ST. GEORGE, Utah — After 12 days off, BYU softball defeated Utah Tech, 3-1 on Thursday afternoon at Karl Brooks Field, courtesy of 13 strikeouts by freshman pitcher Kaysen Korth and a 2-run home run by freshman catcher Hailey Morrow.
Both teams finished with five hits, but Utah Tech had one error and left six runners on base.
Neither team got much going in the first three innings, but Korth struck out five batters through the first three frames.
Maddie Bejarano created a spark for BYU with a double to center field in the top of the fourth. She was followed by pinch hitter Jaelynn Lambert, who laid down a bunt and reached on an error to bring Bejarano home.
Lambert advanced to second on the play, and later reached third off a wild pitch. With one out, Morrow stepped up to the plate and hit a 2-run shot to left center field to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead, also tying her with Violet Zavodnik for the most home runs this season, at four.
Korth struck out three Trailblazers in the fifth, but Utah Tech got a run in the sixth as its leadoff hitter tripled to left center and later scored on a groundout.
The Trailblazers got a runner on in the bottom of the seventh, but Korth struck out three more Utah Tech batters to finish with 13 strikeouts, her second-most this season.
The Cougars will next host Idaho State in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader in their home opener at Gail Miller Field. First pitches are scheduled for 1 p.m and 3 p.m MDT.