SAN DIEGO – Libby Sugg hit a grand slam in BYU softball’s 9-0 run-rule win over Boston University in five innings on Saturday afternoon to wrap up play in the San Diego Classic I.
“We did a great job today finishing the tournament strong,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “We had tremendous discipline at the plate today and had key hits with runners on. It was a total team effort.”
Despite out-hitting the Terriers (5-7, 0-0 Patriot League) just six to four, the Cougars (11-6, 0-0 West Coast Conference) tallied nine runs in the win. It is the third-highest scoring output of 2017 for BYU. The Cougars finish the tournament with a 4-1 record.
Sugg hit her second grand slam of her career in the third inning. She went 2 for 3 in the winning effort with four RBI and two runs. Fresh off of her record-breaking performance on Friday, senior McKenna Bull threw her third shutout of the year with three strikeouts.
The first two innings of the game were scoreless for both teams. The Terriers held the only hit of the game at that point, earned with a single in the second inning.
In the top of the third, BYU scored five runs to go up 5-0. The first run was scored when Ashley Thompson was walked with the bases loaded, bringing McKenzie St. Clair home. In the next at bat, Sugg hit a grand slam that was just fair over left field to bring in all of the base runners. This was her second career grand slam, the first coming in 2016 against Saint Mary’s.
With runners on first and second in the top of the fourth, Lauren Bell hit a double between center and right field, bringing them both in. Those two runs pushed the Cougars’ lead to 7-0.
BYU scored two more runs in the top of the fifth to bring the run rule into effect. Madison Merrell and Briielle Breland notched the two RBI in that frame.
That score would hold as Alexa Strid caught the last out on a pop out, giving the Cougars the 9-0 win in five innings.
BYU will be back in action next week at the Fresno State Invitational.