SALT LAKE CITY -- Missed opportunities prevented BYU's baseball team from mounting a comeback Thursday as Utah held on to win, 5-3, at Franklin Covey Field.

The Utes, now 23-24 overall and more importantly 10-12 in the Mountain West Conference, took a leg up on the Cougars in the Deseret First Duels standings in baseball and the seedings for the league tournament.

BYU, now 20-34 and 8-14 in the MWC, fell behind, then tied the game in the second. Utah added two runs and fought off BYU's challenges, the last of which was in the eighth.

In the eighth, BYU had runners on second and third with one out as Utah brought in relief specialist Robert Chimpky. Chimpky got Bryce Ayoso to hit a grounder to him which he threw to home to put out Steve Parker, then ended the inning on a called strikeout.

"It boils down to the fact we didn't execute offensively when we needed timely base hits," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "Those hits are critical and we aren't getting them right now."

The last run BYU punched across was in the seventh when Kent Walton's RBI single drove in Sean McNaughton in the seventh to close the gap, 5-3, and the book on Stephen Fife from the mound.

McNaughton had gotten aboard in the first with a lead-off error, moved to second on a sac-bunt, advanced to third on an overthrow by the pitcher and was hit in the mouth by the centerfielder's throw. After all that, he ended up not scoring as Utah secured two outs to end the inning.

"We are fortunate he (McNaughton) was able to stay in the game after he got hit above the mouth," said Law. "Jake (Wortham) pitched well enough for us to win, but we got to second twice with two outs and didn't get anyone in."

Utah got it's first run from a lead-off homer in the first by Corey Shimada and a triple on the following at bat by Cody Guymon. Guymon scored on a Dustin Hennis single to put Utah up 2-0.

Brandon Relf's two-run single tied the game, two-all, when he scored Steve Parker and Jonathan Cluff in the second.

Cooper Blanc, son of former Cougar gridder Jeff Blanc, had a lead-off single in the fourth, advanced to second on a sac-bunt, then stole third before scoring Utah's go-ahead run on an error, 4-2.

Nick Kuroczko hit a homer to right off a full count to increase the Utes' lead, 5-2.

The two teams play the second of the three-game MWC series on Friday at 6 p.m.

Brigham Young Univ. at Univ. of Utah
May 15, 2008 at Salt Lake City, Utah (Franklin Covey Field)
Brigham Young Univ. 3 (20-34,8-14 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
MCNAUGHTON, Sean lf......  5  1  2  0   0  0  1  0   0
VARGAS, Dan ss...........  2  0  1  0   2  0  0  0   2
WALTON, Kent cf..........  4  0  1  1   0  1  3  0   0
KO, Kasey 1b.............  5  0  0  0   0  0 11  0   5
PARKER, Steve 3b.........  3  1  2  0   1  1  0  3   0
CLUFF, Jonathan rf.......  4  1  2  0   0  0  2  0   1
RELF, Brandon 2b.........  3  0  1  2   0  2  1  3   0
AYOSO, Bryce dh..........  4  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
MUSSO, J.T. c............  4  0  0  0   0  2  6  1   2
WORTHAM, Jake p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 WESTENSEE, Tyler p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 MICHON, Brandon p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 34  3  9  3   3  7 24 10  10
Univ. of Utah 5 (23-24,10-12 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
SHIMADA, Corey 2b........  4  1  1  1   1  2  3  1   1
GUYMON, Cody dh..........  4  2  2  0   0  0  0  0   0
SHRINER, Jesse c.........  5  0  2  0   0  0  8  0   2
HENNIS, Dustin lf........  3  0  1  1   0  0  2  0   0
JONES, Austin 1b.........  1  0  0  1   1  0  8  1   0
BLANC, Cooper cf.........  3  1  2  0   1  0  2  0   1
BELTRAN, Michael ss......  2  0  0  0   0  2  1  2   0
FERGUSON, Fred rf........  3  0  0  0   1  0  2  0   3
KUROCZKO, Nick 3b........  4  1  1  1   0  2  0  3   3
FIFE, Stephen p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  3   0
 STREICH, Stephen p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 CHIMPKY, Robert p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 29  5  9  4   4  6 27 11  10
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ.. 020 000 100 -  3  9  1
Univ. of Utah....... 200 111 00X -  5  9  3
-------------------------------------------
E - RELF(13); SHIMADA(11); BELTRAN(21); FIFE(4). DP - BYU Cougars 1; Utah
Utes 1. LOB - BYU Cougars 10; Utah Utes 10. 2B - CLUFF(18). 3B - GUYMON(3).
HR - SHIMADA(8); KUROCZKO(2). HBP - GUYMON; JONES. SH - VARGAS(7);
WALTON(3); RELF(1); HENNIS(5); BELTRAN 2(8). SF - JONES(6). SB - BLANC(14).
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
WORTHAM, Jake.......  6.1  8  5  4  2  4 24 31
WESTENSEE, Tyler....  0.1  1  0  0  2  0  1  4
MICHON, Brandon.....  1.1  0  0  0  0  2  4  4
Univ. of Utah          IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
FIFE, Stephen.......  6.2  7  3  3  2  6 26 30
STREICH, Stephen....  0.2  2  0  0  0  0  3  4
CHIMPKY, Robert.....  1.2  0  0  0  1  1  5  6
Win - FIFE (7-4).  Loss - WORTHAM (4-5).  Save - CHIMPKY (8).
WP - WORTHAM(3); FIFE(2). HBP - by WORTHAM (JONES); by WORTHAM (GUYMON).
Umpires - HP: Kevin Daugherty  1B: Randy Upton  3B: Jason Rogers
Start: 6:02 pm   Time: 2:47   Attendance: 650
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 15/lf MCNAUGHTON; 13/ss VARGAS; 9/cf WALTON;
22/1b KO; 5/3b PARKER; 8/rf CLUFF; 4/2b RELF; 11/dh AYOSO; 10/c MUSSO; 28/p
WORTHAM;
Univ. of Utah starters: 3/2b SHIMADA; 5/dh GUYMON; 7/c SHRINER; 16/lf HENNIS;
28/1b JONES; 23/cf BLANC; 8/ss BELTRAN; 13/rf FERGUSON; 9/3b KUROCZKO; 19/p
FIFE;
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - MCNAUGHTON reached on an error by ss. VARGAS
grounded out to p, SAC, bunt; MCNAUGHTON advanced to second. MCNAUGHTON
advanced to third on a throwing error by p. WALTON struck out swinging. KO out
at first 1b to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 1st - SHIMADA homered to right field, RBI. GUYMON tripled
down the rf line. SHRINER flied out to cf. HENNIS singled down the lf line,
RBI; GUYMON scored. HENNIS advanced to second on a wild pitch. JONES hit by
pitch. BLANC walked; JONES advanced to second; HENNIS advanced to third.
BELTRAN struck out swinging. FERGUSON grounded out to 1b unassisted. 2 runs,
3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - PARKER walked. CLUFF doubled down the lf line;
PARKER advanced to third. RELF singled through the left side, 2 RBI; CLUFF
scored; PARKER scored. AYOSO reached on an error by 2b; RELF advanced to
second. MUSSO lined into double play ss to 2b; RELF out on the play. MCNAUGHTON
singled to left field; AYOSO advanced to second. VARGAS grounded out to p. 2
runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 2nd - KUROCZKO struck out looking. SHIMADA grounded out to
2b. GUYMON flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - WALTON grounded out to ss. KO grounded out to
p. PARKER singled through the left side. CLUFF popped up to 2b. 0 runs, 1
hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 3rd - SHRINER singled to left center. HENNIS grounded into
double play 3b to 2b to 1b; SHRINER out on the play. JONES grounded out to 2b.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - RELF struck out swinging. AYOSO grounded out
to 3b. MUSSO popped up to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 4th - BLANC singled up the middle. BELTRAN grounded out to
p, SAC, bunt; BLANC advanced to second. FERGUSON fouled out to 1b. BLANC stole
third. KUROCZKO reached on an error by 2b; BLANC scored, unearned. SHIMADA
struck out swinging. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - MCNAUGHTON flied out to cf. VARGAS singled to
shortstop. WALTON grounded out to 2b, SAC, bunt; VARGAS advanced to second. KO
flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 5th - GUYMON hit by pitch. SHRINER singled up the middle;
GUYMON advanced to second. HENNIS grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt; SHRINER
advanced to second; GUYMON advanced to third. JONES flied out to cf, SAC, RBI;
GUYMON scored. BLANC flied out to rf. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - PARKER struck out swinging. CLUFF grounded out
to 3b. RELF struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 6th - BELTRAN struck out looking. FERGUSON grounded out to
c, bunt. KUROCZKO homered to right field, RBI. SHIMADA walked. GUYMON singled
up the middle; SHIMADA advanced to second. SHRINER flied out to rf. 1 run, 2
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - AYOSO struck out swinging. MUSSO struck out
swinging. MCNAUGHTON singled up the middle. MCNAUGHTON advanced to second on a
wild pitch. VARGAS walked. WALTON singled up the middle, RBI; VARGAS advanced
to third; MCNAUGHTON scored. STREICH to p for FIFE. KO flied out to rf. 1
run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Univ. of Utah 7th - HENNIS grounded out to p. WESTENSEE to p for
WORTHAM. JONES walked. BLANC singled through the right side; JONES advanced to
second. BELTRAN grounded out to p, SAC, bunt; BLANC advanced to second; JONES
advanced to third. FERGUSON walked. MICHON to p for WESTENSEE. KUROCZKO struck
out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - PARKER singled to center field. CLUFF singled
through the left side; PARKER advanced to second. RELF grounded out to 3b, SAC,
bunt; CLUFF advanced to second; PARKER advanced to third. CHIMPKY to p for
STREICH. AYOSO reached on a fielder's choice; CLUFF advanced to third; PARKER
out at home p to c. MUSSO struck out looking. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
Univ. of Utah 8th - SHIMADA struck out looking. GUYMON flied out to cf.
SHRINER grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 9th - MCNAUGHTON flied out to lf. VARGAS walked.
WALTON flied out to rf. KO flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.

A rivalry, seedings and the Deseret First Duel Trophy are all on the line this week as BYU's baseball team closes its regular season at the University of Utah.

The three-game series starts on Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m., followed by the finale at 1 p.m. on Saturday. All of the games are at Franklin Covey Field.

BYU brings a 20-33 overall record and an 8-13 Mountain West Conference record to match Utah's 9-12 league mark. But first the Utes host Southern Utah at Ute Field on Tuesday to enhance their 21-24 overall record. The Cougars, who are tied with UNLV for sixth place, trail Utah by one game in the MWC standings. UNLV plays a three-game series this weekend at the Air Force Academy.

BYU will match southpaw Jake Wortham (4-4, 6.75) to face Utah's Stephen Fife (6-4, 3.29) on the mound in Thursday's opener. On Friday BYU will counter with sophomore righthander Blake Torgerson (5-4, 7.05) against the U's Brian Budrow 5-5, 3.68). And on Saturday the Cougar starting pitcher will be junior Jordan Muir (2-6, 6.26) against John James (3-6, 5.90).

Also at stake in rivalry is the first annual Deseret First Duel Trophy. BYU needs to win one of the three baseball games to claim the overall trophy, but the Utes could claim it with a sweep. Utah could also win the Deseret First Duel baseball trophy by winning two of this weekend's games or BYU could also win the baseball trophy outright with a three-game sweep or off total runs if the two teams split the four-game series. BYU leads the current standings with 31 points accrued through victories in football, men's basketball, women's volleyball, men's and women's swimming and softball. Utah's 28.5 points thus far have come through wins between the two schools in Women's Soccer, Women's Basketball, Women's Gymnastics, Men's Baseball, Men's Tennis, Softball and Women's Tennis.

Another twist for the rivalry is older brother Brandon Relf playing second base for BYU, while Tyler Relf is an infielder for the Utes. Brandon, who returned from a Church mission to South Africa last year, scored a run in April's contest between the brothers from Alta High, while Tyler went 0-for-5.

"We always want to play well," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "We need to go up to Utah and take care of business and gain some momentum to go into the tournament."

The Cougars lead the series, 206-90-1, but Utah claimed a 9-7 non-conference win in Provo early last month. The rivalry first started on May 18, 1895 when the two team played the first ever intercollegiate game in Utah, ending in a 0-0 tie and a bench-clearing brawl.

All of the BYU-Utah games will be broadcast live locally over KSRR Radio (1400 AM).

For more information, please see the multi-page PDF at the top of this page.

Deseret First Duel
Final Standings
BYU                   34
Utah                  30
                      BYU      Utah
Run differential:     38       26
BYU Points Thus Far
Football              10
Men's Basketball      10
Women's Volleyball     6
Men's Swimming         1
Women's Swimming       1
Softball               3
Baseball               3
Utah Points Thus Far
Women's Soccer          6
Women's Basketball     10
Women's Gymnastics      6
Men's Baseball          3
Men's Tennis            1
Softball                3
Women's Tennis          1