The Spartans’ third win in a row moves their record to 5-3 on the year, while BYU remains winless at 0-4. The game was SJSU’s first this season at Municipal Stadium, as well as its first night game of 2006.

DEWING CONTINUES HOT START

Dewing (3-0), who entered the game with the lowest ERA in the Western Athletic Conference at 1.20, allowed just an unearned run in eight innings of work. As he did in his first home appearance of the season, a 6-0 shutout over Cal Poly back on February 3, he gave up just four singles. Dewing walked three and struck out a season-high five Cougar batters. He retired seven batters in a row at one point, and 15 of 16. His scoreless streak at home extended to 15.2 innings before BYU pushed across an unearned run in the top of the seventh.

“We play well behind him (in series openers),” said San Jose State head coach Sam Piraro. "BYU took a lot of unorthodox swings, and they are a good team. It shows (Branden) had a lot of movement. He had life on the ball. He has had three (series-opening) assignments, and he has given us a chance to win all three games. That is all you can ask for from a pitcher.”

“I had a lot of fun tonight,” added Dewing. “I just like pitching in the cold. David Pierson is amazing up the middle. It’s a huge help having him back there. It feels good (to start out 3-0), but it’s also still early in the season.”

Pierson, the Spartans’ fourth-year starter at second base, finished 1-for-2 with a run scored, a sacrifice, an RBI on a sacrifice fly, and several key defensive plays.

In the top of the first inning, Dewing walked a pair of Cougars around two groundball outs, before Pierson dove to his right, got up and fired to first baseman Brandon Fromm to retire BYU DH Kasey Ko on another groundball, saving a run.

COUGAR ERRORS COSTLY IN FIRST

The Spartans got all of the offense they would need in the bottom half of the frame, thanks in large part to the Cougar defense. Centerfielder Sam Hall doubled to start the rally, and moved to third on the Pierson sacrifice. Following a walk by right-handed starter Jesse Craig to Donato Giovanatto, Ryan Angel, Ricky Sauceda and Fromm all reached base on consecutive errors by the Cougar infield. Angel and Fromm were credited for an RBI apiece for the two runs which came across for the early 2-0 advantage.

San Jose State added to its lead in the second inning, Hall again the run-scorer. After receiving a one-out walk, Hall stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and came home on a Pierson sacrifice fly.

Brigham Young got on the board in the seventh inning. Ko reached base to open the frame on shortstop Raul Campos’ first error of 2006. Third baseman Chris Johnson singled before catcher Casey Nelson grounded into a double play, with Pierson fielding, stepping on second and throwing to Fromm. Just when it appeared that Dewing would get through the inning unscathed, centerfielder Adrian Molina produced the two-out single to score Ko from third.

The Cougars threatened in the following inning, with rightfielder Kent Walton providing a leadoff single. Dewing got Marcos Villezcas to fly out, however, and induced first baseman Ben Saylor into an inning-ending double play, Pierson to Campos to Fromm.

Said Piraro, “defense is the staple of our game.”

The Spartans tacked on one final run in the eighth. Pierson singled to start the frame, moved to third on a single by pinch-hitter Chris Balatico, and scored on a wild pitch.

“I was very impressed with Balatico,” remarked Piraro. “He comes off the bench cold and has a big hit as a pinch-hitter and a big catch in the outfield.”

WINCK SECOND ALL-TIME IN APPEARANCES

Senior Matt Winck replaced Dewing for the ninth inning, moving into sole possession of the No. 2 spot on the all-time pitching appearances chart at San Jose State with 71. He struck out one in earning his first save of 2006.

Hall was 1-for-3 with the double, two runs and a team-leading third steal for San Jose State. Fromm, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI, registered a double for the third straight game.

“(Hall) did a great job,” said Piraro. “He has great speed, and a great knowledge of the strike zone for a leadoff hitter.

“It was a pitcher’s night,” he concluded. “The weather was not conducive to getting hits. (BYU’s pitchers) did a great job. They made a few mistakes early and we were able to get ahead. We have not seen a bad arm in eight games.”

Craig (0-2) went 7.0 innings for BYU, allowing four hits, four runs, three of them earned, and two walks, while striking out six. James Platt threw the eighth with two strikeouts. Johnson was 2-for-4 at the plate.

San Jose State and Brigham Young continue their three-game non-conference series with single games at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17, and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 18. Both games will be contested at Municipal Stadium.

Brigham Young (0-4) 000 000 100 -- 1 4 3
San Jose State (5-3) 210 000 01X -- 4 4 2

Craig, Platt (8) and Nelson. Branden Dewing, Matt Winck (9) and Brody Massman, Justin Santich-Hughes (9). WP - Branden Dewing (3-0). LP - Craig (0-2). Save – Matt Winck (1). 2B – Sam Hall, Brandon Fromm (SJSU). 2 hits – C. Johnson (BYU). Attendance - 344.