Freshman pitcher Brooke Boyce pitched her first complete game for BYU Tuesday night Oct. 8, as BYU swept the Salt Lake Community College Bruins in a double header at Miller Field.
The Cougars beat the Bruins 11-3 in game one and 8-2 in game two.
"I was very pleased with our pitching staff," head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Today was the first day I really let them throw a whole game."
Salt Lake came out with energy. Players were cheering and singing in the Bruin dugout at the start of game one.
"They were pretty intense," sophomore catcher Lauren Watson said. "They came in cheering and were really pumped up. It threw us off."
SLCC started the game out strong, attacking the Cougars with a mixture of hits and bunts. The Bruins jumped onto the scoreboard with a 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning.
The Cougars brought the bats out to regain the lead in the bottom of the first inning. With two runners on, two-time All American junior first baseman Oli Keohohou ripped a double to deep left field to put the Cougars ahead 2-1.
A second inning two-out rally propelled the Cougars to an 8-2 lead. Salt Lake pitcher Katie Kuschell was out of control, hitting two Cougar players, and walking one.
Keohohou went 3 for 4, including two doubles and a single, in game one.
The Cougars started out strong again in game two. Keohohou led off the game with a single to left field. With the bases loaded, sophomore pitcher Niki Andersen ripped a two-run double to put the Cougars ahead.
Game two pitcher Boyce maintained control of the game, not allowing a ball to leave the infield.
"Our infield has played done the job when the ball is on the ground," Eakin said. "Brooke gets the hitters to hit ground balls, and we're always going to play good defense behind her."
The Cougar offense flexed its muscles in the fifth inning.
Watson stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and ripped a three-run triple.
Senior outfielder Brooke Cadiente stepped to the plate next and ripped a triple of her own.
"Our hitting is so good," Cadiente said. "I think when we have all our players here and we're all healthy, we're going to have a really deadly lineup."
With the fall season soon coming to a close, Eakin said the team accomplished its goals.
"Our objective was to get to know our personnel and see what they can do in different situations," Eakin said. "I think we've had the chance to do that."
The Cougars will face the Utah Valley State College Wolverines Wednesday in Orem.
This will be the second meeting for the two teams this season. On Sept. 14, BYU shut down UVSC 17-1 at home.
The Cougars wrap up the fall season this weekend with two games against Dixie College in St. George.