SALT LAKE CITY – McKenna Bull gave up just one hit as she and No. 21 BYU shutout Mississippi State 8-0 in six innings in the opening game of the NCAA Salt Lake City Regional on Thursday.

“That was a complete-team win," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We had timely hitting and excellent defense. When our team plays together like this, we are tough to beat."

BYU improved to 45-11 after winning its opening game of the NCAA regionals. Mississippi State drops to 36-21 after struggling defensively, committing three errors. The Cougars out-hit the Bulldogs 13-1.

Bull pitched a complete-shutout against the Bulldogs. She had just one strikeout, but gave up only one hit. Sophomore Lexi Tarrow went 3 for 4 in the win, almost hitting for the cycle with a single, double and triple. Every player in the lineup notched at least one hit in the win.

BYU vs. Mississippi State Box Score

The Cougars threatened to score in the bottom of the first. After Lauren Bell was walked, Tarrow’s bunt found the gap between the defenders for a single. Ashley Thompson’s hit to the shortstop was mishandled, allowing all baserunners to be safe. However, all three were left stranded, keeping it even at 0-0.

Alexa Strid started off the bottom of the second with a solo shot over left field. After Brooke Vander Heide reached first on an error, Rylee Jensen hit an RBI single right up the middle to push the lead to 2-0.

In the top of the third, the defense came up big to keep the Bulldogs without a hit. Vander Heide had a diving catch to get the lead-off hitter out. For the third out, Thompson stretched out for Alldredge’s throw, just barely getting the out.

Alldredge came up to bat in the bottom of the third, facing her second bases-loaded situation, and hit a fielder’s choice up the middle to score Tarrow. With Briielle Breland at the plate, Alldredge and Madison Merrell, pinch running for Libby Sugg, executed a double steal to score Merrell. Then Breland singled to the third baseman, bringing in Alldredge to extend the lead to 5-0.

The Cougars added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Following a double from Bell, Tarrow drilled a triple to right center, bringing home Bell. BYU was up 6-0 heading into the fifth inning.

Thompson brought in another run in the bottom of the sixth. She knocked a hit back to the center-field wall, popping off the centerfielder’s glove and scoring Bell.

BYU will now move into the winner’s bracket, playing tomorrow at 1 p.m. MDT at the Dumke Family Softball Stadium. The Cougars will face Utah after the Utes defeated Fordham on Thursday.

PROVO, Utah – After winning the 2017 West Coast Conference title to secure the 2017 NCAA Regionals automatic bid, No. 21 BYU softball will head to the Salt Lake City Regional, starting with a matchup against Mississippi State on Thursday.

“We are excited to be in the NCAA tournament again," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We look forward to playing quality teams in our own backyard."

The Cougars (44-11, 14-1 WCC) are making their 13th-consecutive NCAA Regionals appearance and 14th in program history. They won the WCC championship for the fourth-straight year, the ninth title in a row overall spanning four different conferences.

The Salt Lake City Regional includes host-team No. 16/17 Utah, Fordham and Mississippi State in addition to BYU.

In 2016, BYU traveled to the Missouri Regional where the Cougars picked up a win against Louisville but lost to No. 15 Missouri and Nebraska.

BYU Game Notes

BYU and Mississippi State will play at 4 p.m. MDT. The game will be televised live on ESPN3. The remaining schedule is as follows (all times MDT):

Thursday: 
4:00 p.m. - BYU vs. Mississippi State
6:30 p.m. - Fordham vs. Utah

Friday:
1:00 p.m. - Game 3 (winners from Thursday)
3:30 p.m. - Game 4 (losers from Thursday)
6:00 p.m. - Game 5 (winner from Game 4 vs. loser of Game 3)

Saturday:
2:00 p.m. - Regional Final
4:30 p.m. - Regional Final Game 2 (if necessary)

Fans can buy tickets at this link.

Opponents Outlook

Mississippi State Bulldogs (36-20, 10-14 SEC)

• The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 36-20 record, including a 10-14 record in the SEC. They were a No. 9 seed in the SEC tournament, losing in the opening round to Ole MIss, who went on to win the tournament championship.
• BYU has a 1-2 series record against Mississippi State. The last time these two teams faced was in 2012 in NCAA Regionals, which the Cougars won 4-3 in nine innings.
   

No. 16/17 Utah Utes (33-14, 13-9 Pac-12)

• The Utes finished in fifth in the Pac-12, struggling as of late after getting swept at home against Washington. 
• BYU and Utah faced earlier this season in Provo with the Cougars winning 4-3. Libby Sugg hit a pair of two-run homers to lead the team to an upset win.
• The Cougars lead the all-time series 33-17, including a 13-10 mark on the road. In 2016, BYU played at Utah and won 5-4.
   

Fordham Rams (45-15, 18-5 Atlantic 10)

• The Rams finished the season strong, winning the Atlantic 10 championship after already winning the regular-season title. 
• BYU has played Fordham just once previously, winning 5-2 back in 2014 in the Mary Nutter Classic.