LAS VEGAS - The BYU softball team scored 25 runs and had 24 hits combined in two games at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic, defeating Cal State Northridge 11-1 and Memphis 14-8 on Friday.
The wins improve BYU's record to 6-2 and the Cougars' win streak to five straight games.
Senior Stacie Toney went 5 of 6 on the day with four runs, five RBI, a double and a home run while senior Delaney Willard hit a home run in each game to extend her consecutive home run streak to four games, tied for the fifth-longest such streak in NCAA history and making her the only player in NCAA history to have two separate streaks of four games or more with a home run. Willard also hit a home run in four straight games last season in early April.
In the first game against CSUN, the Cougars actually trailed 1-0 after a Matador home run in the third inning. That changed quickly in the bottom of the fourth when BYU exploded for 11 runs, the second largest single-inning tally in program history.
Freshman Megan Arnold brought in Toney for the first run of the inning. Dugas brought in the second run with a perfectly executed slap hit that didn't come down to the fielder off its initial bounce in the dirt until Dugas had about reached first base.
With the bases still loaded, Willard followed up with a grand slam to center field, the third bases-loaded bomb of her career, to widen the lead.
In her second at bat of the inning, Toney hit an RBI-double to bring in Katie Manuma followed by Alexandra Hudson clocking a two-RBI single for BYU.
Toney, Hudson, Dugas and JC Clayton each had two hits and Toney and junior Bailie Hicken tied for the team lead with two runs apiece.
Amongst all the scoring, freshman pitcher Caroline Umphlett stayed perfect with a 4-0 record following the win, allowing just one hit with no walks in five innings of work.
Game Two
Six extra base hits, including three home runs, propelled BYU to a win in its second game of the day.
Sophomore Carly Duckworth hit a 3-run homer in the first, Toney added another 3-run homer in the third and Willard added a 2-run shot in the fifth as BYU scored three or more runs in four different innings.
Junior Hannah Howell earned the win starting at pitcher for BYU, racking up seven strikeouts.
Toney added an RBI-single to give her a team-high four RBI in the game while Clayton scored four runs after reaching on two hits - one a triple - and two walks.
Also adding to the cause was sophomore first baseman Jenna Goar. Goar hit an RBI-double before scoring a run after an illegal pitch in the fifth inning before bringing in Duckworth and Willard on double to right center in the sixth for the Cougars.
BYU will look to finish the Desert Classic undefeated on Saturday when the Cougars face Indiana at 11:15 a.m. PT and DePaul at 1:30 p.m. PT. Visit the BYU softball schedule page for a live stats link for the first game and go to the BYU Softball Facebook page for updates during the contest against DePaul.
Bats Get Hot in Wins Over CSUN, Memphis
