FORT WORTH -- No. 10 TCU put a damper on an otherwise good Thursday, eliminating BYU from the Conoco Mountain West Conference Championships with a 9-2 victory.
The Cougars, who are now 30-24, had upset second-seeded New Mexico, 5-1, in the first game of the day. BYU had momentum coming into the nightcap against top-seeded TCU, trying to hand the Frogs their ninth home loss this season.
Cougar third baseman Steve Parker had hit a lead-off triple to the leftfield warning track in the second, but was fooled on Kyle Winkler’s pitching delivery and got caught trying to advance to home. He likely would have scored on Bowen’s fly-out to rightfield the next play.
“That may have taken the steam out of us when he got picked at third,” said BYU coach Vance Law.
TCU, now 36-15, then rallied to take the initial 2-0 lead when Matt Curry hit a two-run single up the middle with no outs in the second.
For the first five innings it was three-up, three-down for the Cougar offense. BYU had a two-out rally in the sixth when J. T. Musso singled and Stetson Banks doubled down the leftfield line, but Kent Walton grounded out weakly to first base.
Adam Miller surrendered the mound to Nathan Bunch in the sixth. Bunch loaded the bases and gave way to Jared Miller in relief. Jared Miller struck out a pair before Brance Rivera’s two-out single scored two more Frogs, upping the tally to 4-0.
Adding insult to injury, Matt Vern doubled, stole third and then home with two outs in the seventh to increase the lead to 5-0.
After TCU scored its sixth run, BYU finally got on the scoreboard when Walton singled in Musso from second base in the eighth. The Frogs got that run back before Vern knocked a two-run homer over the rightfield fence for a 9-1 lead.
A one-out double by Brandon Relf scored Michael Bowen as the Cougars picked up a run in the ninth.
Earlier in the day Marc Oslund and McNaughton combined to lead the Cougars to an afternoon victory over New Mexico.
Oslund threw a complete-game four-hitter to keep BYU alive in the elimination bracket. The freshman retired the Lobos in order in the second, third, sixth, seventh and ninth innings and got good support from his teammates.
McNaughton got the first homerun of the MWC Tournament when he belted it over the leftfield fence to bring in Andrew Law in the second inning. He added his second in the fifth, another two-run blast again to leftfield and again with two outs, to put BYU up 4-0.
McNaughton’s second dinger was followed by a single to rightfield by Banks, who advanced to third on Walton’s gap-single. A balk scored Banks and advanced Walton, setting up an intentional walk to Parker. Then UNM replaced starting pitcher Rudy Jaramillo and Clinton Cox closed the three-run fifth.
Justin Howard put the Lobos on the board with a lead-off solo homer to right field in the fifth on full count.
Among those left on base for BYU during the UNM game was Parker, who hit a one-out gap double in the fourth. Two more Cougars were stranded when they got in scoring position with a one-out sac-bunt in the sixth. With one out and bases loaded BYU recorded back-to-back outs in the eighth, just as it had in the sixth.
“I think we represented ourselves well this year and played a lot of quality teams,” said Coach Law. “I think we have an outside shot at an NCAA regional.”
BYU vs. New Mexico
May 21, 2009 at Fort Worth, Texas (Lupton Stadium)
BYU 5 (30-23)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
McNAUGHTON, Sean lf...... 5 2 2 4 0 1 1 0 5
BANKS, Stetson cf........ 5 1 1 0 0 0 8 0 0
WALTON, Kent dh.......... 5 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
PARKER, Steve 3b......... 4 0 1 0 1 1 0 3 0
BOWEN, Michael rf........ 5 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 3
KO, Kasey 1b............. 3 0 1 0 1 1 8 0 1
LAW, Adam pr............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BILLS, Thomas 1b........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0
AYOSO, Bryce c........... 3 1 2 0 1 0 3 0 0
RELF, Brandon ss......... 2 0 1 0 1 1 1 4 0
LAW, Andrew 2b........... 4 1 0 0 0 2 1 5 0
OSLUND, Marc p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Totals................... 36 5 9 4 4 9 27 13 9
New Mexico 1 (37-20)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BROWNSTEIN 2b............ 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0
WILLETT, M cf............ 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 1
HONEYCUTT, R dh.......... 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
NEDA, R c................ 4 0 1 0 0 0 9 0 0
ATKINSON, K 3b........... 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 2
CAVAZOS-GALV rf.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1
HOWARD, J 1b............. 3 1 1 1 0 0 8 0 0
COURCHA, A lf............ 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
SMITH, C ph/lf.......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
GONZALEZ, D ss........... 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0
JARAMILLO, R p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
COX, C p................ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Totals................... 31 1 4 1 1 3 27 6 4
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
BYU................. 002 030 000 - 5 9 2
New Mexico.......... 000 010 000 - 1 4 1
-------------------------------------------
E - RELF 2(26); ATKINSON, K(9). DP - BY 2. LOB - BY 9; NM 4. 2B -
PARKER(13). HR - McNAUGHTON 2(10); HOWARD, J(6). SH - RELF(2). SB -
AYOSO(1).
BYU IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP
--------------------------------------------------
OSLUND, Marc........ 9.0 4 1 1 1 3 31 32 113
New Mexico IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP
--------------------------------------------------
JARAMILLO, R........ 4.2 6 5 5 2 3 20 22 89
COX, C.............. 4.1 3 0 0 2 6 16 19 74
Win - OSLUND (7-1). Loss - JARAMILLO, R (4-2). Save - None.
BK - JARAMILLO, R(2). Pitches/strikes: OSLUND 113/71; JARAMILLO, R 89/59; COX, C
74/51.
Umpires - HP: Rich Padilla 1B: Brad Hungerford 2B: Jason Rogers 3B: Keith
Bailey Start: 11:07 AM Time: 2:24 Attendance:
Weather: Sunny and Calm
Play-by-Play
BYU 1st - McNAUGHTON fouled out to 1b (1-1). BANKS flied out to rf down
the rf line (0-2). WALTON struck out swinging (0-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 1st - BROWNSTEIN flied out to cf to left center (0-0).
WILLETT, M struck out swinging (3-2). HONEYCUTT, R reached on a throwing error
by ss (0-0). NEDA, R singled to left field (2-2); HONEYCUTT, R advanced to
third. ATKINSON, K struck out swinging (3-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2
LOB.
BYU 2nd - PARKER grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-0). BOWEN grounded out
to ss (0-0). KO flied out to rf to right center (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 2nd - CAVAZOS-GALV flied out to cf to right center (0-0).
HOWARD, J flied out to lf down the lf line (1-1). COURCHA, A flied out to cf to
left center (2-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 3rd - AYOSO flied out to lf down the lf line (3-2). RELF walked
(3-2). LAW, An. reached on a fielder's choice (1-2); RELF out at second 2b
unassisted. McNAUGHTON homered to left field, 2 RBI (1-1); LAW, An. scored.
BANKS popped up to 1b (0-0). 2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 3rd - GONZALEZ, D lined out to cf (2-2). BROWNSTEIN lined out
to cf (0-1). WILLETT, M grounded out to 2b (0-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors,
0 LOB.
BYU 4th - WALTON flied out to cf to left center (2-2). PARKER doubled to
right center (1-0). BOWEN grounded out to ss (1-0). KO struck out looking
(2-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 4th - HONEYCUTT, R grounded out to 3b (2-1). NEDA, R lined
out to cf (1-1). ATKINSON, K reached on a fielding error by ss (2-2).
CAVAZOS-GALV grounded out to 3b (0-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
BYU 5th - AYOSO singled up the middle (1-2). RELF struck out swinging
(1-2). AYOSO stole second. LAW, An. lined out to cf to right center (2-2).
McNAUGHTON homered to left field, 2 RBI (2-1); AYOSO scored. BANKS singled to
right field (1-2). WALTON singled to left center (1-1); BANKS advanced to
third. WALTON advanced to second on a balk; BANKS scored on a balk. PARKER
intentionally walked (3-0). COX, C to p for JARAMILLO, R. BOWEN struck out
swinging (2-2). 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico 5th - HOWARD, J homered to right field, RBI (3-2). COURCHA, A
flied out to rf (1-0). GONZALEZ, D singled through the left side (2-1).
BROWNSTEIN grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b (0-0); GONZALEZ, D out on
the play. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 6th - KO walked (3-2). AYOSO singled through the left side (2-2); KO
advanced to second. RELF out at first p to 2b, SAC (1-0); AYOSO advanced to
second; KO advanced to third. LAW, An. struck out swinging (1-2). McNAUGHTON
struck out looking (1-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
New Mexico 6th - WILLETT, M fouled out to 1b (2-1). HONEYCUTT, R
grounded out to 2b (1-1). NEDA, R flied out to cf to left center (2-2). 0
runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 7th - BANKS grounded out to 3b (0-1). WALTON grounded out to p, bunt
(0-0). PARKER struck out swinging (3-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
New Mexico 7th - ATKINSON, K singled to right field (0-1). CAVAZOS-GALV
grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b (0-1); ATKINSON, K out on the play.
HOWARD, J grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-1). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
BYU 8th - BOWEN struck out swinging (1-2). KO singled up the middle
(1-2). LAW, Ad. pinch ran for KO. AYOSO walked (3-2); LAW, Ad. advanced to
second. RELF singled to left field (0-0); AYOSO advanced to second; LAW, Ad.
advanced to third. LAW, An. struck out swinging (0-2). McNAUGHTON flied out to
rf (1-2). 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
New Mexico 8th - BILLS to 1b for LAW, Ad.. SMITH, C pinch hit for
COURCHA, A. SMITH, C struck out swinging (2-2). GONZALEZ, D grounded out to 2b
(0-2). BROWNSTEIN walked (3-1). WILLETT, M grounded out to ss (3-1). 0 runs,
0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 9th - SMITH, C to lf. BANKS grounded out to 3b (1-1). WALTON reached
on a throwing error by 3b, advanced to second on the error (0-2). PARKER flied
out to lf (0-0). BOWEN flied out to cf (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1
LOB.
New Mexico 9th - HONEYCUTT, R flied out to cf to left center (0-1).
NEDA, R out at first p to ss to 1b (3-2). ATKINSON, K grounded out to ss (0-0).
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU at #10 TCU Horned Frogs
May 21, 2009 at Fort Worth, Texas (Lupton Stadium)
BYU 2 (30-24)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
McNAUGHTON, Sean lf...... 5 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3
BANKS, Stetson 2b........ 4 0 2 0 0 0 3 2 0
WALTON, Kent dh.......... 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2
PARKER, Steve 3b......... 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
BOWEN, Michael rf........ 4 1 1 0 0 0 6 0 0
KO, Kasey 1b............. 4 0 1 0 0 1 7 1 0
CLUFF, Jonathan cf....... 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 1
RELF, Brandon ss......... 4 0 1 1 0 0 3 5 0
MUSSO, J.T. c............ 4 1 3 0 0 1 3 1 0
MILLER, Adam p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BUNCH, Nathan p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MILLER, Jared p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
AMERSON, Sean p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Totals................... 37 2 11 2 0 6 24 10 8
TCU Horned Frogs 9 (36-15)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
STEGLICH 2b.............. 1 0 0 0 3 0 2 3 2
FEATHERSTON ss........... 5 1 1 1 0 1 2 2 0
CARPENTER 3b............. 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1
VERN 1b.................. 5 3 4 2 0 0 8 2 1
ELLINGTON rf............. 3 3 1 0 1 0 2 0 2
HOLADAY c................ 2 1 1 1 1 0 5 0 0
PHARR c................. 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
CURRY dh................. 4 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 0
COATS lf................. 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 2
RIVERA cf................ 4 1 1 2 0 0 2 0 0
WINKLER p................ 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0
Totals................... 32 9 10 8 5 3 27 12 8
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
BYU................. 000 000 011 - 2 11 2
TCU Horned Frogs.... 020 002 23X - 9 10 0
-------------------------------------------
E - PARKER(16); CLUFF(2). DP - BY 1. LOB - BY 8; TCU 8. 2B - BANKS(9);
RELF(8); VERN(11); ELLINGTON(21). 3B - PARKER(4). HR - VERN(15). HBP -
CARPENTER; ELLINGTON. SH - STEGLICH(8); HOLADAY(7). SB - VERN 2(15). CS -
PARKER(2); STEGLICH(3).
BYU IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP
--------------------------------------------------
MILLER, Adam........ 5.0 3 2 2 4 1 16 21 91
BUNCH, Nathan....... 0.0 1 2 2 0 0 1 3 9
MILLER, Jared....... 1.2 4 2 2 1 2 9 10 39
AMERSON, Sean....... 1.1 2 3 0 0 0 6 7 20
TCU Horned Frogs IP H R ER BB SO AB BF NP
--------------------------------------------------
WINKLER............. 9.0 11 2 2 0 6 37 37 106
Win - WINKLER (6-0). Loss - MILLER, A. (3-3). Save - None.
WP - MILLER, A.(6); MILLER, J.(2). HBP - by MILLER, A. (CARPENTER); by BUNCH
(ELLINGTON). Pitches/strikes: MILLER, A. 91/53; BUNCH 9/7; MILLER, J. 39/23;
AMERSON 20/12; WINKLER 106/73.
Umpires - HP: Blake Jensen 1B: Billy Van Raaphorst 2B: Ray Belfiore 3B: Keith
Bailey Start: 3:06 PM Time: 2:32 Attendance:
Weather: Sunny and Breezy
BUNCH faced 3 batters in the 6th.
Play-by-Play
BYU 1st - McNAUGHTON struck out swinging (2-2). BANKS grounded out to 3b
(0-1). WALTON struck out swinging (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 1st - STEGLICH walked (3-2). FEATHERSTON reached on a
fielder's choice (1-1); STEGLICH out at second ss to 2b. CARPENTER flied out to
rf (3-2). VERN lined out to ss (0-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 2nd - PARKER tripled to left center (1-0). PARKER out at home p to
3b to c, caught stealing. BOWEN lined out to rf (2-1). KO lined out to ss
(0-1). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 2nd - ELLINGTON doubled to right center (1-2). HOLADAY
walked (3-1). HOLADAY advanced to second on a wild pitch; ELLINGTON advanced to
third on a wild pitch. CURRY singled up the middle, 2 RBI (3-1); HOLADAY
scored; ELLINGTON scored. COATS grounded into double play 1b to ss to 1b (1-1);
CURRY out on the play. RIVERA lined out to cf (1-1). 2 runs, 2 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 3rd - CLUFF grounded out to 3b (0-0). RELF flied out to cf (1-0).
MUSSO singled to left center (1-2). McNAUGHTON struck out swinging (3-2). 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 3rd - STEGLICH walked (3-1). FEATHERSTON flied out to
rf (0-2). STEGLICH out at second c to ss, caught stealing. CARPENTER hit by
pitch (3-2). VERN singled to shortstop (0-0); CARPENTER advanced to second.
ELLINGTON reached on a fielder's choice (1-1); VERN out at second ss to 2b.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 4th - BANKS grounded out to ss (0-0). WALTON flied out to lf (0-0).
PARKER grounded out to 2b (2-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 4th - HOLADAY grounded out to 2b (1-0). CURRY grounded
out to ss (2-1). COATS flied out to rf (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
BYU 5th - BOWEN flied out to rf (1-2). KO out at first 1b to p (1-0).
CLUFF struck out swinging (0-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 5th - RIVERA popped up to 2b (1-2). STEGLICH walked
(3-2). FEATHERSTON struck out swinging (0-2). CARPENTER grounded out to 2b
(2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 6th - RELF grounded out to 2b (1-1). MUSSO singled to left field
(1-0). McNAUGHTON fouled out to 3b (1-2). BANKS doubled down the lf line (1-0);
MUSSO advanced to third. WALTON out at first 1b to p (1-2). 0 runs, 2 hits,
0 errors, 2 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 6th - BUNCH to p for MILLER, A.. VERN singled to second
base (0-2). ELLINGTON hit by pitch (1-0); VERN advanced to second. HOLADAY
reached on a fielder's choice, SAC (1-2); ELLINGTON advanced to second; VERN
advanced to third. MILLER, J. to p for BUNCH. CURRY struck out swinging (0-2).
COATS struck out looking (1-2). RIVERA singled, advanced to second on a
fielding error by cf, 2 RBI (1-0); HOLADAY advanced to second, advanced to
third on the error; ELLINGTON scored; VERN scored. STEGLICH flied out to cf
(0-0). 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
BYU 7th - PARKER fouled out to lf (1-0). BOWEN lined out to cf (0-0). KO
singled to right field (3-2). CLUFF reached on a fielder's choice (0-0); KO out
at second ss to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 7th - FEATHERSTON flied out to rf down the rf line
(2-0). CARPENTER flied out to rf (1-2). VERN doubled to left center (3-1). VERN
stole third. VERN stole home. ELLINGTON walked (3-1). ELLINGTON advanced to
second on a wild pitch. HOLADAY singled to center field, RBI (2-0); ELLINGTON
scored. CURRY singled to center field (2-2); HOLADAY advanced to second.
AMERSON to p for MILLER, J.. COATS flied out to rf (1-1). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0
errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 8th - RELF grounded out to 2b (1-1). MUSSO singled through the left
side (0-0). McNAUGHTON fouled out to 1b (3-2). BANKS singled to right field
(0-1); MUSSO advanced to second. WALTON singled to left field, RBI (0-0); BANKS
advanced to second; MUSSO scored. PARKER lined out to ss (0-0). 1 run, 3
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
TCU Horned Frogs 8th - RIVERA reached on a throwing error by 3b,
advanced to second on the error (2-0). STEGLICH grounded out to p, SAC (0-0);
RIVERA advanced to third. FEATHERSTON singled up the middle, RBI (0-0); RIVERA
scored, unearned. CARPENTER grounded out to 1b unassisted (3-2); FEATHERSTON
advanced to second. VERN homered to right field, 2 RBI, unearned (1-0);
FEATHERSTON scored, unearned. ELLINGTON grounded out to ss up the middle (1-2).
3 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB.
BYU 9th - PHARR to c for HOLADAY. BOWEN singled to center field (1-0).
KO struck out swinging (2-2). CLUFF singled to left field (1-0); BOWEN advanced
to second. RELF doubled to left field, RBI (0-1); CLUFF advanced to third;
BOWEN scored. MUSSO struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b (1-2). McNAUGHTON
popped up to 2b (0-0). 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.