SAN DIEGO – McKenna Bull became BYU’s career strikeout leader as BYU softball picked up wins over Miami University (Ohio) and Detroit Mercy in a doubleheader in the San Diego Classic I on Friday.

“We had a couple of good team wins," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "The pitching was exceptional with Arianna (Paulson) throwing a shutout and McKenna (Bull) throwing 11 strikeouts to break the BYU career record. Everyone contributed today."

Bull broke the strikeout record in the sixth inning against Miami of Ohio, totaling 11 Ks to up her career total to 805. She surpassed the 803 tallied by Pagie Affleck from 2008-11. Bull’s 11 strikeouts were also a season-high for the senior.

As a team, BYU (10-6, 0-0 West Coast Conference) notched a season high in runs scored with 16 against Detroit Mercy. The Cougars had 18 total hits on the day.

Game one

Bull became BYU’s career strikeout leader in the sixth inning of the 6-2 win over Miami University (Ohio) (5-10, 0-0 MAC). She tallied 11 strikeouts in the complete game to reach 805 total Ks, surpassing Paige Affleck’s 803 total.

At the plate, Ashley Thompson led the team with two RBI and three stolen bases. Libby Sugg and Madison Merrell had similar stats, both of them going 2 for 2 with a run and a double.

Stealing three bases, Thompson brought in the first run in the bottom of the first to give BYU an early 1-0 lead. After tallying those three steals, she moved into a tie for sixth in career stolen bases with Jessica Dugas at 34.

Following three scoreless innings, the Cougars ran up the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth, bringing in five runs to push the lead to 6-0. The first run of the inning was scored off of Lauren Bell’s sacrifice fly. In the next at bat, Thompson hit a two-run homer right over centerfield. Merrell brought in a run with a double and Ashley Godfrey drew a walk with the bases loaded for the fifth run of the frame.

The RedHawks scored two runs in the top of the sixth off of errors to avoid the shutout. The score was 6-2 after six innings, but in the top of the seventh, the BYU defense made Miami go three up, three down to seal the win.

BYU vs. Miami University Box Score

Game two

Balanced hitting led BYU to a 16-0 run-rule win over Detroit Mercy (3-8, 0-0 Horizon League) in the second game. Throwing all five innings from the circle, Arianna Paulson notched her first career shutout for the Cougars, totaling three strikeouts in the win. Junior Alexa Strid led the team with four RBI on 2 of 3 hitting, also reaching home twice. Godfrey went 3 for 3, a career best, with one RBI.

The Cougars started hot, scoring three runs in the opening frame. Thompson got it rolling with a triple to score the first run.

In the top of the second, BYU scored the most runs in an inning so far this season with seven. Errors plagued the Detroit Mercy infield, committing three in that inning alone. Caitlyn Larsen Alldredge brought in two runs with a double to left center. In the following at bat, Strid hit her first home run of the year to bring in two more. BYU led 10-0 heading into the third.

Singles from Arissa Paulson and Brooke Vander Heide scored two runs in the top of the third. Then with the bases loaded, McKenzie St. Clair was walked, bringing in Paulson for the third run of the frame. The Cougars extended the lead to 13-0 after three.

The Titans ran into some pitching trouble again in the top of the fourth. They allowed two more runs to reach home after walking a batter with the bases loaded, pushing the lead up to 15-0 for BYU.

To make it 16-0, Godfrey hit a single in the top of the fifth to bring in Briielle Breland. Despite Detroit Mercy loading up the bases in the bottom frame, the defense would hold onto the shutout.

BYU vs. Detroit Mercy Box Score

BYU’s final game of the San Diego Classic I will be against Boston University on Saturday at 1 p.m. PST. Live stats will be available on the BYU softball schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – After a 2-3 turnout last week, BYU softball looks to have a strong outing at the San Diego Classic I this week, playing five teams from March 2-4.

BYU Game Notes

The Cougars (7-5, 0-0 WCC) will face McNeese State and San Diego State on Thursday at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. PST, respectively.  BYU plays another doubleheader on Friday against Miami (Ohio) and Detroit Mercy starting at 1 p.m. PST.  The final game of the tournament for the Cougars will be against Boston University on Saturday at 1 p.m. PST.

The game between the Cougars and the Aztecs will be streamed live on theMW.com. Additionally, live stats will be available for each game. Links can be found on the BYU softball schedule page.

BYU Storylines

• At the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic last week, BYU played three ranked teams. The Cougars shutout No. 11/12 Georgia 4-0 and lost to No. 9 Arizona and No. 18 Texas A&M. They also beat Louisville and dropped a game to LIU Brooklyn.
• In the tournament hosted by both San Diego State and the University of San Diego, BYU will play two teams it has never faced before: Detroit Mercy and Boston University. The Cougars will play the host team SDSU, a matchup the Cougars lost last year, along with McNeese State and Miami (Ohio).
• After being ranked No. 25 and No. 23 in the second and third weeks of the season, BYU dropped out of the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll this week. The Cougars are one out of the poll this week, receiving 38 votes. At the San Diego Classic I this week, San Diego State is the only other opponent receiving votes, picking up two in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll.
• Sophomore Lexi Tarrow was named WCC Player of the Week for the first time in her career. Last week she hit .455 with a .571 on-base percentage. During the doubleheader on Saturday, she went 4 for 6 with three RBI. Her two RBI in the win over Louisville tied her career high. The Cougars have now won at least one of the weekly awards in each of the first three weeks of the season. Last week, BYU swept both player and pitcher of the week.
• Senior McKenna Bull is 20 strikeouts away from tying the BYU career record strikeouts total. Paige Affleck is currently at No. 1 with 803 while bull is sitting at 783. Last week, she tied the career record for complete games with Affleck at 74.

Opponents Outlook

McNeese State (7-9, 0-0 Southland) | Thursday, March 2 | 1 p.m. PST

• The 7-9 Cowboys have played some of the top teams close, losing by one run to both No. 4 LSU and No. 24 Baylor.
• In 2016, they won the Southland Conference Tournament, advancing to the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. They beat Arizona State before falling to LSU and then again to the Sun Devils.
• BYU has not faced McNeese State since 2003 when the two teams played twice at the Texas A&M Tournament, with the Cougars winning both games.
   

San Diego State (8-5, 0-0 MW) | Thursday, March 2 | 6 p.m. PST

• The Aztecs picked up a big win over the weekend against No. 17 Utah at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, improving their record to 8-5.
• As former Mountain West Conference foes, BYU has a 27-24 all-time record over SDSU, including a 16-11 advantage on the road. In 2016, the Cougars fell 3-2 in the San Diego Classic.
   

Miami (Ohio) (5-8, 0-0 MAC) | Friday, March 3 | 1 p.m. PST

• The RedHawks have started 2017 with a 5-8 record.
• After winning the 2016 MAC Tournament, they advanced to the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional, picking up one win against Notre Dame.
• BYU has played Miami just twice in its history, winning both matchups. The last win came in 2006, a 10-0 run-rule victory at the Stanford Classic in Stanford, California.
   

Detroit Mercy (3-7, 0-0 Horizon League) | Friday, March 3 | 3:30 p.m. PST

• The Bulldogs have started their season on the road, gathering a 3-7 record.
• In 2016, they had a 17-39 overall record, 7-17 in conference play.
• This game will be the first meeting between BYU and Detroit Mercy.
   

Boston University (5-4, 0-0 Patriot League) | Saturday, March 4 | 1 p.m. PST

• The Terriers have started 2017 with a 5-4 record, picking up a win over then-No. 23 Florida Atlantic.
• In 2016, they advanced to the NCAA Lafayette Regionals after winning the Patriot League Championships.
• BYU and Boston have never played in softball before this game.