Cougars close out St. George Classic with two wins

ST. GEORGE, Utah – BYU closed out the St. George Classic with a pair of wins against UVU (7-2) and Nevada (7-1) on Saturday afternoon.

"We played solid softball today," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Arissa Paulson and Autumn Moffat-Korth both pitched excellent games. Our offense came alive with timely hits, stolen bases and home runs. It was a fun day to watch this team compete."

Game One vs. Utah Valley

Game Highlights:

• Violet Zavodnik went a perfect 3-3 in the game, hitting two home runs, while driving in four runners.
• Both Erin Miklus and HannahJo Peterson recorded two stolen bases in the game while Rylee-Jensen McFarland and Violet Zavodnik had one apiece.

Player Highlights:

• Violet Zavodnik: 3-3, 2R, 4RBI, 2 HR, 1BB, 1SB
• Rylee Jensen-McFarland: 1-4, 2R, 1 2B, 1SB
• Arissa Paulson: (W, 2-0), 7.0IP, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 7K

The Cougars came out swinging in the first game as Jensen-McFarland doubled to left field and Zavodnik followed it up sending one over the fence also bringing in Jensen-McFarland to make the score 2-0 in the first.

Emilee Erickson tacked on another homer in the second before Erin Miklus stole home and Jensen-McFarland rounded out the inning scoring on a wild pitch making the score 5-0.

A single from HannahJo Peterson got the Cougars on base before Zavodnik singled to right field to bring Peterson home for a 6-0 advanced. Arissa Paulson continued the momentum into the bottom of the inning striking out the side.

The Wolverines broke the shut out bringing home a runner in the bottom of the sixth but BYU countered as Zavodnik homered to right field.

UVU added on one run in the final inning but BYU ultimately took the win 7-2.

Game Two vs. Nevada

Game Highlight:

• Rylee Jensen-McFarland and Marissa Chavez both recorded homers in the game.
• Autumn Moffat-Korth struck out nine batters in the game for a new career-high.

Player Highlights:

• Rylee Jensen-McFarland: 3-4, 2R, 2RBI, HR,
• Autumn Moffat-Korth: (W, 2-2), 7.0 IP, 1H, 1ER, 9K
• Marissa Chavez: 1-3, 1R, 3RBI, HR

The Wolfpack opened up the game scoring in the first inning to go up 1-0. BYU quickly evened the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning as Jensen-McFarland made it home on a groundout.

BYU continued on its scoring rampage, putting up one run in the third and fourth to make the sure 3-1. The Cougars added two runs in both the fifth and sixth inning to increase their lead to 7-1.

Autumn Moffat-Korth retired two in the top of the seven and a ground out secured the win for the Cougars, 7-1.

BYU will next travel to the Arizona Tournament in Tuscon, Arizona from Feb. 25-17.