PROVO -- The Cougars opened up play at the Capital Classic in Sacramento, Calif., with a 0-7 loss to the Hornets of Sacramento State in the early game, and overwhelming the Illini of Illinois, winning 18-10.
BYU had a rough time at the plate in the early game against the Hornets, recording only two hits and committing four costly errors. It was only the second time all season BYU has been shut out. The only other time was against then-No. 3 Texas, 0-1.
"We just didn't hit the ball like this team is capable of," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We have never played worse in all areas of the game. We made bad decision after bad decision.
In the late game, BYU jumped out early on Illinois scoring four runs in the first inning with six hits including a two-run home run by junior Paige Paramore. In the second inning on her next at-bat, Paramore locked on again with another two-run homer putting BYU in the lead 6-0.
Illinois fought back in the third inning scoring four runs on six hits, but the Cougars looked strong again at the plate in the fourth scoring three runs taking a 9-4 lead. However, the Illini would not go away, taking the lead in the bottom of the fourth 10-9.
Again, the Cougars showed their grit scoring three runs on a home run by junior Ashlyn Russell. After holding Illinois scoreless in the fifth, BYU put the game away in the sixth with six runs and another Russell home run. Russell now has 10 home runs on the season.
"Our pitching and defense wasn't great today, we played lethargic," Eakin said. "Fortunately, our offense came alive against a good Illinois team, and we were able to get a win."
Eakin believes Saturday will be the toughest day of the season with the Cougars facing such high caliber teams.
The 16-3 Cougars will be tested tomorrow March 19, beginning with second-ranked Cal at 10 a.m. followed by Portland St. at 3 p.m. and Minnesota at 5:30 p.m.
Sacramento State vs BYU
Mar 18, 2005 at Sacramento, Calif. (Softball Complex)
Sacramento State 7 (16-11)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
JOHNSON, H. dh 5 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 2
MAYHORN, L. lf 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 1
WINKLER, L. cf 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0
COYNE, E. c 4 0 2 1 0 0 5 0 1
RHOE, K. pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
HILLEL, A. 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0
CAOAGAN, T. 1b 4 1 0 0 0 0 8 0 0
TOLEDO, G. ss 4 1 2 2 0 0 0 2 2
FERGUSON, B. p 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 4
DAWSON, A. rf 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 0
ROJO, J. 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0
Totals...... 37 7 13 5 0 2 21 8 10
BYU 0 (15-3)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
WATSON-PERRY, Lauren c 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0
SNOW, Emi c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
WHITELEY, Jennifer cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
KENNEDY, Lindi ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PARAMORE, Paige rf 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1
LE'I, Ianeta 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 0
JONES, Milli 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1
RUSSELL, Ashlyn 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 2
CLARKE, Ranae 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
URINCHO, Daniella dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
NORTON, Jodi ss 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 1 0
DODDS, Debbie 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
CAPRA, Ariel 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
CHAMBERLAIN, Krystle lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
BOYCE, Brooke p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
ANDERSON, Niki p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Totals...... 24 0 2 0 0 5 21 8 4
Score by Innings R H E
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Sacramento State.... 011 023 0 - 7 13 1
BYU................. 000 000 0 - 0 2 4
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E - CAOAGAN, T.; WATSON-PERRY; NORTON; DODDS; CAPRA. LOB - Hornets 10;
Cougars 4. 2B - HILLEL, A.; TOLEDO, G.. 3B - DAWSON, A.. HBP - KENNEDY. SH -
MAYHORN, L.. SB - MAYHORN, L.; TOLEDO, G.; DAWSON, A..
Sacramento State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
FERGUSON, B. 7.0 2 0 0 0 5 24 25
BYU IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
BOYCE, Brooke 4.2 8 4 2 0 1 24 25
ANDERSON, Niki 2.1 5 3 3 0 1 13 13
Win - FERGUSON, B. (9-5). Loss - BOYCE (3-1). Save - None.
WP - BOYCE. HBP - by FERGUSON, B. (KENNEDY).
BYU vs Illinois
Mar 18, 2005 at Sacramento, Calif. (Sacramento Sp. Comp.)
BYU 18 (16-3)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
WATSON-PERRY, Lauren rf 4 4 3 0 1 1 0 0 0
WHITELEY, Jennifer dh 4 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
PARAMORE, Paige c 4 4 4 6 1 0 4 0 0
SNOW, Emi pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LE'I, Ianeta 1b 4 3 2 1 0 0 3 0 0
JONES, Milli pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
RUSSELL, Ashlyn 3b 5 3 3 6 0 0 2 0 0
URINCHO, Daniella lf 4 0 2 1 1 0 3 1 0
CAPRA, Ariel cf 4 0 3 2 0 0 1 0 1
NORTON, Jodi ss 4 0 1 1 1 0 2 1 1
DODDS, Debbie 2b 3 1 1 0 1 1 3 0 5
TOBIAS, Summer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
BOYCE, Brooke p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ANDERSON, Niki p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Totals...... 36 18 20 18 5 3 18 4 8
Illinois 10 (12-8)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
Coriddi cf 4 2 2 0 0 0 2 1 0
Butcher lf 4 2 2 1 0 1 1 1 0
Diller ss 3 1 2 1 1 1 0 1 0
Hall 3b 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
Zobrist pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mexicano 2b 3 1 1 2 0 1 1 1 0
Diekemper dh 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0
Martin 1b 4 1 4 2 0 0 7 0 0
Planinsek pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Balicki c 4 0 1 2 0 0 3 0 5
Lawhead rf 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 1
Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DeVreese p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Totals...... 31 10 15 9 3 4 18 7 7
Score by Innings R H E
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BYU................. 420 336 - 18 20 0
Illinois............ 004 600 - 10 15 2
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E - Diller; Mexicano. DP - Illini 1. LOB - BYU 8; Illini 7. 2B - PARAMORE;
URINCHO; Coriddi; Martin. 3B - Balicki. HR - PARAMORE 2; RUSSELL 2. HBP -
LE'I. SH - WHITELEY. SF - CAPRA; Mexicano. SB - Coriddi.
BYU IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
TOBIAS, Summer 3.1 9 6 6 2 3 17 20
BOYCE, Brooke 0.1 2 3 3 1 0 3 4
ANDERSON, Niki 2.1 4 1 1 0 1 11 11
Illinois IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
Miller 3.0 10 6 6 0 0 15 17
Diekemper 0.1 2 2 2 0 0 3 4
DeVreese 2.2 8 10 6 5 3 18 23
Win - ANDERSON (1-0). Loss - DeVreese (3-4). Save - None.
WP - DeVreese. HBP - by Diekemper (LE'I). BK - Diekemper 2.