LOGAN, Utah—A four-run fifth inning allowed the BYU softball team to shut out Utah State 5-0 and keep its 11-game win streak alive against the Aggies on Wednesday at Johnson Softball Field.

The Cougars (17-20, 6-2 PCSC) had just five hits in the game, but a three-run blast from Madisen Robb helped BYU to the 5-0 victory. Utah State falls to 8-30 on the season (2-7 WAC). 

BYU was able to scrap out a run in the top of the third to take the 1-0 lead over the Aggies.

Carly Duckworth walked to start the inning and advanced to third following a sacrifice bunt from Gordy Bravo and a groundout from Katie Manuma. Alexandra Hudson Shamo walked to place runners on the corners and Jenna Goar smacked a hard single to the pitcher to extend her hitting streak to four games and score Duckworth for BYU’s first run. She stole second and was followed by Coco Taualii, who was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

However, a strikeout from USU’s Mandy Harmon sealed the inning with three runners left on for BYU.

After giving up two singles in the first inning, Hannah Howell settled in and sat down the first three batters in order in the second and third. She earned the win to improve to 7-13 on the season after giving up just two hits in three innings of work. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Tori Almond came in relief of Howell and Mylee Davis entered the game for Anna Hudson behind the plate. Almond surrendered a single to the first batter she faced for just the third Aggie hit of the game, but the Cougars held strong defensively to hold USU off the plate.

BYU broke the game open in the top of the fifth, highlighted by the three-run shot from Robb. A Manuma single to start the inning and a free pass to Shamo on a hit by pitch placed runners on second and third following a groundout from Goar. Ashlee Brawley Robinson then pushed a single through the left side on a pinch hit that scored Manuma. Robb followed with her second three-run home run of the season to give BYU the 5-0 lead.

Almond sat down the Aggies in order in the bottom of the frame to hold the shutout heading into the sixth. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Caroline Umphlett came in for her first appearance since Feb. 23 and got two-straight outs, before allowing Utah State to hit its first extra-base hit of the ball game with a double. However, Umphlett was able to force a groundout to end the inning and the game. 

BYU will play next in a conference series against Loyola Marymount with doubleheaders on Friday starting at 5 p.m. MDT and Saturday starting at 1 p.m. MDT at Gail Miller Field. Saturday's games will be broadcast on BYUtv. 

PROVO, Utah--The BYU softball team will play Utah Valley in a conference series on Friday and Saturday before traveling to Logan on Wednesday for a matchup against in-state rival Utah State. 

Utah Valley

Fri.-Sat., Apr. 5-6, 2013

2 & 4 p.m. MDT, 1 & 3 p.m. MDT

Wolverine Field

Utah State

Wed., Apr. 10, 2013

4 p.m. MDT

Johnson Softball Field

BYU QUICK HITS

• BYU is 25-1 overall against UVU and 30-2 overall against Utah State. The Cougars have a 17-game win streak against the Wolverines and a 10-game win streak against the Aggies.
• Gordy Bravo highlighted the offensive effort for BYU in its three losses against Houston. She hit .500 (4x8) with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored.
• Senior shortstop JC Clayton broke the all-time hit record at BYU in the team’s four-game series against USD. Clayton has 274 career hits and a team- and conference-leading 49 hits this season. Clayton has been named PCSC Player of the Week three times this year.
• The Cougars started conference play with a sweep at San Diego to lead the conference standings with a 4-0 record. UVU is in close second with a 5-3 record in its two conference series so far.

OPPONENT NOTES

UTAH VALLEY

Utah Valley is 20-12 on the season and 5-3 in the PCSC standings. The team’s .279 average is good for second-highest in the PCSC. The Wolverines lead the conference in triples with eight and are second in home runs (16), total bases (341) and doubles (33). The team has four batters hitting over .300 so far this season in junior Amanda Robinson, senior Krystin Jachim, freshman Morgan Summers and senior Kylee Brinkerhoff. Batting a .394 clip, Robinson leads the team in hits (39), home runs (4), total bases (56) and slugging percentage (.566). Jachim is not far behind with a .393 average and leads the team in conference statistics, batting .417 with 10 hits. Freshman Dynasty Lauvai has brought in the most runs for UVU with 21 RBI alongside eight extra-base hits. The mound has been occupied by senior Tiffany Mills (117.0) and sophomore Josi Summers (67.2). Mills sports a 1.97 ERA alongside 90 strikeouts and a .218 opponent average. She also has a 1.58 ERA in conference play. Summers is 7-5 for the Wolverines and has compiled 72 strikeouts and given up just 30 earned runs on the season. She has a team-leading 0.78 ERA in conference play. The Wolverines will play Weber State in a doubleheader on Wednesday before playing the Cougars in a four-game conference series on Friday and Saturday.

UTAH STATE

USU returned eight starters from last year's squad, but had a rough start to the season with a 20-game losing streak before snatching up their first win against Weber State on March 13. After that win, the team went on to a five-game winning streak, but have since lost eight straight to fall to 5-28. The Aggies will face Idaho State on Wednesday, UTSA on Friday and Saturday and Utah Valley on Tuesday before returning home to face the Cougars on Wednesday. The team is led by senior infielder Christine Thomsen, who is hitting a .320 clip. Junior Kassandra Uchida leads the team with 24 hits, while sophomore Nicole Arata provides power in the lineup with a team-leading two home runs. Senior Mandy Harmon, freshman Noelle Johnson and senior Shelbi Tyteca have all found time on the mound this year. Harmon has pitched the most innings at 83.2 and has given up 62 earned runs on a .307 opponent batting average. Johnson leads the pitching staff with 69 strikeouts in 79 innings pitched. Tyteca has a 2-1 record in her 44 innings pitched and has given up 36 earned runs on 53 hits. The Aggies are 0-6 in Western Athletic Conference play.

IN-STATE RIVALRY

BYU is scheduled to play four of the six in-state softball teams this season in Utah Valley, Utah State, Southern Utah and Utah. The Cougars have an overall record of 126-22 (.851) against in-state teams and last year went 10-0 with four wins against SUU, three against UVU and three against USU. BYU has a current win streak of 17 games against UVU and outscored the Wolverines 157-28 in those games. The last time UVU beat BYU was at Wolverine Field on May 2, 2006. The Cougars are currently on a 10-game winning streak against the Aggies and outscored them 87-22 in those 10 games. The last time BYU was defeated by USU was at Gail Miller Field on Apr. 4, 2006. 

WHERE TO WATCH

Every game will be available to follow via live stats. Check the schedule for updated information as it becomes available.