Udall-Woolley’s two homer day generates a 9-6 win over Trailblazers

PROVO, Utah — BYU softball’s four home runs powered it to a 9-6 victory over Utah Tech Tuesday afternoon at Gail Miller Field. 

BOX SCORE

The Cougars (15-26, 5-10 Big 12) moved to 12-0 all-time versus the Trailblazers and 6-0 on matchups in Provo. BYU previously defeated Utah Tech in March, 10-1, when they last faced off in St. George.

In the 12-hit performance by the Cougars, four of those came by way of home runs from Maddie Udall-Woolley, Lily Owens and Hailey Shuler. Udall-Woolley recorded two homers for her first career multi-HR game, one in the first and one in the sixth, which added up to a three-RBI afternoon to go along with three hits. The Trailblazers put up 11 hits to give them six runs for the contest. 

Player Highlights

• Maddie Udall-Woolley: 3-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
• Danica Acosta: 3-4, 3 R
• Lexie Bennett: 2-3, R
• Lily Owens: 1-4, HR, 3 RBI, R
• Hailey Shuler: 1-2, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• Miranda Mansfield: 1-3, RBI, BB
• Ilove’a Brittingham: 1-3, 3B, R, BB
• Jada Villegas (W, 4-9): 2.2 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, K
• Gianna Mares (S, 2): 1 IP, 2 K

The Cougars did not take long to get scoring started, doing so with back-to-back jacks. Shuler smoked a two-run shot to left to give herself early run support, and Udall-Woolley followed that up with a solo blast to center, putting BYU up on Utah Tech after one, 3-0.

Udall-Woolley drove home Lexie Bennett with an RBI-single for her second RBI in just as many frames to push the lead to four runs. 

The Trailblazers responded the next inning with two hits and one run on a single to cut the Cougar lead to three. 

Utah Tech brought the contest to a tie at four on behalf of a triple and three singles in the fourth, plating three more runs for the Trailblazers.

In the bottom of the inning, Danica Acosta and Bennett led it off with consecutive base hits. After that, Owens helped BYU retake the lead, 7-4, with a three-run homer to center. 

The Trailblazers drove in a run apiece in the fifth and sixth by manner of RBI singles to shrink the Cougar lead to one. Although Utah Tech had the bases juiced with two outs in the sixth, Jada Villegas was able to get out of the jam and hold the one-run lead.

BYU tacked on two critical insurance runs in the bottom of the frame. Udall-Woolley drove one over the center field wall for her second homer of the game before Miranda Mansfield rewarded Ilove’a Brittingham’s triple with a base hit to score her, growing the Cougar lead to 9-6. 

Gianna Mares came in for relief in the seventh and recorded her second save of the season as part of a 1-2-3 inning, helping BYU take home the victory. 

On Deck
The Cougars will continue their homestand with game one of a three-game series against Iowa State on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Gail Miller Field. Live coverage of the contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.