Willes: 5 Homers in BYU Doubleheader

PROVO, Utah — Mike Willes hit five straight home runs, four in the nightcap, and had 10 runs batted in Saturday as Brigham Young swept a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader from New Mexico, 14-9 and 20-10.

Willes, who leads the nation with 30 homers, started with a solo homer in the fourth inning of the opener. He walked in his final plate appearance of the first game.

In the nightcap, Willes had a 2-run home run in the first, a grand slam in the second, and solos in the third and fifth innings. Willes flied out on his final appearance of the day. He was 2 for 3 in the opener with 3 RBIs and was 4 of 5 with 7 RBIs in the nightcap.

Willes, who led the nation with 31 home runs last year, tied a school and WAC record of four homers in one game set by Cliff Pastornicky in 1980 against Utah. Willes’ 16 total bases in a game also tied Pastornicky.

The national record for home runs in a game is five by Henry Rochell of Campbell College against Radford in 1985.

BYU tied a school and WAC record with 10 homers in the nightcap. The Cougars hit 10 homers at the Air Force Academy last season.