LAS -- No. 23 BYU softball saw double all over the scoreboard at the Desert Classic, doubling up Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 10-5, on Thursday.

The Cougars, facing the Cougars of SIUE for the first time, used a slew of doubles to stay within reach of SIUE and eventually take the lead after six runs in the fourth inning and career performance from sophomore pitcher Hannah Howell.

"I'm proud of them for battling and coming out on top," said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin, "but we can't keep starting out spotting runs to the other team."

Howell entered the game for BYU in the second inning after SIUE had jumped out to a 5-2 lead with no outs. The sophomore ended the inning with no more runs and the Cougars would never threaten again. Howell held SIUE scoreless for the remainder of the game, allowing three hits and striking out a career-high nine batters, including the SIUE side in the seventh inning.

"She came in and did a really good job for us, holding them while we chipped away and took control," Eakin said.

At the plate, the first BYU double resulted in two Cougars runs in the first inning. Senior catcher Jessica Fitu's shot to center field scored sophomore JC Clayton and junior Tiffany Messerschmidt.

Another double by junior Delaney Willard started off the second inning for BYU. With the bases loaded three batters later, it was Messerschmidt's turn to bring teammates in, jolting a two-run single to bring BYU within a run, 5-4.

BYU took the lead and then pulled away with a six-run fourth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, senior Caschjen Atagi doubled down the left-field line, bringing in Messerschmidt and sophomore JC Clayton. Junior Stacie Graham and Clayton would add RBI singles later in the inning.

Fitu went 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run. Messerschmidt also finished with three hits, adding two RBI and two runs.

BYU faces Cal Poly at 11:15 a.m. PT and Boise State at 1:30 p.m. PT on Friday.

SIU Edwardsville vs #23 BYU
02-17-11 at Las Vegas, Nev. (Eller Media Stadium)
SIU Edwardsville 5 (2-3)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
YANKOLOVICH, Chelsea ss..  2  1  0  0   2  0  0  2   0
BARRON, Lindsey lf.......  3  2  0  0   0  2  4  0   0
COONROD, Rachel dp.......  2  0  1  1   0  0  0  0   0
 FULGINITI, Brianna pr/dp  1  0  1  0   1  0  0  0   0
DAVIS, Whitney 1b........  4  1  1  0   0  0  6  0   1
SHEEDER, Paige rf........  3  1  0  0   1  1  0  0   1
TOOLEY, Taylor 2b........  2  0  1  1   2  0  2  2   0
SCHLAFKE, Kasey 3b.......  4  0  1  2   0  2  0  1   2
STANICEK, Samantha c.....  2  0  1  0   1  1  4  1   0
 RIGGS, Kayla ph.........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   1
MURPHY, Megan cf.........  3  0  0  0   0  3  1  0   4
DOWNING, A. p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
 COLEMAN, Lindsey p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 TAYLOR, Erika p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 27  5  6  4   7 10 18  7   9
BYU 10 (3-3)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
CLAYTON, JC ss...........  3  2  2  1   2  1  1  0   0
MESSERSCHMIDT, Tiffa lf..  5  2  3  2   0  1  2  0   0
DELAHOUSSAYE, Kristi 2b..  4  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   3
FITU,Jessica c...........  3  1  3  2   0  0  9  2   0
ATAGI,Caschjen 3b........  4  1  1  2   0  0  0  3   3
MANUMA, Katie 1b/dp......  3  0  0  0   1  0  1  0   1
 MILLETT,Lacey dp........  0  1  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
WILLARD, Delaney rf......  3  2  1  0   1  0  0  0   0
GRAHAM, Stacie dp/1b.....  4  0  2  1   0  0  6  0   2
DUGAS,Jessica cf.........  3  1  1  0   0  1  2  0   1
 ENGEL, Jenna ph.........  0  0  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
AFFLECK,Paige p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HOWELL,Hannah p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
Totals................... 32 10 13  8   5  3 21  7  10
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
SIU Edwardsville.... 320 000 0 -  5  6  2
BYU................. 220 600 X - 10 13  1
-----------------------------------------
E - YANKOLOVICH 2; ATAGI. LOB - SIUE 9; BYU 10. 2B - STANICEK, S.; FITU;
ATAGI; WILLARD; GRAHAM. HBP - FITU. SH - BARRON, L.. SB - BARRON, L.. CS -
MESSERSCHMIDT.
SIU Edwardsville       IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
DOWNING, A..........  3.1  9  8  7  2  0 20 23  68
COLEMAN, Lindsey....  0.0  1  2  2  3  0  1  4  18
TAYLOR, Erika.......  2.2  3  0  0  0  3 11 11  31
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
AFFLECK,Paige.......  1.0  4  5  3  4  1  7 12  49
HOWELL,Hannah.......  6.0  2  0  0  3  9 20 23 102
Win - HOWELL (1-1).  Loss - DOWNING, A. (1-1).  Save - None.
WP - COLEMAN, L.. HBP - by DOWNING, A. (FITU). BK - DOWNING, A.; COLEMAN, L.. PB
- FITU. Pitches/strikes: DOWNING, A. 68/40; COLEMAN, L. 18/6; TAYLOR, E. 31/23;
AFFLECK 49/21; HOWELL 102/63.
Umpires - HP: Kevin Davis  1B: Bob Shelton  3B: Steve McCown
Start: 4:00 pm   Time: 2:15   Attendance:
Weather: 58*, breezy to North
AFFLECK faced 3 batters in the 2nd.
COLEMAN, L. faced 4 batters in the 4th.
SIU Edwardsville starters: 7/ss YANKOLOVICH; 26/lf BARRON, L.; 16/dp COONROD,
R.; 15/1b DAVIS, W.; 2/rf SHEEDER, P.; 0/2b TOOLEY, T; 11/3b SCHLAFKE, K.; 4/c
STANICEK, S.; 5/cf MURPHY, M.; 18/p DOWNING, A.;
BYU starters: 16/ss CLAYTON; 20/lf MESSERSCHMID; 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 10/c FITU;
9/3b ATAGI; 31/1b MANUMA; 28/rf WILLARD; 21/dp GRAHAM; 19/cf DUGAS; 12/p
AFFLECK;
SIU Edwardsville 1st - YANKOLOVICH walked (3-0). BARRON, L. reached on a
fielder's choice to catcher (1-2); YANKOLOVICH out at second c to ss. BARRON,
L. stole second. COONROD, R. grounded out to 3b (3-1). DAVIS, W. singled to
third base (1-0); BARRON, L. advanced to third. SHEEDER, P. walked (3-0);
DAVIS, W. advanced to second. TOOLEY, T singled through the right side, RBI
(0-0); SHEEDER, P. advanced to second; DAVIS, W. advanced to third; BARRON, L.
scored. SCHLAFKE, K. singled up the middle, 2 RBI (1-1); TOOLEY, T advanced to
second; SHEEDER, P. scored; DAVIS, W. scored. SCHLAFKE, K. advanced to second
on a passed ball; TOOLEY, T advanced to third on a passed ball. STANICEK, S.
walked (3-0). MURPHY, M. struck out swinging (2-2). 3 runs, 3 hits, 0
errors, 3 LOB.
BYU 1st - CLAYTON walked (3-1). CLAYTON advanced to second on an illegal
pitch. MESSERSCHMID reached on a throwing error by ss (2-1). DELAHOUSSAYE
fouled out to c (0-0). FITU doubled to right center, 2 RBI (0-0); MESSERSCHMID
scored, unearned; CLAYTON scored. ATAGI flied out to lf (0-0). MANUMA grounded
out to 3b (0-1). 2 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.
SIU Edwardsville 2nd - YANKOLOVICH walked (3-2). BARRON, L. reached on a
fielding error by 3b, SAC, bunt (2-1); YANKOLOVICH advanced to second. MANUMA
to dp. GRAHAM to 1b. COONROD, R. singled up the middle, advanced to second on
the throw, RBI (2-1); BARRON, L. advanced to third; YANKOLOVICH scored,
unearned. HOWELL to p for AFFLECK. DAVIS, W. grounded out to 1b unassisted
(1-1); BARRON, L. scored, unearned. FULGINITI, B pinch ran for COONROD, R..
SHEEDER, P. flied out to lf (0-2). TOOLEY, T walked (3-1). SCHLAFKE, K. flied
out to lf (2-2). 2 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.
BYU 2nd - WILLARD doubled to left center (0-0). GRAHAM flied out to lf
(0-1). DUGAS singled to third base (2-2); WILLARD advanced to third. CLAYTON
singled to shortstop (1-0); DUGAS advanced to second. MESSERSCHMID singled up
the middle, 2 RBI (0-0); CLAYTON advanced to second; DUGAS scored; WILLARD
scored. DELAHOUSSAYE popped up to p (1-2). FITU singled up the middle (1-0);
MESSERSCHMID advanced to second; CLAYTON advanced to third. ATAGI grounded out
to ss (1-1). 2 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
SIU Edwardsville 3rd - STANICEK, S. struck out looking (3-2). MURPHY, M.
struck out swinging (1-2). YANKOLOVICH flied out to cf (1-0). 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 3rd - MANUMA flied out to lf (0-0). WILLARD grounded out to 2b
(2-2). GRAHAM doubled to right center (0-1). DUGAS flied out to lf (3-2). 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
SIU Edwardsville 4th - BARRON, L. struck out swinging (1-2). FULGINITI,
B to dp. FULGINITI, B singled to center field (0-0). DAVIS, W. grounded out to
p (1-2); FULGINITI, B advanced to second. SHEEDER, P. flied out to cf (2-0).
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 4th - CLAYTON walked (3-1). MESSERSCHMID singled to third base
(3-2); CLAYTON advanced to second. DELAHOUSSAYE grounded out to p (2-2);
MESSERSCHMID advanced to second; CLAYTON advanced to third. FITU hit by pitch
(2-0). ATAGI doubled down the lf line, 2 RBI (0-0); FITU advanced to third;
MESSERSCHMID scored; CLAYTON scored. COLEMAN, L. to p for DOWNING, A.. ATAGI
advanced to third on a wild pitch; FITU scored on a wild pitch. MANUMA walked
(3-1). MILLETT to dp for MANUMA. WILLARD walked (3-0); MILLETT advanced to
second. GRAHAM singled to shortstop, RBI (0-2); WILLARD advanced to second;
MILLETT advanced to third; ATAGI scored. ENGEL pinch hit for DUGAS. GRAHAM
advanced to second on an illegal pitch; WILLARD advanced to third on an illegal
pitch; MILLETT scored on an illegal pitch. ENGEL walked (3-2). DUGAS to cf for
ENGEL. TAYLOR, E. to p for COLEMAN, L.. CLAYTON singled to second base, RBI
(0-2); DUGAS advanced to second; GRAHAM advanced to third; WILLARD scored.
MESSERSCHMID struck out swinging (1-2). DELAHOUSSAYE grounded out to ss (0-0).
6 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
SIU Edwardsville 5th - MANUMA to dp for MILLETT. TOOLEY, T grounded out
to 3b (3-2). SCHLAFKE, K. struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b (2-2).
STANICEK, S. doubled down the lf line (0-2). MURPHY, M. struck out swinging
(0-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 5th - FITU singled to center field (1-0). ATAGI reached on a
fielding error by ss (1-0); FITU advanced to second. MANUMA popped up to 2b
(1-0). WILLARD grounded out to 2b (0-0); ATAGI advanced to second; FITU
advanced to third. GRAHAM flied out to cf (1-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2
LOB.
SIU Edwardsville 6th - YANKOLOVICH grounded out to 3b (2-2). BARRON, L.
struck out swinging (0-2). FULGINITI, B walked (3-2). DAVIS, W. grounded out to
p (3-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 6th - DUGAS struck out looking (0-2). CLAYTON struck out looking
(2-2). MESSERSCHMID singled to shortstop (1-0). MESSERSCHMID out at second c to
2b, caught stealing. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
SIU Edwardsville 7th - SHEEDER, P. struck out looking (1-2). TOOLEY, T
walked (3-1). SCHLAFKE, K. struck out swinging (2-2). RIGGS, K. pinch hit for
STANICEK, S.. RIGGS, K. struck out swinging (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors,
1 LOB.

No. 23 BYU softball is traveling to Las Vegas to participate in the Desert Classic on Feb. 17-19, facing Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Cal Poly, Boise State, No. 18 Stanford and Cal State Northridge.

COUGAR QUICK HITS

— The Cougars are a combined 10-9 against opponents in this year’s Desert Classic, including 5-3 vs. Cal Poly, 1-0 vs. Boise State, 2-5 vs. Stanford and 2-1 vs. Cal State Northridge. This weekend will be the first meeting between BYU and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

— BYU split its first two games against ranked teams last week, losing to No. 14 Oregon, 3-2, before defeating No. 19 Texas A&M, 7-2. The Cougars will face one ranked team, No. 18/19 Stanford, this weekend.

— Senior catch Jessica Fitu leads BYU with a .500 batting average after hitting 9-of-18 with 17 total bases, including two home runs and two doubles. Fitu was followed by freshman first baseman Katie Manuma who finished the weekend batting .471 by going 8-of-17 with 11 total bases, including one home run, in her first games as a Cougar.

— Fourteen fielders and two pitchers started at least one game for BYU at the Kajikawa Classic. Eleven different players scored at least one run while all four pitchers to enter the circle for the Cougars had at least one strikeout.

OPPONENTS SERIES NOTES

BYU will face SIUE for the first time in program history on Thursday. The Cougars split in their tournament last weekend, getting wins over Drexel and Campbell. SIUE is led by Taylor Tooley, batting .417 with three stolen bases, and pitcher Ali Downing, who holds a 0.77 ERA in two appearances last week, allowing one earned run and striking out five.

BYU and Cal Poly will face each other for the third-straight year and sixth time in the last five years. Last season, BYU trailed 2-0 going into the final inning before scoring three runs, including a two-RBI single by current Cougar senior Caschjen Atagi. Cal Poly’s Nicole Lund hit two home runs and gathered

five RBI last weekend for the Mustangs.

Boise State and BYU have faced off once before, a 7-3 win for the Cougars in 2009 in Provo. In that game, current senior Paige Affleck earned the win and another senior on this year’s team, Kristin Delahoussaye, hit 2-for-3 with three RBI. Boise State has had a tough time bringing runs in, averaging just 1.25 per game.

BYU and Stanford also have a recent history, having faced off in 2010, a 4-2 win for BYU that snapped a three-game losing streak to the then-No. 9 ranked Cardinal. Current Cougars Jessica Fitu and Delaney Willard each hit a home run in the game, scoring four-straight runs and after going down 2-0 after three innings. Stanford has a solid one-two punch at pitcher, with Teagan Gerhart sporting a 0.82 ERA with 16 strikeouts and Ashley Chinn bringing a 3-0 record with 18 strikeouts to the weekend. Jenna Rich leads Stanford at the plate after batting .526 and hitting four home runs with 13 RBI in the Cardinal’s first five games.

Cal State Northridge went 3-2 last weekend, with Hannah Fraijo earning two of the Matadors’ wins from the circle. CS-Northridge works with a relatively straight lineup, with eight players starting every game last weekend, led by Jennifer Mosier who leads the team with five hits and eight total bases.

BYU PICKED FIRST IN MWC PRESEASON POLL

PROVO -- A voting panel of the six Mountain West Conference head softball coaches chose defending league champion BYU as the favorite to win the 2011 MWC regular-season title.

In 2010, BYU (46-13 overall, 12-3 MWC) registered its sixth consecutive 40-win season on the way to its fifth MWC regular-season title and sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Cougars became the first MWC team to advance to an NCAA Super Regional. BYU head coach Gordon Eakin returns 11 letterwinners from last year’s MWC championship squad, including seven starters. Among the returning starters are 2010 all-MWC honorees Paige Affleck (three-year starting pitcher), Jessica Purcell-Fitu (catcher) and Kristin Delahoussaye (second base).

2011 MWC Preseason Poll

Team (1st place votes) Points

1. BYU (4) 24

2. San Diego State (2) 22

3. UNLV 15

4. Colorado State 13

5. Utah 11

6. New Mexico 5