SAN DIEGO—BYU softball defeated Boise State 8-1 in the San Diego Classic, before a walk-off home run from Fresno State lifted the Bulldogs over the Cougars 5-4 in game two on Friday at the SDSU Softball Stadium.

Game 1

Tori Almond pitched a three-hitter en route to her third win of the season and didn’t allow a hit from the Broncos until the fourth inning. Almond had some help from the BYU offense, who scored eight runs on ten hits in the game. JC Clayton and Katie Manuma combined for five of the ten hits, had three runs scored and three RBI to lead BYU past Boise State.With the win, BYU improves to 6-11 while Boise State falls to 7-8 on the season.

Clayton went 3 for 4 in the game to improve her hitting streak to a new career-high of 16 games. Manuma also contributed with two hits and a team-high two RBI to help the Cougars bounce back from their five-inning loss yesterday.

BYU took the lead in the bottom of the first when Clayton singled to start the inning. A passed ball and a sacrifice bunt from Bailie Hicken moved Clayton to third and she scored following a single from Alexandra Hudson Shamo to put BYU up 1-0.

The Cougars struck again in the bottom of the second to provide a four-run cushion for Almond. Clayton brought in the first run with her second single of the day and then Manuma smacked a single to right field to bring in two more runs.

Megan Arnold and Coryn Taualii each doubled in the bottom of the third, but were stranded to end the inning with BYU still up 4-0.

A single from Carly Duckworth highlighted the bottom of the fifth for BYU and led the team to another three runs. The Bronco pitcher also issued four walks in the inning and allowed one run to score on an illegal pitch.

BYU and Boise State scored one run each in the sixth inning, but BYU was able to secure the game in the top of the seventh as Hannah Howell closed out the inning with a strike out for the 8-1 victory.

Game 2

BYU (6-12) gave up three unearned runs on three errors to keep Fresno State (11-8) in the game and allow them to take the seventh-inning victory. Clayton and Hicken led with two hits apiece while Duckworth brought in two Cougar RBI. Howell pitched a full seven innings and was given the loss after surrenduring the lead in the bottom of the seventh.  

BYU loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first following a single from Hicken, a Bulldog error and a walk to Manuma. Fresno State managed to get the force out at home, but BYU answered behind singles from Arnold and Duckworth to go up 3-0.

Fresno State’s Breanna Moss led off with a single in the bottom of the frame and stole both second and third base before scoring on a BYU throwing error for the unearned run.

A quick double from Madisen Robb and a single from Clayton placed runners on the corners for BYU in the top of the second. Marissa Bravo fouled out to left field, but a heads up play from Robb allowed her to score on a tag up to extend the Cougar lead to 4-1.

The Bulldogs scored one run off a throwing error in the bottom of the third and a fielding error in the bottom of the fourth brought in another unearned run for FSU to cut the BYU lead to 4-3.  

BYU held its one-run advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Up to that point, Howell had only given up four hits and no earned runs to the Bulldogs. However, the top of the lineup broke the game open as Moss singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Fresno State's no. 3 batter then smashed her first hit of the day over the fence for the walk-off 5-4 victory. 

BYU will finish the San Diego Classic tomorrow with an 11:30 a.m. PST game against New Mexico and then a 2 p.m. PST game against Long Beach State. 

PROVO, Utah—The BYU softball team heads to its fourth preseason tournament to take on San Diego State, Boise State, Fresno State, New Mexico and Long Beach State Thursday-Saturday in San Diego, Calif at the San Diego Classic.

SAN DIEGO CLASSIC

Feb. 28-Mar. 2, 2013

SDSU Softball Stadium

San Diego, Calif.

San Diego State

Thurs., Feb. 28

6 p.m. PST

SDSU Softball Stadium

Boise State

Fri., Mar. 1

9 a.m. PST

SDSU Softball Stadium

Fresno State

Fri. Mar. 1

11:30 a.m. PST

SDSU Softball Stadium

New Mexico

Sat., Mar. 2

11:30 a.m. PST

SDSU Softball Stadium

Long Beach State

Sat., Mar. 2

2 p.m. MST

SDSU Softball Stadium

BYU Quick Hits

• The Cougars played in their last San Diego Classic in 2012 and went 4-1, beating Cal State Northridge, Saint Joseph’s, Long Beach State and Charlotte, while falling 1-0 to San Diego State.
• BYU hasn’t had a 5-10 start to its season since 2001, when it went 5-10 in the first three tournaments of the season and finished with an overall record of 35-26.
• Junior Katie Manuma hit the first grand slam of her career in the last game of the Mary Nutter Classic against UC Santa Barbara. The team lost the game in extra innings, 12-10.
• JC Clayton is currently on a 14-game hitting streak and has gotten a hit in every game but the first of the season. She also earned PCSC Player of the Week.
• Head coach Gordon Eakin is in his 11th season with BYU and has a record of 421-185.

Opponent Notes

San Diego State

The Aztecs are just over .500 with a record of 8-7 this season. They have four players batting over .300 in Kamerin May, Patrice Jackson, Loena Bauer and Kayla Jordan. These four batters combine for 38 of the team’s 44 RBI  and have all 12 home runs for the Aztecs. Danielle O’Toole and Rebecca Arbino lead SDSU from the mound and are sporting a 1.35 and 1.56 ERA, respectively. The two have only given up 21 earned runs in their combined 20 appearances this season. Four of the team’s seven losses have been by less than two runs and they have yet to beat a ranked team, losing to No. 13/14 Arizona, No. 24/22 Kentucky, No. 2/1 Oklahoma, No. 7 Missouri and No. 9/11 Oregon. This tournament will be the first of the season where the Aztecs will not be facing a ranked opponent.

Boise State

The Broncos sit at an even 7-7 on the season and will look to jump above .500 against BYU in their first game of the San Diego Classic. Boise State is 0-2 overall against BYU and hopes it’s top three batters will step up to get past the Cougars. Holly Bourke leads the Broncos with a .385 average. Sarah Barnes and Devon Bridges aren’t far behind, hitting .344 and .340, respectively. Barnes has eight RBI and two home runs while Bridges has a team-high 16 RBI and three home runs. Redshirt junior Rebecca Patton has five of the Bronco’s seven wins and leads with a 3.53 ERA and 32 strikeouts this season. The Broncos were chosen to finish fourth in the Mountain West Conference this year behind San Diego State, Colorado State and Fresno State.

Fresno State

BYU ended the Bulldog’s season last year, defeating them 8-3 in the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference tournament to advance to the NCAA regionals. That was only BYU’s third win against Fresno State as the Bulldogs hold an 8-3 overall advantage over BYU. Fresno State is 10-8 this season. Brooke Ortiz leads with a .361 average and 22 hits, while Brenna Moss and Stesha Brazil provide power for the Bulldogs. Moss has five triples and 10 RBI, while Brazil leads with a team-high five home runs. Taylor Langdon, Jillian Compton and Hannah Harris each have part in the team’s 10 wins. Compton is 5-5 with 26 strikeouts and 59.2 innings pitched, while Langdon leads with a 2.15 ERA.

New Mexico

BYU has an overall record of 36-13 against New Mexico and is 30-5 under Eakin. The Cougars had a 13-game win streak against the Lobos before New Mexico beat them in 2011 3-2. New Mexico is another .500 team at 9-9 on the season. The Lobos lost their first seven games before rebounding to win nine of their last 11 games. The team has five pitchers who have made an appearance this season, but are led by Lauren Soles who is 4-2 with 32 strikeouts and only 13 earned runs given up in her eight appearances. Offensively, freshman outfielder Mariah Rimmer is hitting .400 with a team-high 24 hits, alongside two home runs and eight RBI. Rimmer also leads the team with 14 stolen bases to add to the team’s total of 30. Junior infielder Chelsea Anaya isn’t far behind, hitting .377 with two home runs and 14 RBI.

Long Beach State

The Cougars are 2-2 overall against Long Beach State and have won the last two meetings. The 49ers sit at 7-6 this season and are led by junior Hannah De Gaetano who is sporting a .356 batting average along with two home runs and 11 RBI on the season. Catcher Karli Sandoval and infielder Ashley Holmes also bring power to the lineup with five and three homeruns, respectively, on the season. These three batters have combined for 37 of the team’s 56 RBI. Erin Jones-Wesley has the most time on the mound for the 49ers. With eight starts, she has a 4-4 record alongside 59 strikeouts and has held opponenets to an average of .294.

Every game of the weekend will be available via live stats. Check the schedule for updated information and BYU Softball on facebook for live updates.