PROVO, Utah – The BYU softball team completed a sweep over San Diego on Saturday, finishing the series with a 7-1 win at Gail Miller Field.

"As coaches we were very impressed with the teams effort and energy today and all weekend," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said.  "Again today, we played well in every area of the game. Today was another big win."

Game Highlights:

• In the top of the third inning, BYU first baseman Olivia Sanchez made a dive catch on a bunt pop out.
• After two scoreless innings, Marissa Chavez singled to right field and later advanced all the way home on a throwing error by catcher Madison Casiano to first base.
• Emilee Erickson led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a home run, increasing the score to 2-0.
• In the bottom of the fifth inning, Emilee Erickson doubled to right center, resulting in two RBI.
• In the bottom of the fifth inning, Allie Hancock tripled when she hit the ball to the left field wall.

Player Highlights:

• Emilee Erickson: 2-3, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 2B
• Taylei Williams: 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB
• Allie Hancock: 1-1, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 3B
• Arissa Paulson: W (12-8), 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 SO

BYU vs. USD Game 3 Box Score

Marissa Chavez earned the Cougars (24-20, 8-1 WCC) their first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Chavez singled to right field then, with Brooke Vander Heide at bat, advanced home on an error by San Diego (19-24, 3-6 WCC) catcher Madison Casiano who overthrew a ball to the first baseman. 

To lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, Emilee Erickson hit a homer to center field, increasing the score to 2-0.

Then in the fifth inning Erickson drove in Rylee Jensen and Taylei Williams on a double to right center to make the score 5-0. Allie Hancock smashed one to the left field wall later in the inning, advancing all the way to third base. She then made it home on a single from Lexi Tarrow, extending BYU’s lead to 7-0.

After trailing 7-0 at the top of the sixth inning, San Diego’s Sophia Bjerk hit a home run to left field, giving the Toreros their first and only run of the game.

The Cougars return to Gail Miller Field on Wednesday, May 1, to take on Utah in the Deseret First Duel. The game will be televised on BYUtv Digital and will begin at 6 p.m. MDT.

PROVO, Utah – Following a week off from West Coast Conference competition, BYU softball plays one more non-conference game against Southern Utah before a weekend WCC series against San Diego this week. 

BYU Game Notes

On Wednesday, the Thunderbirds travel to Provo for their second game this season against the Cougars. The game will being at 6 p.m. MT with a live stream on BYUtv.  

Then, BYU will play the Toreros in a doubleheader on Friday followed by one game on Saturday. The games on Friday are slated for 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. with the Saturday game beginning at 1 p.m. All three games will be broadcast live on BYUtv. 

BYU Storylines

THIRD CONFERENCE SERIES. After a week off from West Coast Conference play, BYU returns home for its third conference series against San Diego. The Cougars are currently 5-1 in conference play after sweeping Pacific. 

NATIONAL ACTIVE LEADER. Libby Sugg is currently No. 2 nationally among active career leaders in RBI with 204. Sugg has tallied 23 so far this season including tying her career-high of five RBI against UTEP. She is also No. 9 nationally in career homers (47), No. 11 in total bases (385) and No. 25 in doubles (42).

CHASING THE CHARTS. A handful of BYU softball players are moving up in the BYU all-time record books. Senior Libby Sugg finished the 2018 season ranked No. 2 and No. 3 at BYU in career on-base percentage (.455) and slugging percentage (.700), respectively. She continues to move up in other categories including No. 2 in doubles (45), No. 3 in RBI (204), No. 5 in homers (47) and No. 5 in walks (101). Arissa Paulson moved into the No. 9 spot for career shutouts (6) and No. 10 in complete games (25) in career strikeouts with 235.

NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK. Rylee Jensen was named the Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on April 16. She also earned her fourth WCC Player of the Week award after her performance in the sweep of Pacific. The starting left fielder batted .900 through three games over the weekend totaling nine hits, five runs, four RBI as well as a homer, a triple and a double.

Opponent Outlook

Southern Utah | Wednesday, April 24 | 6 p.m. MDT | BYUtv Digital

• The Thunderbirds currently have a 3-20 record with a 1-2 record in the Big Sky Conference 

• Earlier this season, the Cougars traveled to Cedar City and came away with a 14-3 win. BYU still holds the series 55-7. 

•Head Coach Kortny Hall begins her first season as the Thunderbirds head coach after five seasons as the head coach at Southern Virginia University. 

San Diego | Friday, April 26 at 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 27 at 1 p.m. | BYUtv

• The Toreros currently have a 19-21 record and are 3-3 in conference after falling to LMU two weeks ago

• This will be the 27th meeting between the two teams with the Cougars holding the advantage at 22-5 after sweeping San Diego last season. 

• Head Coach Melissa McElvain enters her 18th season as the Toreros head coach with an overall record of 380-497.