May 25, 2002
Provo, Utah - Brigham Young scored early and often, building a five-run lead after three innings, then held on for a 6-4 win over San Diego State at the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Provo, Utah, Saturday afternoon. As a result, the teams will meet again Saturday evening to decide the tourney championship and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.
The Cougars (28-29-1) scored twice in the first, added another pair in the second, and then added a single marker in the third off SDSU starter Erik Fielder to race out to a 5-0 lead. Center fielder Doug Jackson led the early BYU attack with singles in each of the first two innings, an RBI and a run scored.
The Aztecs (43-22), meanwhile, put the first two men on in each of the opening two frames, but BYU starter Ryan Adams held SDSU in check through the fifth inning. However, San Diego State broke through with four runs in the sixth to draw within 5-4.
After a two-out single by Anthony Gwynn and consecutive walks to Ryan Wilson and Landon Burt in that sixth inning, catcher Brian Manfred singled, and when BYU center field Doug Jackson overran the ball, all three runners scored. Taber Lee then delivered a single to score Manfred from third.
That was a close as SDSU would get, as Cougar relievers Matt Ward, James Ray and Tyler Dabo shut out the Aztecs over the final three innings. BYU's Jake Stubblefield provided the Cougars with some breathing room as he hit a solo homer in the ninth.
BYU's Ryan Adams picked up the win to improve to 6-5 on the year while teammate Tyler Dabo recorded his fifth save of the year. Fielder saw his record fall to 1-3.
Anthony Gwynn led the Aztec offensive attack with three hits and a run scored while Taber Lee and Landon Burt contributed two hits apiece.
It all comes down to one final game now, as the Aztec and Cougars will battle later tonight for the tourney title.