Provo, Utah -- In their first fall home game at Miller Park, the BYU women's softball team swept the Salt Lake Community College Bruins in two games Wednesday to improve their fall exhibition season record to 5-0.
The Cougars controlled the game with solid pitching and defense, only giving up two runs in the double header.
"Overall, I was pleased with the games," head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We were able to improve our pitching, defense, and play a lot of players."
In the first game, the game went scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when junior Lauren Waton singled with two outs to start the scoring frenzy. Sophomore Ianeta Le'i followed with a two-run homer over right field (2-0). Sophomores Paige Paramore and Ashlyn Russell both singled and teammate Nikki Andersen tripled, driving in Ariel Capra (pinch runner for Paramore) and Russell (4-0). Andersen scored the fifth run off an overthrown pitch at home plate. Senior Kate Walker and junior Milli Jones kept the team alive by both singling and junior Debbie Dodds was walked. With bases loaded, freshman Krystle Chamberlain doubled bring in two runs from Walker and Jones (7-0).
The Cougars didn't add any runs to the board after the great offensive play in the bottom of the third, but they continued to maintain their solid pitching and defense to hold the Bruins scoreless.
"We scored a lot of runs in the third, but we needed to continue to compete offensively after the big third inning," Eakin said.
Niki Andersen started at the pitcher position and was replaced by Brooke Boyce in the top of the sixth inning. Andersen recorded nine strikeouts and Boyce helped the team hold the Bruins to a no score in game one.
In the second game, Boyce started the game at the pitcher position and the Cougars held the Bruins to no runs in the first inning.
BYU put two runs on the board, one from Watson in the bottom of the second and one from Dodds in the bottom of the third (2-0).
The Bruins put up their first run of the night in the top of the third inning making the score 2-1.
The Cougars answered back in the bottom of the third scoring two runs from Osborn and Whiteley, off a double from Crystal Parry-Young (4-1).
The Bruins scored one run in the top of the fifth (4-2), and the Cougars brought in four runs from Whiteley, Andersen, Young and Jones in the bottom of the sixth inning (8-2).
The Cougars continued their solid defense in the top of the seventh inning to come away with the 8-2 victory in game two.
"Salt Lake battled us and gave us a nice test," Eakin said. " I happy with the way the team finished strong in the last inning to end the game. "
The Cougars will continue their fall exhibition schedule hosting Snow College at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at Miller Park.