PROVO, Utah -- Senior Jessica Fitu hit a grand slam and drove in seven runs as the Cougars beat UNLV 16-0 on Friday at Gail Miller Field on Senior Night.

With the win BYU improves to 31-15 overall and a conference-best 7-1 in the Mountain West. The Rebels fall to 22-18 and 4-5 in league play.

Fitu’s grand slam gives her five for her career, putting her third all-time in the NCAA record book. Senior Caschjen Atagi also hit a solo home run on Senior Night, while senior Kristin Delahoussaye added two hits, three runs, three RBI and two walks and senior Paige Affleck pitched four shutout innings for the win.

After scoring six runs in the first inning, the Cougars tacked on seven more in the fourth after hitting back-to-back-to-back home runs. Fitu started the streak with her grand slam before Atagi hit a line-drive shot over the left field fence. Sophomore Alexandra Hudson followed with a shot to center, her first home run of the season.

BYU didn’t have to put a ball in play to pick up an early lead in the first inning. The Cougars loaded the bases in the first on a leadoff walk to Delahoussaye, junior Tiffany Messerschmidt was hit by a pitch and freshman JC Clayton walked.

Fitu took the third walk of the inning to score a run. After a strikeout, back-to-back walks to junior Delaney Willard and freshman Carly Duckworth forced in Messerscmidt and Clayton for two more runs.

Junior Jessica Dugas picked up the first hit of the game on an infield single to second base to bring home Fitu. With two outs in the inning Delahoussaye came up for the second time and singled to left to score two more to give BYU a 6-0 lead on just two hits.

In the bottom of the third Duckworth reached on an infield single and Dugas laid down a perfect bunt to get on and move Duckworth to second. Delahoussaye walked to load the bases. After a force out at home Clayton hit another infield single to score Dugas.

Fitu came to the plate later in the inning with the bases loaded again and delivered, hitting a single to right field to drive in two runs and give the Cougars a 9-0 lead.

Up next the Cougars face UNLV on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Gail Miller Field.

UNLV at BYU
Apr 29, 2011 at Provo, Utah (Gail Miller Field)
UNLV 0 (22-18,4-5)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
EMERSON, Paige cf........  1  0  1  0   1  0  0  0   0
 MONTOYA, Christina cf...  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
HOLLAND, Ashli 2b........  2  0  0  0   0  1  1  0   0
 BRADSHAW, Rayna ph/2b...  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
ALEMAN, Tayler ss........  2  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HENRY, Samantha ph/ss...  1  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
WAGNER, Kylie dh/p.......  2  0  0  0   1  0  0  3   2
VALENTINO, Stefany rf....  1  0  0  0   1  0  0  0   2
 PETERSEN, Amber rf......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
MONREAL, Pauline lf......  2  0  0  0   0  1  3  0   0
VAN ACKER, Tayler 1b.....  1  0  0  0   0  0  4  0   0
 CUICO, Korin ph/1b......  0  0  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
HARRISON, Heather c......  1  0  0  0   1  1  4  0   0
BALILEA, Jaexie 3b.......  2  0  0  0   0  1  0  1   3
OLIVETO, Amanda p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 ODEGARD, Traci p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 17  0  2  0   5  6 12  4   7
BYU 16 (31-15,7-1)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
DELAHOUSSAYE, Kristi 2b..  2  3  2  3   2  0  2  1   0
MESSERSCHMIDT, Tiffa dh..  2  2  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
CLAYTON, JC ss...........  2  1  1  1   1  0  1  1   3
 HICKS, Krista ph/ss.....  0  1  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
FITU,Jessica c...........  3  2  2  7   1  0  6  1   0
ATAGI,Caschjen 3b........  3  1  1  1   0  1  0  1   0
 ROBB, Madisen 3b........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
WILLARD, Delaney rf......  2  1  0  1   1  0  0  0   3
 HUDSON,Alexandra rf.....  1  1  1  1   0  0  0  0   0
DUCKWORTH,Carly lf.......  2  2  1  1   1  1  0  0   0
GRAHAM, Stacie 1b........  3  0  0  0   0  1  4  0   0
 ENGEL, Jenna 1b.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
DUGAS,Jessica cf.........  3  2  3  1   0  0  1  0   0
AFFLECK,Paige p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 HOWELL,Hannah p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 23 16 11 16   8  3 15  5   6
Score by Innings               R  H  E
--------------------------------------
UNLV................ 000 00 -  0  2  0
BYU................. 603 70 - 16 11  0
--------------------------------------
LOB - LV 7; BYU 6. HR - FITU(9); ATAGI(10); HUDSON(1). HBP - MESSERSCHMID;
ATAGI; DUCKWORTH. SB - EMERSON, P.(6).
UNLV                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
OLIVETO, Amanda.....  0.1  0  6  6  5  1  1  7
WAGNER, Kylie.......  3.1  8  6  6  2  2 18 22
ODEGARD, Traci......  0.1  3  4  4  1  0  4  5
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
AFFLECK,Paige.......  4.0  1  0  0  5  4 13 18
HOWELL,Hannah.......  1.0  1  0  0  0  2  4  4
Win - AFFLECK (20-10).  Loss - OLIVETO, A. (19-10).  Save - None.
HBP - by OLIVETO, A. (MESSERSCHMID); by WAGNER, K. (ATAGI); by WAGNER, K.
(DUCKWORTH). PB - FITU(8).
Umpires - HP: Tom Topping  1B: Steve McCown  3B: Geri Magwire
Start: 6:05 pm   Time: 2:03   Attendance: 310
Weather: Cold and cloudy
UNLV starters: 21/cf EMERSON, P.; 7/2b HOLLAND, A.; 6/ss ALEMAN, T.; 24/dh
WAGNER, K.; 32/rf VALENTINO, S; 10/lf MONREAL, P.; 14/1b VAN ACKER, T; 25/c
HARRISON, H.; 8/3b BALILEA, J.; 31/p OLIVETO, A.;
BYU starters: 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 20/dh MESSERSCHMID; 16/ss CLAYTON; 10/c FITU;
9/3b ATAGI; 28/rf WILLARD; 3/lf DUCKWORTH; 21/1b GRAHAM; 19/cf DUGAS; 12/p
AFFLECK;
UNLV 1st - EMERSON, P. walked. HOLLAND, A. struck out looking. ALEMAN,
T. flied out to cf. EMERSON, P. stole second. WAGNER, K. walked. VALENTINO, S
popped up to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 1st - DELAHOUSSAYE walked. MESSERSCHMID hit by pitch; DELAHOUSSAYE
advanced to second. CLAYTON walked; MESSERSCHMID advanced to second;
DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to third. FITU walked, RBI; CLAYTON advanced to second;
MESSERSCHMID advanced to third; DELAHOUSSAYE scored. ATAGI struck out swinging.
WILLARD walked, RBI; FITU advanced to second; CLAYTON advanced to third;
MESSERSCHMID scored. DUCKWORTH walked, RBI; WILLARD advanced to second; FITU
advanced to third; CLAYTON scored. WAGNER, K. to p. /  for OLIVETO, A.. GRAHAM
flied out to lf. DUGAS singled to second base, RBI; DUCKWORTH advanced to
second; WILLARD advanced to third; FITU scored. DELAHOUSSAYE singled through
the left side, 2 RBI; DUGAS advanced to second; DUCKWORTH scored; WILLARD
scored. MESSERSCHMID walked; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to second; DUGAS advanced to
third. CLAYTON grounded out to p. 6 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
UNLV 2nd - MONREAL, P. lined out to ss. VAN ACKER, T grounded out to 1b
unassisted. HARRISON, H. walked. BALILEA, J. grounded out to c. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 2nd - FITU grounded out to p. ATAGI grounded out to 3b. WILLARD
grounded out to 1b unassisted. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 3rd - EMERSON, P. singled, bunt. HOLLAND, A. reached on a fielder's
choice; EMERSON, P. out at second ss to 2b. ALEMAN, T. grounded out to 3b;
HOLLAND, A. advanced to second. WAGNER, K. grounded out to p. 0 runs, 1 hit,
0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 3rd - DUCKWORTH singled to second base. GRAHAM struck out looking.
DUGAS singled, bunt; DUCKWORTH advanced to second. DELAHOUSSAYE walked; DUGAS
advanced to second; DUCKWORTH advanced to third. MESSERSCHMID reached on a
fielder's choice; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to second; DUGAS advanced to third;
DUCKWORTH out at home p to c. CLAYTON singled to third base, RBI; MESSERSCHMID
advanced to second; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to third; DUGAS scored. FITU singled
through the right side, 2 RBI; CLAYTON advanced to third; MESSERSCHMID scored;
DELAHOUSSAYE scored. ATAGI hit by pitch; FITU advanced to second. WILLARD flied
out to lf. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
UNLV 4th - VALENTINO, S walked. MONREAL, P. struck out looking. CUICO,
K. pinch hit for VAN ACKER, T. CUICO, K. walked; VALENTINO, S advanced to
second. CUICO, K. advanced to second on a passed ball; VALENTINO, S advanced to
third. HARRISON, H. struck out looking. BALILEA, J. struck out swinging. 0
runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 4th - PETERSEN, A. to rf for VALENTINO, S. CUICO, K. to 1b.
DUCKWORTH hit by pitch. GRAHAM popped up to 2b. DUGAS singled to second base;
DUCKWORTH advanced to second. DELAHOUSSAYE singled up the middle, RBI; DUGAS
advanced to second; DUCKWORTH scored. WAGNER, K. to dh. ODEGARD, T. to p.
MESSERSCHMID flied out to lf. HICKS pinch hit for CLAYTON. HICKS walked;
DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to second; DUGAS advanced to third. FITU homered to
center field, 4 RBI; HICKS scored; DELAHOUSSAYE scored; DUGAS scored. ATAGI
homered to left field, RBI. HUDSON to rf for WILLARD. HUDSON homered to center
field, RBI. WAGNER, K. to p. /  for ODEGARD, T.. DUCKWORTH struck out swinging.
7 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
UNLV 5th - HICKS to ss. ROBB to 3b for ATAGI. ENGEL to 1b for GRAHAM.
HOWELL to p for AFFLECK. MONTOYA, C. to cf for EMERSON, P.. MONTOYA, C. struck
out looking. BRADSHAW, R. pinch hit for HOLLAND, A.. BRADSHAW, R. struck out
swinging. HENRY, S. pinch hit for ALEMAN, T.. HENRY, S. singled to center
field. WAGNER, K. grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

BYU softball looks to extend its 16-game home win streak hosting San Diego State on Thursday, Apr. 28, and UNLV in a two-game stand against UNLV Friday and Saturday, Apr. 29-30, at Gail Miller Field.

CLICK HERE to follow the BYU softball team on Facebook.

COUGAR QUICK HITS

— BYU has won 17 of its last 18 games, including a streak of 12 wins before a 1-0 loss in extra innings at SDSU. The Cougars have outscored their opponents 130-19 in the last 18 games and are currently on a five-game win streak.

— Dating back to the last seven home games of 2010, BYU currently owns a 16-game win streak at Gail Miller Field having won its first nine games at home this season.

— For the second week in a row, BYU earned MWC Co-Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week honors. Senior Caschjen Atagi earned POW honors after hitting three home runs in two games and garnering four RBI.

— Freshman pitcher Tori Almond won her second Pitcher of the Week award this season after allowing zero earned runs in three appearances, picking up two wins.

— BYU is currently tied with rival Utah atop the Mountain West Conference standings with a 5-1 conference record. San Diego State is a close second at 5-2.

— Junior center fielder Jessica Dugas has 12 stolen bases on the year, tied for the seventh most in a season in BYU history. Dugas’ 20 career stolen bases is also tied for 10th in program history.

OPPONENTS SERIES NOTES

San Diego State comes into Provo after splitting an earlier series against the Cougars. BYU pitcher Paige Affleck and SDSU pitcher Bailey Micetich pitched back-to-back complete games, both of which went into extra innings, with BYU taking the first game 1-0 before SDSU came back for its own 1-0 win. The Aztecs are currently a half game behind BYU and Utah in the MWC standings.

Micetich leads the MWC with a 1.45 ERA and has a record of 16-9. Lorena Klopp is cur- rently tied with Cougar pitcher Jessica Fitu with 42 RBI on the season. In MWC play, Aztec Jessica Camello leads all batters with 14 hits and a .560 batting average in seven games.

UNLV lost to BYU 14-0 in Las Vegas earlier this year behind a career day by BYU’s Jessica Dugas. The 14 runs tied a series-high, with BYU leading the overall series 33-12. BYU is 18-2 against the Rebels in Provo as UNLV has not won a game at Gail Miller Field since 2005.

UNLV’s Tayler Van Acker is third in the conference with a .500 batting average in seven MWC games while Rebel freshman ace Amanda Oliveto has a 3.82 ERA in conference play and is second with 31 strikeouts, earning a 3-4 record in the Rebels’ seven conference games.

TAKING MORE

BYU has 13 players with at least one stolen base so far this year, led by junior Jessica Dugas with 12 steals. Eight players have four or more. The Cougars have 63 stolen bases overall, already the second- most in a season by a BYU team and just four away from tying the team record of 67 set in 2008.

GOTTA SCORE

BYU is 19-0 when scoring at least six runs and 24-0 when leading after five innings. In addition, 12 of BYU’s 15 losses have come by three runs or fewer.

BYU GAINS MULTIPLE MWC WEEKLY HONORS

Seven BYU players has claimed nine MWC Player or Pitcher of the Week honors so far this season, the most players and awards won by any single MWC school this season. Senior catcher Jessica Fitu and freshman pitcher Tori Almond have won two apiece.

All three Cougar pitchers have claimed at least one award as have all four BYU senior captains: pitcher Paige Affleck, third baseman Caschjen Atagi, second baseman Kristin Delahoussaye and Fitu. Junior first baseman Stacie Graham has also been honored by the MWC this season, as has sophomore pitcher Hannah Howell.

GRAHAM, AFFLECK EARN MWC HONORS

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- BYU third baseman Caschjen Atagi and University of Utah designated player Brittany Parker have been named Mountain West Softball Co-Players of the Week, while BYU freshman Tori Almond has been named Pitcher of the Week, for games played from April 18-24.

BYU was 4-0 last week, including 3-0 in conference action, and are tied with Utah atop the MWC standings at 5-1. It is the first weekly honor of Parker and Atagi’s careers and the second honor for Almond this season.

Atagi, a 5-3 senior from Imperial, Calif., led the Cougars to a 4-0 record last week with a non-con- ference win against neighbor Utah Valley and a 3-0 league weekend against Colorado State and New Mexico. The former Caschjen Davis started off the week with a run and two walks against UVU on Tuesday before breaking out in three Conference games. Atagi was 2-for-3, both home runs, with three runs scored, four RBI and a walk against New Mexico on Thursday in the 11-3 win in Provo. Her strong hitting continued the next two days against Colorado State. Against the Rams on Friday, Atagi went 1-for-1, a home run, with two runs scored, four RBI and two walks in the 15-0 win. In the series closer on Saturday, she was 1-for-3 with two RBI in the 8-0 win.

Almond, a 6-1 freshman from South Jordan, Utah, did not allow a run all week, going 2-0 in three ap- pearances for BYU for a 0.00 ERA. She allowed just four hits, none of which went for extra bases, while holding opponents to a .105 average. Almond came on for four innings of relief against Utah Valley on Tuesday, earning the 7-3 win after giving up no hits, no runs and just one walk with three strikeouts to help BYU get the come-from-behind win. In BYU’s first game against Colorado State on Friday, Almond pitched the final two innings of the game, again allowing no hits, no runs and no walks with a strikeout, combining with starting pitcher Paige Affleck for a one-hit 15-0 shutout. Almond started the second game against the Rams on Saturday, allowing no runs for the third time with just one walk and four hits while striking out seven batters, one short of the freshman’s career high, to pitch the complete- game 8-0 shutout.