SUSIE LEMONT/Arizona Daily Wildcat UA starting pitcher Joe Little delivers a pitch during yesterday's 6-3 defeat at the hands of Brigham Young.

A new season, a new century, new freshmen and new uniforms were not enough for the Arizona baseball team.

The Wildcats struggled at the plate all afternoon, and erratic pitching dropped the season opener 6-3 to Brigham Young University yesterday.

Arizona's lead-off man reached base to open an inning five times, but UA only scored twice without putting together consecutive hits. The Wildcats' three through six hitters in the lineup went a combined 3-for-15 with two singles, a triple and a run scored. Cougar starting pitcher Jeff Mousser struck out nine, three being UA center fielder Dallas Haught.

"We had too many strike outs, I was hoping I wouldn't see that but I'm not shocked with a bunch of young guys right now who are a bit overanxious," head coach Andy Lopez said.

Mark it Today/Saturday: Baseball vs. BYU 3 p.m. Sancet Field

Junior starting pitcher Joe Little constantly fell behind and allowed BYU to reach base in the first three innings of the game. BYU scored one run in the second inning off a fielder's choice.

Little failed to settle down in the third inning. Cougar catcher Casey Cloward lead off but was later picked off first base by catcher Nick Hundley.

After the out, BYU left fielder Doug Jackson reached first base on a wild throw by Arizona third baseman Trevor Crowe. Cougar shortstop Ranger Wiens followed with a homer to left-center that put BYU ahead 3-0.

"I got a little bit out of my game because I was trying to do too much with my pitches. I didn't take time to evaluate the situation and the hitters," Little said.

Wiens finished the day 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs.

Hundley provided the short-lived offensive spark for the Wildcats in his collegiate debut. He led off the third inning with a home run to left in his first career at-bat.

"It was a good way to start and to get the nerves out a little bit. It was a fastball down and inside, a pitch I really like to hit," Hundley said, who later doubled in the seventh and finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

The Wildcat offense mustered seven hits but struck out 11 times.

"We were real excited to come out, but overanxious. Our mentality needs to get a little bit better at the plate," Hundley said.

Senior pitcher Brian Pemble made his first appearance in two years, allowing one run on three hits in one and one-third innings of relief. Pemble broke his arm in 2001 and missed all of last season as a medical redshirt.

Even though Arizona dropped the first game of the year, Lopez reminded his team to take the season in 10 game increments. Yesterday was the first game of the first 10 game mini-season Lopez said, but most importantly, the team needs experience.

"It's good for this team to just play. I really believe it's going to get better every day this year," Lopez said.