PROVO, Utah - The BYU softball team scored in every inning and out-slugged Utah State 15-6 in game one before winning by a 2-0 score in game two of a doubleheader at Gail Miller Field on Friday in Western Athletic Conference action.
In game one, senior Delaney Willard went 2 for 3 and drove in four runs while senior Stacie Toney and freshman Megan Arnold each picked up a home run, two hits and three RBI apiece. BYU (27-12, 6-3 WAC) drew a season-high 12 walks, one shy of tying a program record.
Starting pitcher Hannah Howell pitched all six innings for the Cougars to earn her 13th win of the season while allowing two earned runs and striking out three.
Down 2-1 in the bottom of the second, BYU cashed in on some clutch hitting with two outs. Junior JC Clayton picked up a 2-out walk to load the bases for the Cougars. Willard cleared them with a long double off the left field wall, just missing a grand slam, but giving BYU a 4-2 lead.
Arnold stretched the lead with a two-run homer in the bottom if the third inning. BYU added one more, making it 8-2 with a sacrifice fly from Willard to score senior Jessica Dugas.
Utah State capitalized on some productive outs, scoring two runs in the top half of the fourth. With runners on second and third the Aggies used two ground outs to bring in both runs, trimming the Cougars’ lead to 8-4.
Continuing to score every inning, BYU added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Toney singled to center and scored on a double by Arnold. Junior Bailie Hicken came in to run for Arnold and scored on a double to right by pinch hitter Krista Hicks. Hicks later scored on a bases-loaded walk.
Refusing to go quietly, Utah State scored two more on a two-run blast in the top of the fifth, cutting the lead back to 11-6, but BYU answered with another run in the bottom half.
After sophomore Katie Manuma drove in Willard, Toney ended the game early with a two-run blast in the bottom of the sixth inning, her fifth home run of the season, to give BYU the victory.
Game Two
Cougar pitcher Tori Almond pitched a complete game shutout in the second game, striking out six to give the Cougars the 2-0 win.
Clayton went 2 for 3 with a run as BYU eked out two scores in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded, Manuma hit a grounder and was out at first but got the RBI. After Toney walked to again load the bases, Arnold hit another grounder that was enough to score Clayton.
BYU will play Utah State in the third and final game of the weekend on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MT. The game will be televised live on BYUtv. Check www.facebook.com/byusoftball for changes and updates on game times in the case of inclement weather.
