PROVO, Utah – A complete game propelled BYU softball to a sweep over Saint Mary’s with a 13-1 win Saturday at Gail Miller Field.

“We had a solid day,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “Our pitching excelled, defense was solid, we had timely hits and played a really strong game.”

The Cougars (28-20, 8-1 West Coast Conference) scored 13 runs on 11 hits and stole four bases in five innings while holding the Gaels (13-30, 1-8 WCC) to four hits, due to the NCAA eight-run rule.

Nine different BYU players crossed home with Caitlyn Alldredge, Bridget Fleener and Madison Merrell scoring two runs apiece. Alldredge hit a grand slam and led the team with five RBI while Libby Sugg went a perfect 2 for 2 at the plate with three RBI. Rylee Jensen went 2 for 3 with one run and one RBI. Allie Hancock sent a solo shot over the right-field fence for the Cougars’ second home run of the day.

Kerisa Viramontes and Arianna Paulson shared pitching duties. Viramontes tallied four strikeouts with only one run allowed and one walk in three innings. Paulson came in relief and recorded two strikeouts.

In the bottom of the second frame, Sugg led off and walked with a full count. Fleener then reached first on a Saint Mary’s error, advancing Sugg to second. A fielder’s choice got Sugg out at third but allowed Alexa Strid to get on base. Both runners stole bases to advance. Merrell was hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out. Alldredge stepped up to the plate and with a 3-1 count smashed a grand slam over left field to give BYU a 4-0 lead.  

The Gaels answered back in the third with a run of their own. Kimiko Zapanta singled to third and then stole second with Julia McCormack batting. Abbey Mariani then singled to left field, driving in Zapanta to make it 4-1.

The Cougars maintained their momentum in the third, scoring eight runs on eight hits. Tarrow led off with a double down the left-field line. Sugg followed with a single up the middle, reaching second on the throw, scoring Tarrow to put BYU up 5-1.

Fleener walked, forcing Saint Mary’s to put Katlyn Whitt in the circle. Erin Miklus came in as a pinch runner for Sugg before Strid grounded out to the pitcher, moving the runners up. Miklus beat the throw to home on a bunt from Merrell for a 6-1 advantage. Merrell stole second to put two runners in scoring position.

Alldredge then reached first on a fielder’s choice, advancing Merrell to third and scoring Fleener to make it 7-1. Alldredge stole third before Brooke Vander Heide sent a two-run triple down the right-field line as Alldredge and Merrell came across to give the Cougars a 9-1 lead.   

With just one out, Jensen singled up the middle to drive in Vander Heide and make it 10-1. Breland then singled to left field. Sugg singled up the middle, scoring Jensen and Breland, for a 12-1 advantage.

BYU continued to dominate in the bottom of the fourth, as Allie Handcock homered to right field. Saint Mary’s went three up, three down in the fifth to end the game.

BYU vs. Saint Mary's Box Score

The Cougars play a rescheduled game at Southern Utah University on Tuesday, April 30, in Cedar City, Utah. The game begins at 4 p.m. MDT at Kathryn Berg Field.  

PROVO, Utah – Following a 5-2 win at Utah in the Deseret First Duel last week, BYU softball begins a four-game homestand with Utah State on Wednesday and a three-game series against conference foe Saint Mary’s.

BYU Game Notes

The Cougars (25-19, 5-1 West Coast Conference) face the Aggies (16-27, 6-12 Mountain West) for the second time this season Wednesday at 6 p.m. MDT. BYU plays Saint Mary’s (13-27, 1-5 WCC) in a doubleheader Friday at 5 and 7 p.m. MDT. The three-game series against the Gaels concludes Saturday at 1 p.m. MDT.

Wednesday’s game and Friday’s doubleheader will be televised live on BYUtv. Saturday’s game can be streamed on TheW.tv. Links to live stats for all games will be available on the BYU softball schedule page.

BYU will host a ROC Party on Wednesday, which will include a barbecue, free t-shirts and one 40-inch LED HD TV giveaway for ROC students. A ROC pass must be shown to claim prizes. A wiffle ball game will also take place on the field after the softball game.

Following Saturday’s game, BYU coaches and players will put on a free clinic for youth softball teams ages 7-13 or grades 2-8. Youth players may receive free admission to the game if wearing team jerseys or coaches can sign up by emailing Brittany at brittany.s.smart@gmail.com with their name and team name. 

BYU STORYLINES:

• BYU beat Utah State 5-4 in Logan earlier this season behind Briielle Breland’s perfect 4 for 4 day at the plate. She had one home run, one double and two singles. The Cougars have only lost twice to the Aggies since 2000, once both home and away.
• Currently in second behind LMU in the WCC standings, BYU continues conference play against Saint Mary’s this weekend. Besides the Gaels, the Cougars have yet to play San Diego (25-21, 4-5 WCC) and LMU (26-20, 8-1 WCC) before wrapping up the season.
• BYU ranks No. 21 nationally and No. 1 in the WCC in home runs per game with 1.05. Twelve Cougars have hit 46 homers in 44 games so far this season, led by Libby Sugg’s 10. Rylee Jensen, Briielle Breland and Caitlyn Alldredge follow with six while Lexi Tarrow has hit four. Alexa Strid, Madison Merrell and Bridget Fleener have all hit three apiece. Allie Hancock has hit two and Ashley Godfrey, Emilee Erickson and Olivia Sanchez have also hit dingers.

OPPONENTS OUTLOOK:
Utah State Aggies (16-27, 6-12 MWC)

• The Aggies are 16-27 this season and 6-12 in Mountain West play. They went 2-1 at New Mexico last week.
• BYU leads the overall series 38-2, winning 5-4 in Logan earlier this month. The teams have played every year since the Cougars’ first season in 2000, except for 2009.
• Steve Johnson is in his fifth year as head coach at Utah State and has compiled a record of 96-116 in four seasons.

Saint Mary’s Gaels (13-27, 1-5 WCC)

• The Gaels are 13-27 in 2018 and 1-5 in conference play. They beat San Diego 6-4 earlier this month.
• The Cougars carry a 19-1 edge in the overall series and most recently lost 1-0 at SMC last year.  
• Jessica Rodgers is in her 13th season at the helm of the Saint Mary’s program. She is the all-time winningest Gael softball coach with 263 wins in 12 years.