SAN MATEO, Calif. — BYU softball swept the WCC Pitcher and Player of the Week awards, the league announced on Monday. Freshman Kaysen Korth earned Pitcher of the Week honors, with senior third baseman Martha Epenesa being named Player of the Week.
Korth earned two wins as BYU went 5-0 at the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Arizona this week. The Bluffdale, Utah native opened up the tournament with 4.1 innings pitched against No. 22 Arizona State, giving up just three runs and striking out seven. She struck out the heart of the Sun Devil order in the sixth inning to keep the Cougars ahead by one run, also striking out another batter in the seventh.
Earning the win against Oregon State as well, Korth worked through Beaver runners aboard in both the sixth and seventh innings to keep OSU scoreless, recording her ninth strikeout of the afternoon to seal the win, both Korth and BYU's second against Pac-12 opponents in as many days.
Epenesa's clutch hitting also helped the Cougars go undefeated in Arizona, as she either scored or drove in the game-winning run in three of BYU's five games. She batted .583 on the week, going 7-for-12 with 7 RBI, four runs and two home runs, also drawing seven walks.
Launching a walk-off two-run home run in the Cougars' come-from-behind win over Portland State on Friday, Epenesa then hit a solo shot that proved to be the game-winner against Oregon State just a few hours later. The Moreno, California native also drove in the winning run as BYU beat Illinois State in extra innings on Saturday.
These are the Cougars' first two weekly WCC awards of the 2023 season, and the second of Epenesa's career. BYU will be back in action on Thursday, Feb. 23 with a doubleheader at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic against Missouri at 3 p.m. PST and Texas A&M at 5:30 p.m. PST.