PROVO, Utah — BYU softball scored early and often on their way to a 7-0 win over Southern Utah in game one of a double-header at Miller Park on Saturday afternoon.
Taylei Williams got the Cougars offense started when she turned on the first pitch she faced and blasted her second home run of the season to left center field to give BYU a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
BYU tallied three hits in the next two innings and had runner in scoring position but wasn't able to bring them around to score. BYU’s Chloe Temples pitched four scoreless innings giving up three hits while ringing up six Thunderbirds to hold onto the 1-0 lead.
The Cougars added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth as Huntyr Ava picked up her second hit of the day with a single down the left field line and was pinch-run for by Lauren Flanders. Flanders advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Marissa Chavez bringing up Mallory Barber. Barber took an 0-1 pitch down the left field line for a stand up double that scored Flanders, giving the Cougars a 2-0 lead.
HannahJo Peterson-Mills hit a sacrifice fly to deep center, advancing Barber to third
Barber advanced to third on a hard hit ball to center from HannahJo Peterson-Mills before Epenesa singled to center on a 2-0 pitch to plate Barber and extend the Cougar led to three.
After another three-up three-down inning for SUU, Violet Zavodnik connected with the first pitch she faced for a line-drive home run to right-center field for her sixth home run of the season. Her solo shot gave the Cougars a 4-0 lead in the fourth.
Alyssa Podhurcak came to the plate and doubled into the left field gap and was advanced to third on a Macy Simmons groundout. Ava popped up to right field which scored Simmons and extended the Cougars lead to five.
BYU got back to work in the bottom of the sixth with Peterson drawing a four-pitch walk. With one out, Williams singled to left advancing with Peterson reaching second.
Zavodnik advanced both runners with a single to right field, loading the bases bringing Simmons to the plate. Podhurcak hit a ground ball to second and reached on an RBI fielder’s choice as Williams advanced to third and Peterson scored.
Alexis Gilio was sent in to pinch-run for Podhurcak and promptly stole second, which allowed Willams the opportunity to advance and score. This extended the Cougars lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the sixth.
Temples exited the game after throwing six scoreless innings, giving up three hits and a walk while punching out eight Thunderbirds. Carley Brown entered the game and retired the side to give the Cougars a 7-0 win in game one of the Saturday double-header.