SALT LAKE CITY (March 18)—Ryan Bernal and Kolton Mahoney were among BYU’s baseball players who produced a 10-8 victory Friday over Utah.

Bernal, a senior from Grand Junction, Colo., belted a three-run homer and Mahoney, a freshman from West Point, Utah, struck out the final Ute with two on base, both in the ninth inning. But they weren’t the only Cougars who contributed towards evening BYU’s Mountain West Conference record to 1-1 and 9-8 overall.

"I saw a different look from the coaching box in the players' eyes,” said BYU coach Vance Law. “We weren't going to be denied. We did the critical things in the eighth and ninth innings and continued to battle. It was great to see a young freshman (Kolton Mahoney) pitch well in a pressure situation."

Andrew Law led the Cougars for the second night in a row with three hits. He beat out a bunt single on a sacrifice attempt in the first inning which facilitated BYU’s first run. And he stole second after working the count in the ninth to produce the go-ahead run from his two-out single which gave BYU a 7-5 lead. And don’t forget Law’s shortstop relay throw on a 9-6-5-2 putout at the plate to stop James Brooks from scoring on his two-out triple.

"We didn't sit on a one-run lead," said Coach Law. "Andrew (Law) kept his bat alive, (Alex) Wolfe was patient for a base on balls and (Ryan) Bernal smoked the ball on his home run.”

Those runs gave BYU a 10-5 cushion for reliever Justin Shutt to earn his first victory, while closer Mahoney recorded his first save. Mahoney got behind 2-0 to Utah’s Cody Guymon, then countered with a fastball, curve, fastball for consecutive strikes to end the game.

BYU designated hitter West Gunther led off the second inning with a solo homer to put BYU up 2-0 and led off the ninth with the first of three hits which were aided by a pair of Ute errors. Dane Nielsen led off with a triple and Stephen Wells knocked a home run to even the score at four-all in the eighth.

Utah falls to 6-8 and 1-1 in the MWC heading into Saturday’s afternoon’s rubber match.

Brigham Young Univ. at Utah
Mar 18, 2011 at Salt Lake City (SpringMobileBallPark)
Brigham Young Univ. 10 (9-8,1-1 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
WELLS, Stephen cf........  4  2  1  1   1  1  2  0   0
LAW, Andrew ss...........  5  1  3  1   0  0  0  7   0
WOLFE, Alex c............  3  1  1  0   1  0  5  1   0
BERNAL, Ryan 1b..........  4  1  1  3   1  2 14  0   1
ROBINSON, Dillon 3b......  5  0  0  0   0  1  0  2   3
GUENTHER, Wes dh.........  4  1  2  1   0  1  0  0   0
 HALL, Austin pr.........  0  1  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
CALDWELL, Kelton lf......  2  1  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
NIELSEN, Dane 2b.........  2  2  1  1   0  0  3  4   0
BRUGMAN, Jaycob rf.......  3  0  1  1   0  1  3  1   0
CAPPER, Chris p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  3   0
 SECHREST, Daniel p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 SHUTT, Justin p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 MAHONEY, Kolton p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 32 10 10  8   4  6 27 19   4
Utah 8 (6-8,1-1 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BROOKS, James ss.........  5  2  3  1   0  0  1  2   0
BELTRAN, Michael 2b......  3  1  0  0   1  0  0  2   0
CRON, C.J. 1b............  4  1  3  3   1  0  8  3   0
COOPER, Shaun lf.........  5  1  3  2   0  1  5  1   1
GUYMON, Cody dh..........  5  0  0  0   0  2  0  0   2
NIELSEN, Trey 3b.........  4  1  1  1   0  1  1  0   2
SHARRAR, Jo Jo c.........  4  0  1  0   0  0  4  2   0
RELF, Tyler cf...........  3  0  0  1   0  0  4  0   1
GREEN, Gavin rf..........  4  2  3  0   0  0  2  0   0
ADAMS, Zach p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  3   0
 STREICH, Stephen p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 WAGNER, Tyler p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
 KONDO, Kesley p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 37  8 14  8   2  4 27 14   6
Score by Innings                    R  H  E
-------------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ.. 110 000 026 - 10 10  1
Utah................ 000 210 113 -  8 14  2
-------------------------------------------
E - CALDWELL(3); NIELSEN 2(7). DP - Utah 1. LOB - BYU 4; Utah 6. 2B - CRON
3(8); COOPER(3); NIELSEN(3); GREEN, Gavin(1). 3B - NIELSEN(1); BROOKS(2). HR
- WELLS(2); BERNAL(3); GUENTHER(1). SH - WOLFE(3); CALDWELL(2); NIELSEN
2(5); BELTRAN(7). SF - BRUGMAN(1); RELF, Tyler(1). SB - LAW(9). CS -
BRUGMAN(2); GREEN, Gavin(1).
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
CAPPER, Chris.......  6.2  8  4  4  0  3 26 27
SECHREST, Daniel....  0.2  2  1  1  1  0  2  4
SHUTT, Justin.......  1.1  3  3  3  1  0  7  8
MAHONEY, Kolton.....  0.1  1  0  0  0  1  2  2
Utah                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
ADAMS, Zach.........  7.0  5  3  3  2  6 23 27
STREICH, Stephen....  0.1  1  1  1  0  0  1  1
WAGNER, Tyler.......  1.1  4  6  0  2  0  7 12
KONDO, Kesley.......  0.1  0  0  0  0  0  1  1
Win - SHUTT (1-2).  Loss - WAGNER (1-1).  Save - MAHONEY (1).
WP - ADAMS, Zach 2(7); WAGNER(1). BK - CAPPER 2(2); ADAMS, Zach(1).
Umpires - HP: Scott Higgins  1B: Randy Upton  3B: Dave Yeast
Start: 6:02 pm   Time: 2:45   Attendance: 551
Weather: overcast
Game notes:
Game 2 of 3, live audiocast today, no audiocast Saturday
ADAMS, Zach faced 2 batters in the 8th.
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 5/cf WELLS; 6/ss LAW; 18/c WOLFE; 10/1b BERNAL;
3/3b ROBINSON; 9/dh GUENTHER; 12/lf CALDWELL; 16/2b NIELSEN; 4/rf BRUGMAN; 15/p
CAPPER;
Utah starters: 10/ss BROOKS; 8/2b BELTRAN; 24/1b CRON; 30/lf COOPER; 5/dh
GUYMON; 9/3b NIELSEN; 39/c SHARRAR; 7/cf RELF, Tyler; 40/rf GREEN, Gavin; 28/p
ADAMS, Zach;
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - WELLS walked. LAW singled, bunt; WELLS
advanced to second. WOLFE grounded out to p, SAC; LAW advanced to second; WELLS
advanced to third. LAW advanced to third; WELLS scored on a wild pitch. BERNAL
struck out looking. ROBINSON struck out swinging. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Utah 1st - BROOKS grounded out to p. BELTRAN grounded out to ss. CRON
doubled to left field. COOPER struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors,
1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - GUENTHER homered to left field, RBI. CALDWELL
flied out to lf. NIELSEN flied out to lf. BRUGMAN struck out swinging. 1
run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Utah 2nd - GUYMON struck out looking. NIELSEN struck out looking.
SHARRAR singled to first base. RELF, Tyler reached on a fielder's choice;
SHARRAR out at second 3b to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - WELLS flied out to rf. LAW flied out to cf.
WOLFE grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Utah 3rd - GREEN, Gavin grounded out to 2b. BROOKS grounded out to ss.
BELTRAN grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - BERNAL struck out, out at first c to 1b.
ROBINSON grounded out to 2b. GUENTHER grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Utah 4th - CRON doubled down the lf line. COOPER doubled to left field,
RBI; CRON scored. COOPER advanced to third on a balk. GUYMON grounded out to p.
NIELSEN grounded out to p, RBI; COOPER scored. SHARRAR grounded out to 2b. 2
runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - CALDWELL walked. NIELSEN grounded out to p,
SAC; CALDWELL advanced to second. BRUGMAN flied into double play lf to ss to
3b; CALDWELL out on the play. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Utah 5th - RELF, Tyler grounded out to 2b. GREEN, Gavin doubled to right
center. BROOKS tripled, out at home rf to ss to 3b to c, RBI; GREEN, Gavin
scored. BELTRAN grounded out to ss. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - WELLS struck out swinging. LAW singled to
shortstop. LAW advanced to second on a balk. WOLFE flied out to cf; LAW
advanced to third. BERNAL out at first 1b to p. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Utah 6th - CRON grounded out to ss. COOPER flied out to cf. GUYMON flied
out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - ROBINSON grounded out to p. GUENTHER struck
out, out at first c to 1b. CALDWELL flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Utah 7th - NIELSEN doubled to left field. NIELSEN advanced to third on a
balk. SHARRAR flied out to rf. RELF, Tyler flied out to cf, SF, RBI; NIELSEN
scored. GREEN, Gavin singled to left field. SECHREST to p for CAPPER. GREEN,
Gavin out at second c to 2b, caught stealing. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 8th - NIELSEN tripled to right center. NIELSEN
scored on a wild pitch. BRUGMAN singled to right field. STREICH to p for ADAMS,
Zach. BRUGMAN out at second p to 1b to ss, caught stealing. WELLS homered to
right field, RBI. WAGNER to p for STREICH. LAW out at first 1b to p. WOLFE
singled to right center. WOLFE advanced to second on a wild pitch. BERNAL
walked. ROBINSON flied out to rf. 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Utah 8th - BROOKS singled to right center. BELTRAN grounded out to p,
SAC; BROOKS advanced to second. CRON intentionally walked. COOPER singled,
advanced to second on a fielding error by lf, RBI; CRON advanced to third;
BROOKS scored. SHUTT to p for SECHREST. GUYMON grounded out to ss. NIELSEN
grounded out to ss. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 9th - GUENTHER singled up the middle. HALL pinch ran
for GUENTHER. CALDWELL reached on an error by 3b, SAC, bunt; HALL advanced to
second. NIELSEN reached on a throwing error by 3b, advanced to second, SAC,
RBI; CALDWELL advanced to third; HALL scored, unearned. BRUGMAN flied out to
cf, SF, RBI; CALDWELL scored, unearned. WELLS flied out to lf. LAW singled to
left field, RBI; NIELSEN scored, unearned. LAW stole second. WOLFE walked.
BERNAL homered to right field, 3 RBI, unearned; WOLFE scored, unearned; LAW
scored, unearned. KONDO to p for WAGNER. ROBINSON flied out to lf. 6 runs, 3
hits, 2 errors, 0 LOB.
Utah 9th - SHARRAR popped up to 2b. RELF, Tyler flied out to rf. GREEN,
Gavin singled to left field. BROOKS singled through the left side; GREEN, Gavin
advanced to second. BELTRAN walked; BROOKS advanced to second; GREEN, Gavin
advanced to third. CRON doubled to left field, 3 RBI; BELTRAN scored; BROOKS
scored; GREEN, Gavin scored. MAHONEY to p for SHUTT. COOPER singled to
shortstop; CRON advanced to third. GUYMON struck out swinging. 3 runs, 4
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

A final league series between BYU and Utah in baseball starts Thursday night in Salt Lake City at Spring Mobile Ballpark as play begins this week in the Mountain West Conference.

BYU (8-7) travels to Utah (4-7) for what also could decide this year’s overall outcome in the Deseret Duel between the two schools. On Thursday BYU’s starting pitcher will be sophomore Taylor Cole (2-1, 1.75), followed by sophomore Chris Capper (0-2, 4.71) on Friday—both games start at 6 p.m. On the mound for the Cougars in Saturday’s 1 p.m. game is junior Matthew Neil (1-0, 2.25).

“Any time we play Utah it’s always a big series,” said BYU coach Vance Law. “Our conference should be strong this year, but our increased pitching depth gives us a much better chance to compete.”

The Utah series also marks the start of Cougar baseball being broadcast live by Radio 960 AM with Brent Norton calling the play-by-play for his 21st season with BYU baseball.

These are the first of four games between BYU and Utah--the first three are MWC games in Salt Lake City, while the April 19 game is a non-conference tilt in Provo. There are 4.5 points at stake in this week’s three-game series, which factors in the annual Deseret First Duel. BYU can pick up enough points to claim the Deseret First Duel trophy with two wins in the series. BYU won the first and third overall duel competitions.