1 1 1 2 0 3
WALTON, Kent ph/cf...... 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
CROSBY, Blake 3b......... 4 2 2 1 0 0 1 1 0
JOHNSON, Chris 3b....... 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
NELSON, Casey c.......... 3 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 0
MUSSO, J.T. ph/c........ 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1
BANKS, Stetson 2b........ 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 4 1
JOHNSON, Jason 2b....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
MUIR, Jordan p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
JENSEN, Matt p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
WORTHAM, Jake p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BARRETT, Josh p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
ANDREWS, Cortland p..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 35 11 11 10 7 4 27 13 9
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
Utah Valley State... 010 100 022 - 6 13 5
Brigham Young Univ.. 240 400 10X - 11 11 2
-------------------------------------------
E - Slesk; Benson; Vance; Bulow; Williams; JOHNSON, S.; JOHNSON, C.. DP -
Wolverines 2; BYU Cougars 2. LOB - Wolverines 6; BYU Cougars 9. 2B - Slesk;
Mendenhall; Bulow; KO; NELSON. 3B - CARTER. HR - Bulow(7); SAYLOR 2(10). HBP
- Slesk; Hillman; HIESTAND; BANKS. SB - BANKS 3. CS - HIESTAND.
Utah Valley State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Ryan Jessop......... 3.1 7 10 2 5 1 18 25
Turreal Moore....... 0.1 2 0 0 1 0 2 3
Brett Guerrero...... 2.1 1 0 0 1 1 7 8
Kyle Wink........... 2.0 1 1 1 0 2 8 8
Brigham Young Univ. IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
MUIR, Jordan........ 3.0 3 1 1 0 1 12 12
JENSEN, Matt........ 2.0 4 1 1 0 1 9 9
WORTHAM, Jake....... 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 4 4
BARRETT, Josh....... 2.0 3 2 2 0 2 7 8
ANDREWS, Cortland... 1.0 2 2 1 0 2 5 6
Win - MUIR (4-0). Loss - Jessop (0-3). Save - None.
WP - Jessop. HBP - by Jessop (HIESTAND); by Jessop (BANKS); by BARRETT (Slesk);
by ANDREWS (Hillman).
Umpires - HP: Lew Carleton 1B: Jeff Richardson 3B: Terry Balser
Start: 7:11 pm Time: 3:02 Attendance: 1416
Game notes:
Game 2 in the series
2nd largest home crowd of the season
Utah Valley State at Brigham Young Univ. - Play-by-Play
Apr 18, 2006 at Provo, Utah (Larry H.Miller Field)
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
Utah Valley State... 010 100 022 - 6 13 5
Brigham Young Univ.. 240 400 10X - 11 11 2
-------------------------------------------
Utah Valley State starters: 10/2b Hales; 2/ss Slesk; 1/3b Benson; 8/lf Vance; 21/1b
Bulow; 12/dh Openshaw; 9/c Thomas; 6/rf Boyer; 13/cf Zundel; 19/p Jessop;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 26/lf JOHNSON, S.; 10/ss VILLEZCAS; 25/rf SAYLOR;
32/1b HIESTAND; 33/dh KO; 1/cf MOLINA; 30/3b CROSBY; 8/c NELSON; 3/2b BANKS; 12/p
MUIR;
Utah Valley State 1st - Hales flied out to rf. Slesk flied out to cf. Benson
grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - JOHNSON, S. grounded out to ss. VILLEZCAS walked.
SAYLOR homered to center field, 2 RBI; VILLEZCAS scored. HIESTAND hit by pitch.
HIESTAND out at second c to 2b, caught stealing. KO walked. MOLINA fouled out to 1b.
2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Utah Valley State 2nd - Vance flied out to cf. Bulow singled to center field.
Openshaw singled to left field, advanced to second on a fielding error by lf; Bulow
advanced to third. Thomas grounded out to ss, RBI; Openshaw advanced to third; Bulow
scored. Boyer flied out to rf. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - CROSBY singled up the middle. NELSON flied out to
lf. BANKS grounded out to 2b; CROSBY advanced to second. JOHNSON, S. walked.
VILLEZCAS reached on a fielding error by 1b; JOHNSON, S. advanced to second; CROSBY
advanced to third. VILLEZCAS advanced to second; JOHNSON, S. advanced to third;
CROSBY scored on a wild pitch, unearned. SAYLOR homered to left center, 3 RBI,
unearned; VILLEZCAS scored, unearned; JOHNSON, S. scored, unearned. HIESTAND singled
to center field. KO doubled down the rf line; HIESTAND advanced to third. MOLINA
struck out swinging. 4 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Utah Valley State 3rd - Zundel struck out looking. Hales popped up to ss.
Slesk doubled to left field. Benson grounded out to p. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - CROSBY grounded out to 3b. NELSON grounded out to
ss. BANKS hit by pitch. BANKS stole second. BANKS stole third. JOHNSON, S. grounded
out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Utah Valley State 4th - JENSEN to p for MUIR. Vance grounded out to 2b. Bulow
homered to left field, RBI. Openshaw grounded out to 2b. Thomas singled to left
field. Boyer grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - VILLEZCAS grounded out to 2b. SAYLOR singled to
right field. HIESTAND reached on a fielding error by ss, advanced to second on a
throwing error by lf; SAYLOR advanced to third. KO walked. MOLINA walked, RBI; KO
advanced to second; HIESTAND advanced to third; SAYLOR scored, unearned. CROSBY
singled to shortstop, RBI; MOLINA advanced to second; KO advanced to third; HIESTAND
scored, unearned. Moore, T to p for Jessop. NELSON doubled to center field, RBI;
CROSBY advanced to third; MOLINA advanced to third, out at home cf to ss to c; KO
scored, unearned. BANKS singled to left field, RBI; NELSON advanced to third; CROSBY
scored, unearned. BANKS stole second. JOHNSON, S. walked. Guerrero to p for Moore,
T. VILLEZCAS struck out swinging. 4 runs, 4 hits, 2 errors, 3 LOB.
Utah Valley State 5th - Zundel struck out looking. Hales singled up the
middle. Slesk singled to left field; Hales advanced to second. Benson grounded into
double play 3b to 1b; Slesk advanced to second; Hales out on the play. 0 runs, 2
hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - SAYLOR flied out to rf. HIESTAND walked. KO
grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b; HIESTAND out on the play. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Utah Valley State 6th - VARGAS to ss for VILLEZCAS. WORTHAM to p for JENSEN.
Vance struck out looking. Bulow doubled to right field. Openshaw popped up to ss.
Thomas grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - WALTON pinch hit for MOLINA. WALTON singled to left
field. CROSBY grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; WALTON out on the play.
MUSSO pinch hit for NELSON. MUSSO reached on a fielding error by 3b. BANKS reached
on a fielder's choice; MUSSO out at second ss to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1
LOB.
Utah Valley State 7th - CARTER to lf for JOHNSON, S.. WALTON to cf. MUSSO to
c. BARRETT to p for WORTHAM. Boyer singled up the middle. Zundel struck out
swinging. Hales grounded into double play p to ss to 1b; Boyer out on the play. 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - Wink to p for Guerrero. CARTER tripled to center
field. VARGAS struck out swinging. SAYLOR grounded out to 1b unassisted, RBI; CARTER
scored. BARNES pinch hit for HIESTAND. BARNES grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 1 hit, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Utah Valley State 8th - SAYLOR to 1b. JOHNSON, C. to 3b for CROSBY. JOHNSON,
J. to 2b for BANKS. BARNES to rf. Slesk hit by pitch. Mendenhall pinch hit for
Benson. Mendenhall doubled to right field; Slesk advanced to third. Vance singled to
right field, RBI; Mendenhall advanced to third; Slesk scored. Williams pinch hit for
Bulow. Williams fouled out to 3b. Croshaw pinch hit for Openshaw. Vance out at first
p to 2b to 1b, picked off; Mendenhall scored. Croshaw struck out looking. 2 runs,
2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - Albino to 2b for Hales. Mendenhall to 3b. Williams
to 1b. Hillman to c for Thomas. NIELSEN pinch hit for KO. NIELSEN fouled out to 3b.
WALTON struck out swinging. JOHNSON, C. reached on a fielding error by 1b. MUSSO
grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Utah Valley State 9th - ANDREWS to p for BARRETT. Hillman hit by pitch. Boyer
singled up the middle; Hillman advanced to third. Zundel struck out swinging. Albino
singled to right field, RBI; Boyer advanced to second; Hillman scored. Slesk reached
on a fielder's choice, advanced to second; Albino out at second ss to 2b; Boyer
scored, scored on a throwing error by 3b, unearned. Mendenhall struck out swinging.
2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.