SANTA CLARA, Calif. – As McKenna Bull pushed her scoreless innings pitched streak to 51, No. 20 BYU defeated Santa Clara in a doubleheader (5-0, 3-1) to clinch the West Coast Conference title, the Cougars’ fourth WCC championship in a row.

"This team has been special all year," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "The two wins today showed the same resiliancy and fight we've had all year. Winning the conference is a great accomplishment, and we look to build on that."

BYU (39-10, 11-0 WCC) earned sole possession of the WCC title after defeating Santa Clara (12-36, 4-10 WCC) in the second game of the doubleheader. This is the ninth conference championship in a row for the Cougars, spanning four conferences.

Bull pitched BYU to a complete game win in the first game and came in relief in the second game to pick up the win. She threw seven strikeouts on the night and has now extended her streak without giving up a run to 51 innings. Her season record is now 27-4.

At the plate, Caitlyn Larsen Alldredge led the team, going 4 for 7 on the day. Lauren Bell had two RBI, the most of the day for the Cougars.

Game one

BYU defeated Santa Clara 5-0 in the first game, with Bull increasing her streak without allowing a run to 49.2 innings while tossing six strikeouts in the win. Bull and the Cougar defense stifled the Broncos, never allowing more than four batters in a frame all game.

The second half of the lineup got it done in the first game. Briielle Breland led the offense, going 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs. Alldredge also had an impressive game, hitting a perfect 3 for 3 with two runs. This is her fourth game this year batting 1.000. Brooke Vander Heide also chipped in two hits and an RBI.

After two scoreless innings, the Cougars struck first in the top of the third. With Breland and Jensen on third and second, respectively, Bell hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Breland time to tag up and run home to put BYU up 1-0.

The top of the fourth saw one more run cross home plate for the Cougars. With Alldredge on third, Alexa Strid hit a grounder to shortstop, reaching on an error and sending Alldredge home.

The Broncos threatened to score in the bottom of the fourth after an error and a sacrifice bunt pushed the runner to third. However, Bull struck out two in a row to keep the shutout going. BYU led 2-0 after four innings.

In the top of the sixth, the Cougars added three more to their total. With runners on first and second, Breland drilled a triple to right center, notching two RBI. In the next at bat, Vander Heide hit a blooper over first base to bring home Breland, pushing the lead to 5-0.

Olivia Sanchez came in to start the seventh inning, making the Broncos go three up, three down to seal the 5-0 win.

BYU at Santa Clara Game 1 Box Score

Game two

The Cougar offense struggled in the back end of the doubleheader, but they were still able to grind out the 3-1 win. They went three up, three down in four of the frames. Arissa Paulson pitched 5.2 innings, throwing eight strikeouts and giving up just one run. Bull came in for relief in the bottom of the sixth, earning the win and pushing her record to 27-4.

Santa Clara came out strong in the second game. A lead-off single got the home team started. That runner would later score off of a single to right field as the Broncos took the early 1-0 lead over BYU.

The Cougars were held scoreless for the first four innings. A pair of singles from Libby Sugg and Alldredge got runners on in the top of the second, but the offense was unable to capitalize.

In the top of the fifth, BYU tied the game 1-1. After Jensen got walked to load up the bases, Bell hit a single to the shortstop, bringing in the first Cougar run. However, the three remaining baserunners were left stranded at the end of the frame.

BYU loaded up the bases again in the top of the seventh without any hits. When Lexi Tarrow came up to bat, she earned four balls to push Breland, the game-winning run, over home plate. Sugg also drew a walk in the next at bat for a second run, making it 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Bull struck out the final batter in the bottom of the seventh for the 3-1 win, clinching the WCC title.

BYU at Santa Clara Game 2 Box Score

The series against the Broncos wraps up on Saturday with a game at 12 p.m. PDT. Live stats will be available on the BYU softball schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – Riding a 15-game win streak, No. 20 BYU softball gears up to play Grand Canyon at home on Wednesday before traveling to Santa Clara for a three-game West Coast Conference series.

BYU Game Notes

BYU (36-10, 9-0 WCC) will look to maintain a perfect home record against Grand Canyon (36-15, 11-4 WAC). The Cougars are undefeated in conference play after sweeping San Diego last weekend. This weekend at Santa Clara (12-34, 4-8 WCC), BYU has a chance to win the 2017 WCC title outright by winning at least two games.

The game against the Lopes on Wednesday will start at 5 p.m. MDT and will be streamed live on theW.tv. In Santa Clara, the series will start with a doubleheader on Friday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. PDT, wrapping up the weekend with a game on Saturday at 12 p.m. PDT. All four games have live stats options on the BYU softball schedule page.

BYU Storylines

• The Cougars are currently riding a 15-game win streak. The program record for the longest win streak is 16 games, which was last achieved in 2014. During this span, BYU has picked up eight run-rule wins. The last four wins have all been mercy rule victories, which ties the 2008 and 2003 squads for the longest streak of run-rule wins.
• In Division I, BYU is one of six teams that are undefeated at home. The Cougars have amassed a perfect 13-0 record at Gail Miller Field. Florida State, Minnesota, Michigan, Marshall and Maine are the only other teams with perfect home records.
• Freshman Rylee Jensen was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week in addition to receiving the WCC Player of the Week nod. Over the four wins last week, she led BYU with a .667 batting average, tallying 12 RBI, eight runs and three home runs–two of which were walk-offs. This is the first national honor for a BYU player this season
• McKenna Bull has thrown 36.2-consecutive scoreless innings, a BYU record, spanning seven games. In five of those games, she has allowed only three hits or less.

Opponents Outlook

Grand Canyon (36-15, 11-4 WAC)

• The Lopes are currently tied for first place in the Western Athletic Conference with New Mexico State.
• They started off the 2017 season strong, compiling an 18-1 record.
• BYU has played Grand Canyon just once before, picking up the 4-0 win back in February 2016.
   

Santa Clara (12-34, 4-8 WCC)

• The Broncos won the series at Saint Mary’s back in early April, winning two of the three games.
• The Cougars hold a 16-2 all-time advantage over the Broncos, including an 8-1 mark on the road. BYU has swept Santa Clara in the past two seasons in WCC play.