SANTA CLARA, Calif. – BYU softball completed the series sweep of Santa Clara in a 6-1 win in game three at Fowler Park on Saturday afternoon. The series win clinched BYU’s 12th consecutive conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Game Highlights:
- Rylee Jensen singled in the top of the fifth to move to No. 2 all-time in career hits at BYU
- Two innings later, Jensen doubled to move to No. 1 all-time in career doubles
- Martha Epenesa hit a solo homer in the second inning and has now reached base in 18 straight games
- Arissa Paulson tacked on an insurance run in the sixth with a single up the middle to score Epenesa
Player Highlights:
- Autumn Moffat-Korth: 6.0 IP, 4H, 1R, 5K, 0BB
- Martha Epenesa: 2-4, 1RBI, 2R, HR
- Rylee Jensen: 2-4, 1RBI, 1R, 2B
Leading off the top of the second, Martha Epenesa put the Cougars on the board with a blast into center field.
The Broncos evened things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third as a passed ball allowed the runner on third to score. Broncos’ shortstop Allyson Ferreiera, who had singled at the previous at-bat, attempted to advance an additional base but was thrown out by Moffat-Korth at third to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth, Rylee Jensen singled into right field. The hit put her at No. 2 all-time in career hits at BYU. It also scored Ally Oyanguren from third to give the Cougars a 2-1 advantage heading into the bottom half of the inning.
Arissa Paulson gave BYU a two-run lead in the sixth with a single up the middle that brought in Epenesa.
Jensen broke another BYU record in the top of the seventh with a double that went down the first base line. With the lined shot, Jensen is now No. 1 all-time in career doubles at BYU.
Jensen later scored on a single by Violet Zavodnik to make the score 4-1, BYU. Huntyr Ava added two more runs with a single into right that was able to score Zavodnik and HannahJo Peterson to give the Cougars a commanding 6-1 lead that would end up being the final score.
BYU will put on a pair of Senior Days at Gail Miller Field next week, with the first taking place on Monday, May 10, in a doubleheader against Dixie State. Game one will start at 2 p.m. MDT and game two at approximately 4 p.m. MDT. Seniors Rylee Jensen, Arissa Paulson, Emilee Erickson, Erin Miklus, Morgan Bevell and Marissa Chavez will be recognized at the conclusion of the doubleheader.
The second Senior Day will be a Blue-White scrimmage held at Gail Miller Field on Friday, May 14, at 5 p.m. MDT.