Howell notches perfect game, records two wins

PROVO, Utah – Senior pitcher Hannah Howell found her groove behind the mound, leading BYU to an 9-4 victory during game one and recording a perfect game during game two to preserve the 11-0 victory over the Loyola Marymount Lions Saturday.

Howell's five-inning perfect game was the second perfect game in program history and first in eight years since Summer Tobias recorded the program's first perfect game in 2005 against Utah Valley.

Link to watch video of all 15 outs

"We had a good talk last night about what we play for and why we play," head coach Gordon Eakin said. "I think that discussion and what we found worked today because that's as much determination and as much heart as we've played with all year long. When we do that, we're a pretty good team."

BYU (19-22, 8-4 PCSC) evened the series 2-2 with LMU (27-20, 10-6 PCSC) after dropping the first two games on Friday. The Cougars had just three hits against LMU's aces on Friday, but slugged an amazing 26 hits in both games on Saturday. Coco Taualii went 4 for 6 through two games to fuel the Cougars offense, while Gordy Bravo finished 3 for 4 on the day including an inside-the-park home run.

Game One

Leading 5-4 at the end of the fifth inning, BYU broke the game open and scored four consecutive runs in the bottom of the sixth to beat LMU for the first time this season. JC Clayton was a perfect 3 for 3 in the game with one run scored. Coco Taualii had five of the team's eight RBI, including a three-run shot in the bottom of the second.

To start things off in the top of the first, LMU hit a two-run homer taking an early 2-0 lead. That home run marked the third time in the last two days that LMU had taken the lead with a home run in the first inning. 

In the bottom of the second, Taualii smacked her three-run homer over the left centerfield fence to give the Cougars a 3-2 lead. The hit was Taualii's first home run of her career and the 12^th of the year for the team. The three-run shot also gave BYU its first lead in the series against LMU.

In the top of the third, Katie Manuma came to the pitchers mound to replace Tori Almond. On Manuma’s second pitch, LMU’s Meghan Harman hit a two-run homer over the centerfield fence, allowing the Lions to retake the lead at 4-3. Centerfielder Alexandra Hudson Shamo prevented another LMU long ball in the inning after reaching the warning track and making a phenomenol catch to halt the Lion momentum.

Hannah Howell took the mound at the start of the fifth and with the bases loaded, struck out two LMU batters and forced a fly ball to prevent anymore LMU runs. BYU’s Lacey Millett had a base hit up the middle in the bottom of the frame, sending Taualii in for another to extend BYU's lead to 5-4. 

Two-straight singles from Clayton and Jenna Goar started the bottom of the sixth for BYU and then a walk to Bravo loaded the bases. Manuma took advantage and hit a single to left field sending pinch runner  Bailie Hicken and Clayton home for two more runs for the 7-4 lead. With the bases loaded again in the inning, Madisen Robb smacked a long fly ball that landed just inside the centerfield fence to send Bravo in for another score. Taualii continued the run with a sac fly to center field for a career-high five RBI in the game.

Howell sat down three-straight in the top of the seventh to earn the win and improve to 8-14 on the season. Howell gave up no runs on just two hits in her three innings pitched.

Game Two

BYU ousted LMU 11-0 during game two, fueled by strong hitting and Howell's perfect game.

"It speaks volumes for itself," said Eakin of Howell's perfect game. "It's awesome, especially in this environment today where we had to have the win. She seemed to have her stuff today so we decided to go with her in the second game and she was lights out."

BYU got off to a quick start, scoring two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning. After retiring the LMU batters one-two-three in the first inning, Howell had back-to-back strikeouts to end the second inning.

BYU added on three more runs in the bottom of the third inning, capitalizing on multiple walks. Shamo singled to right field before Goar was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hicken walked to bring in the Cougars first run of the inning. An error and another walk allowed BYU to score two more runs and go up 3-0.

In the top of the third, Howell faced three batters, retiring the first two on pop-outs, before Nicole Clowdus lined out to third. Howell retired the next three batters in the top of the fourth.

With one out in the bottom of the fourth, BYU got the bats going. Goar hit an RBI-single to left center with one out to extend the Cougars lead to six runs. BYU’s next batter, Anna Hudson hit a deep ball to left center field, recording a double and driving in another run. The Cougars scored two more runs off a wild pitch and LMU error.

With two outs, Bravo hit a line drive down the left field line that dropped just fair and rolled into the left field corner. Rounding third, with the throw coming to the plate, Bravo squeezed past the LMU catcher to complete the inside-the-park home run. Three more runs crossed the plate in the inning to put BYU up 11-0 heading into the top of the fifth.

Entering the top of the frame, Howell looked to secure the perfect game via the eight-run rule. Howell forced two straight pop-ups and struck out LMU’s final batter to record the 11-0 victory and BYU’s second perfect game in program history. Howell also earned her second win of the day to improve to 9-14 on the season.

"Obviously, it's pretty exciting," said Howell of her perfect game. "Everybody played great today. I can't even describe how I feel right now."

The Cougars return to action on April 19 as they travel to Santa Clara for a four-game conference series, with game one of Friday's doubleheader slated for a 12 p.m. PDT start.