PROVO, Utah – Hot-hitting early on led BYU to an 11-3 win over Utah Valley in the UCCU Crosstown Clash Tuesday evening as the Cougars celebrated Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month at Gail Miller Park.

“We’re just in the groove right now,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “The girls are zoning the ball up, getting good pitches, seeing it well and driving it. We’ve been effective offensively the last few weeks. If our pitching holds out, we’ll do good things."

After recording season highs of 18 hits and 18 runs at Southern Utah on Monday, the Cougar (30-20, 8-1 West Coast Conference) bats remained alive against the Wolverines (19-25, 10-4 Western Athletic Conference) to earn the victory in five innings, due to the NCAA eight-run rule. 

Seven BYU players combined for 11 hits and 10 RBI. Libby Sugg went 3 for 3 from the plate, recording a game-high four RBI and a home run. Alexa Strid also smashed a home run while Rylee Jensen and Lexi Tarrow each contributed two hits and two RBI.

Kerisa Viramontes pitched over four innings with Autumn Moffat finishing the game up in relief for the last out. Viramontes struck out five batters and improved to 16-6 on the year.

BYU escaped the top of the first inning giving up just one run after forcing Utah Valley to strand three runners on base.

Leadoff hitter Jensen got things started for the Cougars with a single up the middle. Jensen advanced to third base off of a double to center field from Briielle Breland, setting up a three-run homer from cleanup hitter Sugg to give the Cougars a 3-1 lead.

After the Wolverines walked Caitlyn Alldredge to start the bottom of the second, Brooke Vander Heide reached on a fielder’s choice. Vander Heide stole second before advancing to third off of a Jensen groundout. Breland then walked and immediately stole second.

Tarrow drove home Vander Heide and moved Breland up with a single to left field. Tarrow stole second and Breland stole home after two UVU players mishandled the throw to second. Sugg then recorded her third RBI of the day with a double down the right-field line as Tarrow came across the plate.

BYU scored its fourth run of the inning on a single to left center from Bridget Fleener, bringing Sugg in to make it 7-1.

The Wolverines answered with a two-run dinger over the right-field fence in the third frame. The Cougars, however, kept up their offensive momentum in the third, scoring another three runs.

Both Madison Merrell and Alldredge walked before Vander Heide laid down a sacrifice bunt. Jensen then doubled to left center as both runners came across. Tarrow ripped a single down the right-field line, allowing Jensen to cross the plate for a 10-3 advantage.

Strid drilled her fourth home run of the season for BYU's final run of the game.

BYU vs. Utah Valley Box Score

The Cougars travel to California to take on San Diego this weekend in a three-game series. The teams will first face off on Friday, May 4 at 6 p.m. PDT before playing a doubleheader on Saturday, May 5 at noon and 2 p.m. PDT. A link to live stats will be available on the BYU softball schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – A busy week of softball begins for BYU as the Cougars travel to Southern Utah Monday and host Utah Valley Tuesday before heading to conference foe San Diego this weekend for a three-game series.

BYU Game Notes

The rescheduled game between the Cougars (28-20, 8-1 West Coast Conference) and Thunderbirds (7-36, 4-14 Big Sky) will take place Monday at 4 p.m. MDT at Kathryn Berg Field. BYU then returns to Provo Tuesday to host a Cystic Fibrosis Awareness game against Utah Valley (19-24, 10-4 Western Athletic Conference) in the UCCU Crosstown Clash at 6 p.m. MDT. The Cougars conclude the week in San Diego (25-24, 4-8 WCC) with a matchup Friday at 6 p.m. PDT and a doubleheader Saturday at 12 and 2 p.m. PDT.

Monday’s Southern Utah game can be streamed on PlutoTV Channel 236 while the UCCU Crosstown Clash will be televised locally on KBYU-TV/Channel 11 and streamed live on YouTube. Links to the streams and live stats for all games will be available on the BYU softball schedule page.

BYU celebrates Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month on Tuesday with 6-year-old Team IMPACT teammate Emily Sorenson throwing the first pitch. The Cougars will wear purple ribbons and 100 purple plastic bracelets will be given out to fans.

BYU STORYLINES:

• The Cougars swept the Thunderbirds earlier this season at Gail Miller Park in two five-inning games. In the first game, Alexa Strid went a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate, with five of the team’s eight RBI. Briielle Breland also went 2 for 2 with two RBI, including two home runs. Five players contributed multiple hits to BYU's 14-hit tally in the night cap. Lexi Tarrow went 3 for 4 while Rylee Jensen, Libby Sugg, Emilee Erickson and Strid each contributed two hits for the Cougars.
• In the earlier UCCU Crosstown Clash matchup this year, BYU shut out Utah Valley 11-0 in five innings in Orem. Three Cougars had multiple hits, led by Libby Sugg’s perfect 3 for 3 from the plate and four RBI. Sugg hit her 10th home run of the season, a three-run dinger, and two doubles. Lexi Tarrow went 2 for 3 while Caitlyn Alldredge went 2 for 2, including one home run.
• Currently in second behind LMU in the WCC standings, BYU continues conference play against San Diego this weekend. The Cougars will play LMU (28-21-1, 11-1 WCC) in the final week of the regular season.
• BYU ranks No. 28 nationally and No. 1 in the WCC in home runs per game with 1.0. Twelve Cougars have combined to hit 48 homers in 48 games so far this season, led by Libby Sugg’s 10. Caitlyn Alldredge follows with seven while Rylee Jensen and Briielle Breland have six each. Lexi Tarrow has hit four while Alexa Strid, Madison Merrell, Bridget Fleener and Allie Hancock have all hit three apiece. Ashley Godfrey, Emilee Erickson and Olivia Sanchez have also hit dingers.

OPPONENTS OUTLOOK:
Southern Utah (7-36, 4-14 Big Sky)

• The Thunderbirds are 7-36 on the season and 4-14 in the Big Sky, most recently going 1-2 at Idaho State.
• BYU leads in the overall series 54-7. The Cougars swept a doubleheader earlier this season at home with 8-0 and 10-2 victories.
• Head coach Tom Gray is in his fourth season at Southern Utah and has an overall record of 55-134 with the Thunderbirds.

Utah Valley (19-24, 10-4 WAC) | Game Notes

• The Wolverines are 19-24 and 10-4 in conference play in 2018. Last week, they swept conference foe CSU Bakersfield.
• BYU leads the overall series 38-4 and won 11-0 in five innings against UVU earlier this season.
• TJ Hubbard is in his second season at the helm of the Utah Valley program after going 16-24 in 2017.

San Diego (25-24, 4-8 WCC)

• The Toreros are 25-24 this year and 4-8 in WCC play. They recently dropped three games to conference leader LMU.
• BYU leads the overall series 19-5 and went 3-0 against San Diego in 2017.
• Head coach Melissa McElvain is in her 17th season with the Torero program and has compiled an overall record of 361-473.