SAN -- Thirteen was charm for the second day in a row as BYU pulled out a 7-3 victory over San Diego State on Saturday in extra innings.
On the heels of a double play in the 13th inning, Leon Johnson got on with a single up the middle and swiped second again. He scored when J.T. Musso's sharp single down the line glanced off the glove of the Aztec third baseman, putting BYU up 4-3.
As the inning continued, Austin Hall doubled down the rightfield line to bring in Musso. Then Stephen Wells knocked his second homer of the day, again just clearing the rightfield fence near the scoreboard, to bring in Hall and put BYU up 7-3.
It was a pitcher's duel through the first seven innings with Jesse Craig holding his own with no walks, but not able to claim a decision in a game televised live nationally by The Mountain. The victory gives BYU a 31-18 overall record and a stronger hold on second place in the Mountain West Conference with a 14-7 mark.
Wells gave BYU a 2-1 lead with a two-out solo homer in the eighth, to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Wells homer was only the third hit issued to that point by Lance Sewell, who exited the game after Apana Nakayama recorded the third consecutive hit.
Reliever Shane Kaufman initially faced Kent Walton, who singled to first base and collided with the Aztec first baseman. In the confusion at first, Danny Vargas crossed home to give BYU a 3-1 lead.
Walton was injured on the play and taken off the field on a stretcher, but was released from the trauma center before the end of the game. Matt Jensen entered the game as a pinch runner for Walton and took over for him in right field.
In the bottom of the eight with two outs, the Aztecs connected on three straight singles and tied the game when the umpire ruled Musso's throw to Hall didn't arrive in time. On the stolen base to second, Garett Green was then able to steal home to tie the game at three-all.
With two out, BYU had runners on second and third, thanks to a dropped ball at the hot corner, but could punch a run across in the ninth. Craig yielded to J.D. Stambaugh on the mound in the ninth and the sophomore lefty put the Aztecs down in order, forcing extra innings for the second day in a row.
Nakayama, who had been on base in his first five at bats, doubled again in extra innings, just as he did the night before. He advance to third, but was stranded there, as was Leon Johnson in the 11th. That set the table for Brad Kidd to take the mound for BYU and claim his second victory of the season.
The Cougars next host Utah Valley State on Tuesday at 6 p.m., before closing the home season in a three-game stand against the University of Utah in a series beginning on Thursday.
Brigham Young at San Diego StateMay 12, 2007 at San Diego, Calif. (Tony Gwynn Stadium)
Brigham Young 7 (31-18,14-7 MWC)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
WELLS, Stephen cf........ 7 3 2 3 0 2 6 0 3
VARGAS, Dan ss........... 6 1 1 0 0 2 0 4 0
NAKAYAMA, Apana dh....... 5 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
WALTON, Kent lf.......... 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
JENSEN, Matt pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
MC KEEVER, Mike ph...... 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PARKER, Steve 3b......... 4 0 1 0 2 3 0 1 2
KO, Kasey 1b............. 6 0 1 0 0 0 13 1 4
JOHNSON, Leon rf......... 4 1 1 0 1 0 4 0 0
MUSSO, J.T. c............ 5 1 1 0 1 1 10 0 0
HALL, Austin 2b.......... 6 1 1 1 0 2 4 6 0
CRAIG, Jesse p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
STAMBAUGH, J.D. p....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
KIDD, Brad p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 49 7 10 4 5 10 39 14 10
San Diego State 3 (28-28,12-12 MWC)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
HANZAWA ss............... 6 0 1 0 0 2 2 4 0
SPIERS 1b................ 5 0 1 1 0 0 10 1 0
ROMERO 3b................ 5 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 1
LONIGRO rf............... 6 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 4
GLOVER cf................ 6 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 0
LUCAS dh................. 6 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
GREEN 2b................. 6 1 4 0 0 1 1 2 0
JOHNSON lf............... 6 1 4 1 0 1 7 0 1
PARKER c................. 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 4
DECKER ph............... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ANDERSON c.............. 2 0 0 0 0 1 6 1 1
SEWELL p................. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
KAUFMAN p............... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SOLOW p................. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
KOONS p................. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 50 3 13 2 0 10 39 13 11
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------------
Brigham Young....... 100 000 020 000 4 - 7 10 0
San Diego State..... 000 000 120 000 0 - 3 13 6
-------------------------------------------------
E - HANZAWA; SPIERS 2; ROMERO 2; LONIGRO. DP - SDSU 2. LOB - BYU 10; SDSU
11. 2B - HALL; ROMERO; GREEN; JOHNSON. HR - WELLS 2(3). HBP - ROMERO. SH -
VARGAS; JOHNSON, L.; SPIERS; DECKER. SB - JOHNSON, L. 2; MUSSO; GREEN;
JOHNSON 2. CS - NAKAYAMA.
Brigham Young IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
CRAIG, Jesse........ 8.0 11 3 3 0 7 34 36
STAMBAUGH, J.D...... 3.2 1 0 0 0 2 11 12
KIDD, Brad.......... 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 5 5
San Diego State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
SEWELL.............. 7.2 4 3 1 3 5 26 30
KAUFMAN............. 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 5 6
SOLOW............... 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 3 3
KOONS............... 3.2 5 4 4 2 3 15 17
Win - KIDD (2-0). Loss - KOONS (3-2). Save - None.
HBP - by CRAIG (ROMERO).
Umpires - HP: Ryan West 1B: Ray Belfiore 3B: Bill Van Raaphorst
Start: 1:07 pm Time: 4:08 Attendance: 556
Brigham Young starters: 1/cf WELLS; 13/ss VARGAS; 24/dh NAKAYAMA; 9/lf WALTON; 5/3b
PARKER; 22/1b KO; 14/rf JOHNSON, L.; 10/c MUSSO; 18/2b HALL; 35/p CRAIG;
San Diego State starters: 1/ss HANZAWA; 3/1b SPIERS; 5/3b ROMERO; 40/rf LONIGRO;
24/cf GLOVER; 15/dh LUCAS; 6/2b GREEN; 11/lf JOHNSON; 14/c PARKER; 49/p SEWELL;
Brigham Young 1st - WELLS reached on an error by ss. VARGAS grounded out to
p, SAC, bunt; WELLS advanced to second. NAKAYAMA reached on an error by rf, advanced
to second; WELLS scored, unearned. WALTON flied out to lf. PARKER walked. KO
grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 0 hits, 2 errors, 2 LOB.
San Diego State 1st - HANZAWA struck out looking. SPIERS fouled out to rf.
ROMERO hit by pitch. LONIGRO flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Brigham Young 2nd - JOHNSON, L. grounded out to p. MUSSO struck out swinging.
HALL flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
San Diego State 2nd - GLOVER grounded out to ss. LUCAS grounded out to 1b
unassisted. GREEN singled up the middle. JOHNSON singled up the middle; GREEN
advanced to second. PARKER grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
Brigham Young 3rd - WELLS flied out to cf. VARGAS flied out to lf. NAKAYAMA
walked. NAKAYAMA out at second p to 1b to ss, caught stealing. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
San Diego State 3rd - HANZAWA grounded out to 2b. SPIERS fouled out to 1b.
ROMERO doubled down the lf line. LONIGRO struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young 4th - WALTON flied out to cf. PARKER struck out swinging. KO
flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
San Diego State 4th - GLOVER flied out to cf. LUCAS flied out to rf. GREEN
singled to shortstop. JOHNSON singled to center field; GREEN advanced to third.
JOHNSON stole second. PARKER struck out swinging. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
Brigham Young 5th - JOHNSON, L. flied out to cf. MUSSO walked. HALL flied
into double play rf to 1b; MUSSO out on the play. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
San Diego State 5th - HANZAWA struck out swinging. SPIERS grounded out to 2b.
ROMERO singled up the middle. LONIGRO struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young 6th - WELLS struck out swinging. VARGAS flied out to lf.
NAKAYAMA singled to right field. WALTON reached on a fielder's choice; NAKAYAMA out
at second ss to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
San Diego State 6th - GLOVER struck out. LUCAS flied out to rf. GREEN
grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young 7th - PARKER struck out looking. KO grounded out to ss.
JOHNSON, L. flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
San Diego State 7th - JOHNSON doubled to left center. DECKER pinch hit for
PARKER. DECKER out at first p to 2b, SAC, bunt; JOHNSON advanced to third. HANZAWA
grounded out to ss. SPIERS singled to shortstop, RBI; JOHNSON scored. ROMERO
grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young 8th - ANDERSON to c for DECKER. MUSSO flied out to lf. HALL
struck out swinging. WELLS homered to right field, RBI. VARGAS singled to third
base. NAKAYAMA singled to shortstop; VARGAS advanced to second. KAUFMAN to p for
SEWELL. WALTON reached on a fielding error by 1b; NAKAYAMA advanced to third; VARGAS
scored, unearned. JENSEN pinch ran for WALTON. PARKER struck out looking. 2 runs,
3 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
San Diego State 8th - JENSEN to lf. LONIGRO fouled out to 2b. GLOVER flied
out to lf. LUCAS singled through the left side. GREEN singled to right field; LUCAS
advanced to second. JOHNSON singled to right field, RBI; GREEN advanced to third;
LUCAS scored. JOHNSON stole second; GREEN stole home. ANDERSON struck out swinging.
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young 9th - KO singled to shortstop. JOHNSON, L. grounded out to c,
SAC, bunt; KO advanced to second. MUSSO reached on a fielder's choice; KO advanced
to third on an error by 3b. HALL grounded out to 3b. SOLOW to p for KAUFMAN. WELLS
struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.
San Diego State 9th - STAMBAUGH to p for CRAIG. HANZAWA flied out to cf.
SPIERS flied out to cf. ROMERO struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
Brigham Young 10th - VARGAS grounded out to ss. NAKAYAMA reached on an error
by 1b, advanced to second. MC KEEVER pinch hit for JENSEN. KOONS to p for SOLOW. MC
KEEVER flied out to cf; NAKAYAMA advanced to third. PARKER walked. KO flied out to
cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
San Diego State 10th - MC KEEVER to lf. LONIGRO flied out to rf. GLOVER out
at first 1b to p. LUCAS grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young 11th - JOHNSON, L. walked. JOHNSON, L. stole second. MUSSO
flied out to cf; JOHNSON, L. advanced to third. HALL struck out swinging. WELLS
flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
San Diego State 11th - GREEN struck out looking. JOHNSON grounded out to 2b.
ANDERSON flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young 12th - VARGAS struck out swinging. NAKAYAMA grounded out to 1b
unassisted. MC KEEVER flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
San Diego State 12th - HANZAWA singled to right field. SPIERS out at first p
to 2b, SAC, bunt; HANZAWA advanced to second. ROMERO grounded out to 3b. KIDD to p
for STAMBAUGH. LONIGRO popped up to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young 13th - PARKER singled up the middle. KO grounded into double
play 2b to ss to 1b; PARKER out on the play. JOHNSON, L. singled up the middle.
JOHNSON, L. stole second. MUSSO singled; JOHNSON, L. advanced to third, scored on an
error by 3b. MUSSO stole second. HALL doubled down the rf line, RBI; MUSSO scored.
WELLS homered to right center, 2 RBI; HALL scored. VARGAS struck out looking. 4
runs, 5 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
San Diego State 13th - GLOVER flied out to cf. LUCAS grounded out to ss.
GREEN doubled to left field. JOHNSON struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Jesse Craig is scheduled to pitch twice this week, starting with Tuesday's game when BYU, 28-17, hosts Southern Utah at Miller Park at 6 p.m.
Craig (8-2, 2.91) will face the T-Birds, 11-39, then again on Saturday at San Diego State in a game televised live by The Mountain at 1 p.m., PDT.
Going against Craig from Southern Utah is Kyle Melling (0-2, 5.47). SUU ended BYU's six-game winning streak last month with a 7-2 victory in Provo.
Following the game with SUU, the Cougars then bus to San Diego to start a three-game series with the Aztecs, who also have a Tuesday game against Long Beach State. Second place BYU is 12-6 in the Mountain West Conference, two-and-a-half games ahead of SDSU.
The Aztecs, 27-25 and 11-10 in the MWC, will first face BYU's Jordan Muir (5-3, 5.53), then lefty Jake Wortham (6-4, 4.66) in games that start on Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m., PDT.
For more information on BYU's baseball team for this week, click on the PDF link at the top of this page.