By Daniel Lund
The BYU baseball team defeated the top team in the Mountain West Conference in a 12 inning-contest, defeating the University of New Mexico Lobos, 3-2 in San Diego on Friday, March 31, 2006.
After tying the game again at two each in the twelfth inning, shortstop Marcos Villezcas stepped up to the plate and hit a single to right field, allowing pinch hitter Jeff Hiestand to score the game winning run from second base.
Hiestand arrived at second when he hit a double into center field. Seth Johnson then scored, setting the game up for Villezcas? and Hiestand?s finale.
In a press release after the game, BYU head coach Vance Law recounted the emotions that were felt when Hiestand scored the game winning run.
?You?ve gotta go, you?ve gotta go,? yelled Coach Law to Hiestand as he chugged around third. ?When you battle like you did today and come through, it brought elation to our dugout.?
BYU pitcher Cortland Andrews got his first win of the season as he sealed the game in extra innings. Lobo pitcher Damon Miller got his first loss for the season.
On Thursday the Cougars took on the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University as they made their baseball debut in the Mountain West Conference. The game was an even battle until the bottom of the eighth when TCU hit a grand slam.
After the Cougars allowed one run in the beginning of the eighth, pitcher Mitch Woolf came into pitch for starter Patrick Wells. Woolf then walked three back-to-back batters until being replaced by Josh Barrett. The first batter that he faced was centerfielder Ryan Pack. Pack then hit a grand slam over the left field wall, giving TCU a 9-4 lead, and eventually the win.
On Saturday, April 1, 2006, the Cougars finished the tournament in San Diego with a loss to in-state rival University of Utah. Utah left fielder Cory Shimada hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to give Utah a 6-3 victory.
BYU is now 10-17 overall and 1-3 in the Mountain West Conference.
The Cougars resume play Monday, April 3, 2006, at Miller Park as they host Southern Utah for the second time this season. The last time the two teams met, the Cougars gave up a record number 17 runs and 21 hits.
