BYU resumes WCC play against Santa Clara

PROVO, Utah – BYU softball hosts Santa Clara in its first ever West Coast Conference series Friday and Saturday.

BYU (17-20, 2-1 WCC)
BYU has gained momentum since returning to their home field winning seven of its last nine contests including three games away from Provo. After losing several close games early in the season, BYU has won five of the six of games decided by two runs or fewer during that stretch.

The Cougars opened this week with a combined no-hitter by Tori Almond, McKenna Bull and Ashley Thompson against UVU on Tuesday. BYU has only had one other no-hitter when using three different pitchers when Daniela Urincho Snow, Christie Zinanti and Christina Gwyn Trice tossed a no-hitter against UVU on April 10, 2007.

Sydney Broderick earned her second consecutive WCC Player of the Week award after her second walk-off hit this year with a bunt single against Utah State and a go-ahead three-run home run to give BYU the lead going into the bottom of the seventh at San Diego.

Bull passed up Christie Zinanti for second on the freshman strikeout rankings at BYU against San Diego on Saturday. She needs 12 strikeouts to pass up Paige Affleck for first among BYU freshman pitchers.

Santa Clara (5-22, 1-2 WCC)
Santa Clara opened up conference play at Pacific getting a 2-0 win in the first game on Friday before losing 8-6 and 7-3 on Saturday. The Broncos have a 5-22 record, but have only been run-ruled five times this season.

Senior outfielder Stephanie Fisher leads the team with a .333 batting average to go along with one home run and 13 RBI. Freshman second baseman Gennamarie Bonilla leads Santa Clara with 20 RBI and three home runs with a .299 batting average.

Sophomore RHP Ciara Gonzales is ace in the circle for the Broncos leading the team with a 3.42 ERA and a 2-8 record. Junior Brianna Rios and senior Jessica Turner have also seen significant time in the circle combining for a 4.92 ERA, 48 strikeouts and a 3-13 record.

BYU Series Record Vs. Santa Clara
Overall Series Record: 8-1
BYU Record in Provo: 0-0
BYU Record in Santa Clara: 5-1
BYU Record at Neutral Sites: 3-0
BYU Record under Gordon Eakin: 6-0
Longest BYU Win Streak: 8 (2000-Present)
Longest Santa Clara Win Streak: 1 (2000)
Largest BYU Margin of Victory: 12 (2002)
Largest Santa Clara Margin of Victory: 1 (2000)
Most Runs Scored by BYU: 12 (2002)
Most Runs Scored by Santa Clara: 5 (2007) 

The three-game series will begin Friday at 6 p.m. MDT with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon MDT. All three games will be broadcast live by BYUtv.