PROVO — Shortstop Brandon Taylor proved to be the difference in Game 2 of a three-game series between the Cougars' and New Mexico's baseball teams as BYU won 12-4 Friday night at Miller Park.
The win snaps a four-game losing streak to the Lobos and improves the Cougars to 10-10 in the Mountain West Conference and 20-26 overall, while the second-place Lobos drop to 15-8 in conference and 19-24 overall.
Up 2-1 with two outs in the second inning, the Cougars went on a tear as BYU tallied four runs on four hits , beginning with an error by Lobo third baseman Jay Russell that allowed the Cougars' Wade Vest to score the first run of the inning.
Taylor then doubled to center, driving in two runs and right fielder Ben Saylor followed up with a single to right for his second of three RBI on the evening.
On the evening, Taylor went 4-for-6 at bat while driving in six RBI including a three-run homer to left field to secure the victory at 12-4 in the eighth inning.
In his third start, Cougar pitcher Nick Lemon earned his first career win as he threw through the first five innings of the game, allowing four hits, two earned runs and striking out five batters.
The Cougars' outfielder Kory Knell suffered a concussion sliding into home in Thursday night's loss to the Lobos. Kevin Bills got the start in place of the injured Knell and made his presence known early on with a solo home run and a double.
It was Knell's solo shot that put the Cougars on the board to tie the game at 1-1 in the first before Saylor drove in designated hitter Jeff Hiestand.
A fielding error by New Mexico allowed Hiestand to score again in the fourth to give BYU a comfortable 7-1 lead.
Lemon struggled to find the strike zone in the fifth as he walked two batters and allowed three runs, including two earned runs, off of one hit.
Cougar relief pitchers Bryce Burger and Tyler Heid finished off the game as BYU held on for the 12-4 victory.
The Lobos and Cougars face off again today at noon at Miller Park.