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There was no magic against the Utes this time like the Cougars experienced last Friday and Saturday in coming behind. BYU dug another deep hole and couldn't get out of it or get Utah out.

The Ute's Brian Budrow handcuffed Cougar hitters through six innings, allowing three base-runners in that span. Dan Vargas singled in the first inning, but was caught stealing. Budrow gave up walks to Andrew Law in the third and Kasey Ko in the fourth.

Utah took advantage of Cougar errors at rightfield and at shortstop, a walk and a hit batsman mainly after two outs, twice paving the way for two-run homers in the third and fourth innings by Dustin Hennis and Corey Shimada.

"I told my team after the third inning that we've got to chip away and put pressure on them, but we went fishing away at the slider," said BYU Coach Vance Law. "We just didn't swing the bats well and you aren't going to have too much success when that happens."

Steve Parker hit a towering two-run homer, scoring Kent Walton who got on base with an error to start the seventh inning. Thus BYU avoided being shutout for the first time since April 2007 when TCU won 7-0 in Fort Worth.

In the eighth BYU threatened with runners on the corners, but Budrow enticed Walton to ground out to third base -- the fifth time of the game to the hot corner and second of that inning.

BYU falls to 22-35 overall, while Utah improved to 24-26. The Cougars play San Diego State on today at 11 a.m. in the survivor/elimination game.

• UNLV 6, San Diego State 2: At Fort Worth, Texas, UNLV scored four runs in the top half of the ninth inning to secure a 6-2 victory over San Diego State in the first game of the Phillips 66 Mountain West Conference Baseball Championship.

With bases loaded and a full count in the top half of the ninth inning -- Braden Walker came up with the biggest hit of the afternoon for the Rebels as the UNLV catcher lined a single to center field scoring both J.J. Sferra and Michael Brenly. The Rebels added a pair of insurance runs to take the score to 6-2 when Rance Roundy and Walker both scored on a San Diego State fielding error.

Following five no-hit innings by San Diego State hurler James McLaughlin -- the Runnin' Rebels were able to plate a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning. Steve Rinaudo started out the frame with a single to left field then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Anthony Morel. Following a single to left field by second baseman Bryan Resnick and an outfield throwing error -- Rinaudo scored from second to give UNLV a 1-0 advantage.

UNLV scored its second run of the frame when Resnick came home from second base on a double down the left-field line by J.J. Sferra.

San Diego State came back to cut the scoring deficit in half as the Aztecs opened up the bottom of the sixth inning with a lead-off home run by Nick Romero. It was the 12th home run and 61st RBI on the season for Romero - which are both highs for San Diego State.

Romero finished the afternoon with a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate with two runs scored and one RBI.

The Aztecs tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning when Romero led off the frame with a single up the middle then advanced to second on a ground out by Garett Green. Brandon Glover tied the game with a single up the middle off of UNLV reliever Michael Goodman - plating Romero from second base.

Despite giving up the tying run - Goodman earned the victory and improved his overall record to 2-4 on the season as the UNLV reliever tossed 0.2 innings of action. UNLV starter Corey Hales received the no decision as the Rebels hurler tossed 7.1 innings - allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three hitters.

McLaughlin earned the loss and dropped his record to 3-2 on the season after tossing 8.2 innings of action - allowing six runs - on five hits and striking out six batters.

UNLV improved its record to 22-35 on the season while San Diego State dropped to 30-27 overall.