HENDERSON, Nev. – Seven home runs on the day led the BYU softball team to two wins, a 19-4 win over UTEP, followed by another run-rule win against Fordham 11-3 on its final day of the Boyd Gaming Rebel Classic on Saturday afternoon.

"We played two solid games today even though we started slow in both games," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Our bats were alive and our pitching took control. I liked our teams effort today.

Rylee Jensen clubbed three over the fence, including two against Fordham (4-5, 0-0). Jensen went 4 for 5 on the day, hit three home runs, driving in six runs, scoring six times and walked three times.

Olivia Sanchez also hit two home runs against UTEP (2-4, 0-0), including a grand slam. She went 3 for 4 at the plate with six RBI in the game. Libby Sugg, Emilee Erickson and Marissa Chavez all tallied dingers on the day and Erin Miklus went 3 for 3 against UTEP scoring three runs and two RBI.

Autumn Moffat and Arissa Paulson both took wins in the games as Moffat had eight strikeouts and allowed no earned runs against UTEP.

In both games, the eight-run rule was applied as BYU (4-4, 0-0) came out on the winning end of both big games.

Game One

In the first game of the day, BYU exploded for five home runs, including a grand slam, tallying 16 hits and 17 RBI across the team with no errors. The Cougars doubled their total runs through the first six games in the game recording 19 runs against the Miners.

BYU vs. UTEP Box Score

BYU scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. Jensen drew a walk followed by a sacrifice bunt from Miklus to advance Jensen to second. Erickson and Sugg both walked to load the bases. Jensen came home on a passed ball to make the score 1-0. Martha Epenesa drew a walk and Olivia Sanchez reached first on a fielding error bringing Erickson home and the Cougars ended the inning ahead 2-0.

A UTEP home run for their first at bat brought the score to 2-1. With a three-run home run two batters later, the Miners took the lead at 4-2.

In the top of the second, Jensen homered and Sugg sent one over the fence tallying three RBI to make the score 6-4. The Cougars’ bats stayed hot in the top of the third and added seven runs, including a two-run dinger from Sanchez and Marissa Chavez’ first BYU career homer to make the score 13-4.

BYU continued to fire on all cylinders in the top of the fourth as Miklus nailed a double to right center and Jensen scored to make the score 14-4. Sanchez blasted a grand slam to bring the Cougar run total to 18. BYU tacked on one more and the Miners were unable to score a run and the Cougars took the win 19-4.

Game 2

BYU continued its scoring spree into the second game of the day but Fordham took an early lead in the first inning. A two-run homer followed by a solo shot put the Rams up 3-0.

BYU vs. Fordham Box Score

But, the Cougars came out swinging in the bottom of the second scoring six runs. Sanchez and Morgan Bevell both got on base, before Aubrielle Paulson came in as a pinch runner for Sanchez. Tarrow singled driving in Aubrielle Paulson and Jensen sent a ball flying over the fence to give BYU its first lead of the game 4-3. Erickson hit a dinger to left field and Sanchez, in her second at bat of the inning, hit a double and Sugg made it home. The Cougars ended the inning ahead 6-3.

In the bottom of the third, BYU tallied two more runs as Jensen hit her third home run of the day making the score 8-3. The Cougars tacked on the final three runs in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 11-3. After the top of the fifth inning, the eight-run rule was applied and BYU won 11-3.

Next up, the Cougars continue on the road at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic for five games. BYU kicks off its tournament schedule on Thursday Feb. 21 with a game against Nebraska at 10:30 a.m. PT followed by a game against Missouri at 1:00 p.m. Live stats can be found on the schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – The BYU softball team travels to Las Vegas for the 2019 Boyd Gaming Rebel Classic for five games beginning Thursday afternoon. 

BYU Games Notes

Previously called the Marucci Desert Classic, the Cougars (1-3, 0-0) will play five teams all from different conferences. 

The games start Thursday, Feb. 14 with a doubleheader, the first game against Fordham at 1 p.m. and game two vs. Hawai’i at 5 p.m. The tournament continues on Friday, Feb. 15 with a game against UC Davis at 1:30 p.m. and then against Georgetown at 3:30 p.m. PT. The tournament concludes with a game against UTEP on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 11:00 a.m. All times are Pacific. 

The first two games will be played at UNLV’s Eller Media Stadium with the final three games to be played at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in Henderson, Nevada. Live stats will be available on the BYU schedule page.

BYU Storylines

Five Games. The Boyd Gaming Rebel Classic is the first of four straight tournaments where BYU will play five games in a weekend. The other tournaments include the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, San Diego Classic and the UCLA/Long Beach State Invitational.  

Power at the Plate. BYU captain Libby Sugg returns for her final season at BYU. The two-time captain has been named to the USA Softball College Softball Player of the Year watch list and was named NFCA All-American Third Team after the 2018 season. She finished the season ranked nationally as No. 7 in RBI (67), No. 10 in RBI per game (1.16), No. 32 in batting average (0.414),  No. 33 in on base percentage (0.707) and No. 58 in slugging percentage.

Return to Vegas. This is the 14th consecutive year that BYU will travel to Las Vegas for a tournament before conference play beings. The Cougars first went in 2005 when the tournament was called the Louisville Slugger Desert Class. Last season, BYU came away with a 3-2 record beating Hawai’i, Florida International and New Mexico. 

Senior Leadership. The Cougars return four seniors: Libby Sugg, Allie Hancock, Olivia Sanchez and Lexi Tarrow. Sugg and Hancock have been named captains of the team while all four players could be starters for the Cougars. Sugg and Tarrow were named All-WCC First Team following the 2018 season. 

Opponents Outlook 

Fordham | Thursday, Feb. 14 | 1:00 p.m. PT | 

• The Rams finished the 2018 season with a 33-23 overall record and took their sixth straight Atlantic 10 championship.

• Fordham advanced to the Baton Rouge Regional following the regular season in 2018, but were eliminated in the first round.

•This is the third meeting between the two teams with BYU having the advantage 2-0 

•Head Coach Melisssa Inouye enters into her 6th season compiling a 112-173 record 

Hawai’i | Thursday, Feb. 14 | 5:00 p.m. PT | 

• In 2018, the Rainbow Warriors had a 23-27overall record, going 7-14 in the Big West.

• The Cougars hold the series with a 14-2 record. The two teams played against each other last year in the same tournament as BYU took the win 2-1. 

• Bob Coolen is in his 32nd season as the head coach for Hawai’i, recording a 1045-691 overall record. 

UC Davis | Friday, Feb. 15 | 1:30 p.m. PT | 

• The Aggies posted a 27-24 overall record during the 2018 season, including going 9-12 in the Big West

• The game in Vegas will be the third time the two teams will meet with BYU holding the advantage at 2-1. 

• Erin Thorpe starts the 5th season with the Aggies recording a 306-413 overall record. 

Georgetown | Friday, Feb. 15 | 3:30 p.m. PT | 

• In 2018, the Hoyas went 16-36 and a 7-13 mark in the Big East

• This will be the first meeting between the two teams

• Pat Conlan enters her 14th season leading the Hoyas compiling an overall record of 256-518

UTEP | Saturday, Feb. 16 | 11:00 a.m. PT | 

• The Miners went 21-33 overall during the 2018 season, going 15-8 in C-USA 

• BYU currently holds the advantage against UTEP with a 3-0 record. 

• Tobin Echo-Hawk enters her 11th season with an overall record of 233-301