PROVO, Utah – Junior Coco Tauali’i belted two homers and drove in four runs, pacing BYU softball to an 8-0 win over Pacific to complete the three-game sweep at Gail Miller Field in West Coast Conference action Saturday.

“It started out as quite a ball game,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “Coco got the early home run to give us a little bit of an edge, and we manufactured a run in the third inning with good execution. Then Coco broke it open. She played incredibly today and McKenna Bull did a nice job from the circle.”

In addition to Tauali'i, the Cougars (29-8, 6-0 WCC) were fueled by two hits and three RBI by Mercedes O’Connor and Lacey Hofstedt's two hits and two runs scored en route to the team's ninth victory in a row.

Bull won her 25th game of the season by pitching a one-hit shutout over five innings. The win was Bull’s third victory in two days against the Tigers (10-32, 0-6).

Tauali’i continued her torrid streak at the plate from yesterday when she took a 3-2 pitch and lined it over the center field wall for BYU’s first run of the game in the second inning. The home run was Tauali’i’s third home run in two days over the three-game series against Pacific. 

The Cougars tacked on one more run in the third inning when Hofstedt beat a throw home after Lauren Bell fielder’s-choice grounder to the shortstop. Hofstedt had reached base when she singled on a slow grounder to second. On the following pitch, Hofstedt utilized her speed again, stealing second base. Hofstedt then tagged on a fly to center before advancing to third base and scoring on Bell’s at-bat.

BYU exploded for six runs in the fourth inning to take a commanding 8-0 lead. The inning began when Sydney Broderick singled to center field. After a Pacific throwing error at first, McKenzie St. Clair advanced to second base while Broderick advanced to third. Tauali’i then crushed another pitch over the right-center field wall, driving in three runs and giving BYU a 5-0 lead. The home run was Tauali’i’s second of the game and fourth of the series. Hofstedt then singled through the right side followed by another base hit from Bravo to put two on with only one out. The bases loaded up after a Bell walk and O’Connor then doubled down the left field line, driving in three runs for the 8-0 lead.

Bull then finished the Tigers off in the top half of the fifth in just 10 pitches to secure the three-game sweep. 

“Coco’s been making some strides in practice,” Eakin said. “It paid off this weekend. We hope we can keep her right there. If you look at her total game though, her defense was exceptional.”

The Cougars play again Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Weber State at Gail Miller Field. The game will be broadcast on BYUtv.

BYU vs. Pacific box score

PROVO, Utah – After completing a sweep in its first conference series, BYU softball rides a five-game win streak as it faces Utah Valley for a non-conference game and Pacific for its second West Coast Conference series.

The Cougars (25-8, 3-0) travel to crosstown opponent UVU to face the Wolverines (14-26) for the second time this season Tuesday at 3 p.m. MDT. Hosting the Tigers (10-29. 0-3), BYU will look to continue its 3-0 start in a doubleheader Friday at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. with a third game Saturday at 1 p.m.

Leading the Cougars from the plate is junior Gordy Bravo with her .454 batting average while senior Lacey Hofstedt is hitting .438. Sophomore catcher Sydney Broderick has hit four home runs in the past five games while batting .400 with a team-high 30 RBI on the season.

Sophomore McKenna Bull paces the defense from the cirlce with her 22-5 record and 2.04 ERA with 163 strikeouts on the year. Fellow sophomore pitcher Ashley Thompson (2-1) picked up her second win of the year in the final game against Saint Mary’s.

Links to video and live stats will be available on the softball schedule page.

UVU (Tues. 3 p.m. MDT | Live Stats | Live Video | BYU Radio)
The Wolverines are led by Brianna Gatlin (.375BA, 7 HR, 19 RBI) from the plate, and Bailey Moore has seen the bulk of the innings from the circle with a 9-14 record and 4.50 ERA in 156.3 innings pitched. BYU’s last loss came at the hands of UVU in a home setback on March 21. It has an all-time record of 30-4 against Utah Valley with a 13-3 mark on the road.

Pacific (Fri. 5 & 7 p.m. MDT, Sat. 1 p.m. | Live Stats | BYUtv)
The Tigers are led by Molly Bourne (.306 BA, 3 HR, 24 RBI) and Nicole Zapotoczny (.291 BA, 7 HR, 27 RBI). Dani Bonnet has led the team from the circle with her 5-14 mark while throwing 104 innings pitched with a 4.44 ERA. The Cougars are 6-1 against Pacific with a 1-0 record at home.