MORAGA, Calif. – The offense struggled as No. 20 BYU softball split the doubleheader at Saint Mary’s on Saturday to wrap up West Coast Conference play, dropping the first game 1-0 and taking the second game 4-1.

BYU (44-11, 14-1 WCC) finishes with the best conference record in program history. The Cougars, who clinched the WCC title last weekend at Santa Clara, have never lost just one game in conference play prior to this year. Saint Mary’s (17-31, 3-12 WCC) earned one of its best wins in program history by upsetting BYU and snapping the 22-game win streak in the first game of the doubleheader.

Game one

BYU’s 22-game win streak came to an end in the first game of the doubleheader. McKenna Bull pitched the complete game and threw 10 strikeouts, her fifth game this year tossing double-digit Ks.

The first four innings were scoreless for both teams, with each leaving three on base. Only two hits were tallied in that span, both coming from BYU.

The Gaels finally got a hit on the board in the bottom of the fifth to start off the frame, but Bull struck out three in a row to stop the potential rally and keep it square at 0-0.

Lauren Bell led off the top of the six with a single in shallow left center to spark some life into the offense. Libby Sugg followed that up a two at bats later with a line-drive single to the same spot. However, the Saint Mary’s pitcher Katie Moss struck out two to end the side.

In the bottom of the seventh with runners on first and second and two outs, Nikki Alexander hit a walk-off single to right field, allowing Cara DiMercurio to reach home for the lone run of the game.

BYU at Saint Mary’s Game One Box Score

Game two

Behind big performances from Jensen and Alexa Strid, BYU took the second game 4-1. Jensen went 3 for 3 with two runs, her second game in her career with perfect hitting. Strid went 3 for 4 with two RBI in the win. Arissa Paulson pitched the 6.0 innings, throwing four strikeouts.

The Cougars bounced back in the second game, immediately getting to work. In the top of the first, Strid hit an RBI double to left center, scoring Jensen for the first run of the day. BYU led 1-0 after the first inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Gaels tied up the game. A groundout to second base gave the runner on third time to reach home, making it 1-1 heading into the fifth.

Saint Mary’s threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. The Gaels got runners on first and third with two outs on the board, but Strid handled a well-hit ball to get the third out and keep it tied.

The offense came alive in the top of the seventh. Caitlyn Larsen Alldredge started the rally with a bunt and was able to get to second due to an error. After Jensen was walked, Bell came up to bat. She knocked a triple down the right-field line to bring home both Alldredge and Jensen. Strid followed that up with a single that dropped right in the middle of the field, scoring Bell. BYU led 4-1 going into the final frame.

The Gaels got runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, but Bull came in to relieve Paulson, earning three-straight outs to seal the win.

BYU at Saint Mary’s Game Two Box Score

The Cougars will find out where they will be playing in the 2017 NCAA Regionals next week during the Selection Show on Sunday at 10 p.m. EDT. It will be televised live on ESPN2.

PROVO, Utah – Following a pair of wins early in the week, No. 20 BYU softball wraps up regular season and West Coast Conference play with a three-game series at Saint Mary’s this weekend.

BYU Game Notes

BYU (42-10, 12-0 WCC) is looking to finish up conference play undefeated for the first time in program history at Saint Mary’s (16-29, 2-10 WCC). The Cougars have won 21 games in a row after winning in-state matchups against Utah Valley and Utah State.

A single game will be played on Friday at 3 p.m. PDT. The series will wrap up with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. PDT. Live stats will be available for all three games on the BYU softball schedule page.

BYU Storylines

• BYU is in the midst of its longest winning streak in program history with 21-straight wins. During this span, the Cougars have picked up nine run-rule wins.
• For the fourth year in a row, BYU earned the WCC championship. This is also the ninth-consecutive conference championship for the Cougars, spanning four different leagues.
• In WCC play, BYU is a perfect 12-0. In program history, the Cougars have never been undefeated in conference play. The fewest number of conference games lost has been two, which happened in 2005, 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2015.
• At Gail Miller Field, BYU finished the year 16-0, just the second time in school history the Cougars posted an undefeated home record, the first since 2011. Only Florida State, Minnesota and Michigan have also maintained a perfect record at home this year.

Opponent Outlook

Saint Mary’s Gaels (16-29, 2-10 WCC)

• The Gaels are currently in last place in the WCC, their two conference wins coming against Santa Clara and San Diego.
• BYU holds a perfect 17-0 all-time record over Saint Mary’s. The Cougars have run-ruled the Gaels just twice in the history between these programs.
• The last time BYU played in Moraga, California, the first game of the series went to 10 innings with the Cougars enduring for the 7-3 win.