SAN DIEGO - Sophomore pitcher McKenna Bull's pitching and key defensive plays led BYU softball to its eighth consecutive victory and two wins in the first day of the San Diego Classic II Thursday.

The Cougars (15-6) topped Long Beach State 2-1 in the first game before taking a 3-1 decision over San Diego State. BYU improved to 9-3 in games decided by two runs or less.

"It was two quality wins over two very good teams," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Our offense was a little rusty from not playing last weekend, but our defense and pitching were solid. McKenna Bull just threw lights out."

Bull improved to 15-3 on the season, allowing only seven hits and one earned run while striking out seven through 14 innings pitched. 

From the plate, sophomore Lauren Bell hit 3-for-5 on the day with a triple and a run scored. Junior Gordy Bravo hit her first home run of the season while going 2-for-6 on the day, extending her reached-base streak to 22 games.

Sydney Broderick notched a 2-for-6 day with a triple and one RBI while Lacey Hofstedt also had two hits in six at-bats with her 12th stolen base of the year, surpassing her 2014 season total of 11. Coco Tauali'i notched her second home run of the season in the first game, and Ashley Thompson collected an RBI in the second game.

Game One

The game against the 49ers (10-17) showcased a pitcher's duel with both teams displaying confidence from the circle. 

After two scoreless innings, the Cougars struck with two runs in the top of the third. Up to bat first, Tauali'i homered to left field. Later in the inning with two outs, Bravo came to the plate, blasting her first home run of the season—a solo shot down the right field line for the 2-0 BYU lead. Bell then hit a triple that landed on the fence and was six inches away from being the third homer of the inning.

The two solo shots proved to be the difference makers as the Cougars reached third in both the fifth and seventh frames, but couldn't tack on any other runs. 

Long Beach State threatened in the bottom of the seventh, breaking onto the scoreboard for the first time in the game on a single to left with runners on second and third. With runners on the corners, BYU then got the final out on a grounder to second for the play at first and the team's seventh win in a row.

Box Score-BYU vs. LBSU

Play-by-play

Game Two

Bull started in the circle in game two, getting out of the first inning with a runner on third and escaping the second with runners on second and third.

The scoreless game continued until BYU broke into the run column in the bottom of the third on Thompson's 15th RBI of the season. Her single to left center scored Bravo who reached base earlier in the frame after being hit by a pitch. 

San Diego State (15-9) evened the score with one run in the top of the fourth, tacking on an unearned run after a throwing error. 

The Cougars broke the tie in the next inning. Bell scored for the 2-1 lead before Broderick tripled down the left field line two batters later for the RBI. Mercedes O'Connor scored for the 3-1 advantage and the eventual final tally.

The Aztecs put a runner aboard in the top of the sixth but didn't threaten. BYU then retired the side in the top of the seventh to clinch the win.

Box Score-BYU vs. SDSU

Play-by-play

The Cougars face No. 15 Baylor Friday at 5:30 p.m. MDT. Audio streaming and live statistics are available through the BYU softball schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – After not playing last weekend due to weather, BYU softball prepares for Long Beach State, San Diego State, Baylor, Western Carolina University and UConn in the San Diego Classic II tournament Thursday through Saturday in San Diego.

Last time out, the Cougars played in the first game held outside the U.S. in NCAA softball history, improving to 13-6 with four wins in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge Feb. 26-28.

The defense is fueled by sophomore pitcher McKenna Bull with her 13-3 mark while posting an ERA of 1.90 so far this year. At the plate, junior Gordy Bravo continues her high-performance season while batting a team-high .492 and posting a team-high OBP of .528. McKenzie St. Clair and Lacey Hofstedt are both hitting at least .400 with .419 and .400, respectively.

Mercedes O'Connor has a team-leading 15 RBI on the year, but BYU has also seen run production out of Ashley Thompson (14 RBI), Bravo (13 RBI) and Sydney Broderick and Lauren Bell with 12 RBI apiece.

Recaps and links to live stats will be available on the BYU softball schedule page.

LONG BEACH STATE (Thurs. 2 p.m. PDT | Live stats)

The 49ers take a 10-16 record into the tournament in San Diego, including a 4-11 record at neutral sites. Most recently Long Beach State went 0-5 at the Judy Garman Classic in Fullerton, California, but the team is capable of pulling off big wins with a resume that includes victories over UCLA and Utah.
Leading LBSU from the plate are Shayna Kimbrough (.364 BA, 4 SB), Julia Lombardi (.321 BA, 2 HR, 13 RBI), Lauren Lombardi (.321 BA, 4 HR, 25 RBI) and Darian Tautalafua (.301 BA, 4 HR, 13 RBI). Pitching duties have been split three ways among Christina Clermont (4-5, 3.11 ERA, 69.2 IP), Christian Carbajal (3-3, 3.57 ERA, 31.1 IP) and Amanda Hansen (3-7, 6.58 ERA, 44.2 IP). BYU is 2-3 all-time against Long Beach State with the last meeting a 12-3 loss in six innings in 2013.

SAN DIEGO STATE (Thurs. 4:30 p.m. PDT | Live stats)

The Aztecs are 15-8 with a 7-1 record at home and 7-6 on neutral fields. Most recently San Diego State went 4-1 in the Judy Garman Classic with wins over Pacific, Iowa, Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton. Its lone loss on the weekend was to No. 3/2 Michigan.
Jordan Kayla (.408 BA, 1 HR, 10 RBI), Lorena Bauer (.356 BA, 4 HR, 23 RBI) and Jenavee Peres (.339 BA, 2 HR, 16 RBI) power SDSU at the plate while pitcher Erica Romero has thrown 110.1 innings with a 13-5 record and a 3.11 ERA.

BAYLOR (Fri. 4:30 p.m. PDT | Audio Stream)

The Bears are 14-5 and coming off a 2014 season in which they advanced to the Women’s College World Series. Baylor has wins over Oregon and Arizona with recent losses to Pacific, Michigan and Arizona State. The Cougars face the Bears for the first time in the school’s softball history.
From the batter’s box, Lindsey Cargill (.500 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI), Sarah Smith (.387 BA, 3 HR, 12 RBI), Shelby Friudenberg (.366 BA, 5 HR, 15 RBI) and Linsey Hays (.264 BA, 6 HR, 22 RBI) lead Baylor’s offensive effort. Pitcher Heather Stearns (5-4, 2.51 ERA, 53 IP) has seen the most action from the circle with Sarah Toben (4-0, 1.05 ERA, 20 IP), Kendall Potts (2-1, 1.81 ERA, 27 IP) and Brooke Seneshen (3-0, 2.52 ERA, 25 IP) all splitting the pitching duties as well.

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY (Sat. 9 a.m. PDT)

BYU faces the Catamounts for the first time ever this weekend in San Diego. WCU is 7-10 on the season with a 3-2 mark at the Winthrop Tournament last weekend.
Courtney Price is hitting .298 from the plate with two home runs and 10 RBI. Pitcher Jordan Garrett is 5-4 with a 2.18 ERA in 61 innings.

UCONN (Sat. 11:30 a.m. PDT)

The Huskies are 6-9 with a 2-3 mark at the Mizuno Classic last weekend in Stillwater, Oklahoma. UConn picked up wins against Oklahoma State and Evansville. The Cougars are 1-0 against the Huskies with the lone win back in 2003. Emily O’Donnell (.370 BA, 2 HR, 9 RBI) and Taylor Townsend (.317 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI) have paced UConn at the plate. From the circle, Lauren Duggan (4-4, 4.66 ERA) and Kayla Doty (2-3, 6.89 ERA) have split the majority of time.