CEDAR CITY -- Rebounding from a 1-3 performance at the Red Desert Classic last weekend, the BYU softball team swept Southern Utah in two games, 8-0 and 10-4, Friday afternoon in Cedar City, Utah.

In game one, the Cougars benefited from pitcher Maryon Dewitt's second shutout performance of the season to claim the 8-0 win. Dewitt (3-2) struck out six and allowed just five hits in seven innings, while teammates Brooke Cadiente and Jackie Ellis each homered to lead the offensive assault. The team's home run leader with two, Cadiente finished with three RBI while Ellis and first baseman Mindy Hanson each batted in a pair of runs.

The Thunderbirds came out seeking revenge in the second game, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead and forcing pitcher Lindsay Jones out of the game after the first inning. BYU answered back, however, scoring in each successive inning for the 10-4 win. Meghann Pricer (4-3) pitched six scoreless innings in relief to get the win, while two more Cougars, Angie Christiansen and Julie Wallace, went deep for home runs. Wallace knocked in four runs in the game, and Christiansen drove in three.

"We hit the ball really well today," said BYU head coach Mary Kay Amicone. "They played us tough and were a really scrappy team and we knew we really needed to hit the ball. Our pitching was great as well."

As far as offensive power, BYU had hit just one home run as a team this season headed into the

weekend, but hit four against the Thunderbirds to lift its season total to five. BYU's 12 hits in the second game was also its second-highest single game total of the season.

The Cougars improved its record to 7-6, while the Thunderbirds fell to 0-12. BYU next takes the field next Saturday at third-ranked Arizona.

Following a 1-3 finish at the Red Desert Classic last weekend in St. George, Utah, the BYU softball team heads back south to take on Southern Utah in a doubleheader beginning Friday at 1:30 p.m.

Last Weekend

The Cougars faced two ranked opponents last weekend, falling first to No. 1 Washington, 8-2, on Friday and then No. 11 Stanford, 9-4, on Saturday. BYU was also shut out by Tulsa, 5-0, but recorded a one-run win over in-state rival Utah State University to set its season record at 5-6. Right fielder Brooke Cadiente hit the team's first home run ever in the loss against Stanford, a two-run shot in the sixth inning just inside the left-field line.

Injury Report

Third baseman Tracy Farley experienced a broken cheekbone and orbital lobe two weeks ago after being struck in the face by a ball. She will be out at least four more weeks. Megan Johnson, a freshman from Sandy, Utah, will continue at the hot corner until Farley returns to action.

Catcher Cassie Martin, ranked third in the nation at her position by USA Today in 1998, is still out due to recent ankle surgery and is expected to be sidelined for another week. In her absence, junior Angie Christiansen has taken over behind the plate for the Cougars.

BYU Probable Starters

•C -Angie Christiansen - R/R, Jr. (.176, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 RBI)

•1B - Mindy Hanson - R/R, Jr. (.273, 6 hits, 3 runs, 7 RBI)

•2B - Jackie Ellis - R/R, Jr. (.312, 10 hits, 3 runs, 4 RBI)

•SS - Becca Erickson - R/R, Jr. (.344, 11 hits, 2 runs, 4 RBI)

•3B - Megan Johnson - R/R, Fr. (.214, 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 RBI)

•RF - Brooke Cadiente - R/L, Fr. (.206, 7 hits, 6 runs, 6 RBI)

•CF - Liz Smith - L/R, So. (.290, 9 hits, 5 runs, 2 RBI)

•LF - Lindsay Hodgen - R/R, Jr. (.286, 10 hits, 9 runs, 1 RBI)

Pitching Notes

Ricks College transfer Maryon Dewitt is slated to start in game one against the Thunderbirds, while Lindsay Jones will get the nod in the second game. Dewitt is 2-2 in six appearances, posting a 2.93 ERA while striking out 19 and walking 12. Dewitt picked up the win against Utah State on Saturday for her second-ever Division I victory. Jones took the loss to Stanford last weekend to fall to 0-1 on the season. Jones has a 5.48 ERA in four

appearances, striking out three. BYU's third pitcher, Meghann Pricer, will be available for relief work.

BYU Team Leaders

After eleven games, shortstop Becca Erickson leads the team in batting average (.344) as well as hits (11) and doubles (3). Outfielder Lindsay Hodgen is the Cougar leader in runs scored (9) and stolen bases (8). First baseman Mindy Hanson remains the RBI leader with seven.

BYU Against the Competition

BYU's 3-2 victory over Utah State last weekend was its third one-run victory in 11 games. The Cougars are currently 3-1 in one-run games. While BYU is 0-3 against ranked opponents, against all other teams the Cougars have posted a 5-3 record in their inaugural season. BYU also is faring better on opponents' fields rather than neutral ground, going 3-2 in away games and 2-4 in neutral contests.

Scouting Southern Utah

Southern Utah comes into this weekend's doubleheader looking for its first win of the season. The Thunderbirds have posted a season record of 0-11, and also competed in last weekend's tournament, falling to Washington, Utah State, Oklahoma State and Utah. Junior outfielder Wendy Haramato leads the team with a .355 batting average. Haramato has started in all 11 of Southern Utah's games. The Thunderbirds pitching squad is led by freshman Lori Shepherd, who is 0-4 with a 5.65 ERA and 13 strikeouts.

Southern Utah Probable Starters

•C -Erin O'Donnell - R/R, Fr. (.083, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 RBI)

•1B - Shaylin Stoddard - L/R, So. (.091, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 RBI)

•2B - Kolbi Clothier - R/R, Fr. (.273, 6 hits, 0 runs, 0 RBI)

•SS - Joni Bardsley - R/R, Jr. (.318, 7 hits, 1 run, 2 RBI)

•3B - Sarah Poloni - R/R, Sr. (.148, 4 hits, 2 runs, 3 RBI)

•RF - Emily Cederholm - R/R, Jr. (.214, 6 hits, 1 run, 1 RBI)

•CF - Wendy Haramato - L/R, Jr. (.355, 11 hits, 5 runs, 2 RBI)

•LF - Kelly Grundy - R/R, Jr. (.208, 5 hits, 3 runs, 1 RBI)

Mountain West Conference Standings (as of 2/29/2000)

Team W L Perc. H A N Streak

UNLV 11 7 .611 9-4 0-0 2-3 Won 1

New Mexico 11 7 .611 4-2 2-2 4-4 Lost 2

Utah 8 7 .533 0-0 0-0 8-7 Lost 2 BYU 5 6 .455 0-0 3-2 2-4 Lost 1

Colorado St. 5 6 .455 0-0 0-2 5-4 Won 1

San Diego St. 6 11 .353 3-6 0-2 3-3 Won 1

Preseason Mountain West Conference Coaches' Poll

BYU was picked by the coaches in the Mountain West Conference to finish last in the conference in the preseason poll released Jan. 26. In-state rival University of Utah, where BYU head coach Mary Kay Amicone played and was an assistant coach for seven years, was picked to finish first.

Mountain West Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Utah (3) 23

2. New Mexico (2) 21

3. San Diego State (1) 18

4. UNLV 13

5. Colorado State 10

6. BYU 5

Player/Coach Interviews

Practices are held daily at 3:30 p.m. in the Smith Fieldhouse Annex. Player or Coach Amicone interviews may be arranged in advance through Tricia Garner, BYU Athletic Media Relations, at (801) 378-8999. Additional information may be obtained through e-mailing Tricia at amr-3@byu.edu or by fax at (801) 378-3520.