Jensen hits walk-off homer against Cal

STANFORD, Calif. – Rylee Jensen hit a walk-off homer to beat California 8-7 on the first day of the DeMarini Invitational on Thursday afternoon. 

"We fought hard today against two very good teams," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "I am proud of our fight."

Game One vs. Cal

Game Highlights:

• In the bottom of the eighth inning, Rylee Jensen blasted a walk-off homer on the second pitch she saw to give BYU the win 8-7
• HannahJo Peterson hit her second homer of the season to give BYU a 7-5 edge in the bottom of the sixth inning

Player Highlights:

• Rylee Jensen: 3-4, 2R, 2RBI, HR, BB
• HannahJo Peterson: 2-2, 2R, 2RBI, HR, HBP

With the score tied at 7-all, BYU held Cal in the top of the eighth inning. The Cougars sent their leadoff hitter, Jensen, to the plate and the senior sent the ball out of the park to walk it off for the 8-7 win.

The Cougars got on the board first putting up two runs in the bottom of the second inning as Taylei Williams scored on a Jensen single. Natalie Sicairos then scored on a sacrifice hit from Violet Zavodnik to make the score 2-0.

Cal evened the score at 2-all in the top of the fourth before BYU put up three as Arissa Paulson hit a two-run double and Williams followed it with a one-run double.

The Golden Bears brought the score with one in the sixth frame at 5-4. BYU answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning as Peterson hit a two-run homer also bringing in Jensen.

Cal’s offense managed to secure three runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 7-7 and the game was sent into extra innings as BYU was unable to get a run across.

On the second pitch she saw, Jensen, hit her seventh homer of the season to walk it off 8-7 in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Game Two vs. Stanford

In the top of the seventh, BYU rallied from behind with two outs on the board. A double from Mallory Barber brought home two runners and was followed up with a single from Jensen drove Barber home to make the score 5-3. However, it wasn’t enough as BYU ultimately fell 5-3.

After a scoreless first inning, Stanford put up four runs in the bottom of the second. The two teams went scoreless from three innings before the Cardinal tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth.

BYU snapped the no-hitter as Barber and Jensen both recorded hits and the Cougars scored three runs. Ultimately, BYU was unable to overcome the 5-3 deficit.

The Cougars continue at the DeMarini Invitational on Friday, Feb. 5 against UCSB at 3 p.m. PT.