Paulson hits career strikeout No. 400 in doubleheader sweep against DSU

PROVO, Utah – BYU softball downed Dixie State in a doubleheader at Gail Miller Field on Monday afternoon. Martha Epenesa brought in five runs to power the Cougars to a 7-1 win in game one, while Rylee Jensen hit two home runs in the Cougars' 8-2 victory in game two.

"It was a great day of softball, not only honoring our seniors but the team played very well in both games," said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin. "We're proud of them and look forward to finishing the year strong, but we're definitely going to miss our seniors."

Game One vs. Dixie State | BYU: 7, DSU: 1

Game Highlights:

BYU scored five in the third inning, with Huntyr Ava scoring two on a deep single and Martha Epenesa hitting a three-run home run on the next at-bat.
Epenesa notched her fourth and fifth RBI of the game with a double to put BYU up, 7-1, in the fourth inning.
Autumn Moffat-Korth tied a career-high striking out nine batters.

Player Highlights:

Autumn Moffat-Korth: 6.0 IP, 5H, 1ER, 9K, 0BB
Martha Epenesa: 2-2, 5RBI, 1R, HR, BB
Huntyr Ava: 2-3, 2RBI, 1R

In the top of the first, the Trailblazers put up the game’s first run, scoring a run on a ball that was hit into center field to claim a 1-0 lead.

After being held scoreless the first two innings, Huntyr Ava put the Cougars on the board in the third with a two-RBI double that made it to the center field wall. Martha Epenesa followed up Ava’s double with a three-run shot to put BYU ahead, 5-1.

With two down in the bottom of the fourth, Epenesa added another two RBI with a lined shot down the first base line that just stayed fair to extend the BYU lead to six at 7-1.

Reggie Kanagawa came in to pitch for Autumn Moffat-Korth in the seventh and retired the batters in order to give the Cougars a 7-1 win in game one of the doubleheader.

Game Two vs. Dixie State | BYU: 8, DSU: 2

Game Highlights:

First inning homers by Violet Zavodnik, Emilee Erickson and Brooke Hill-Barrington resulted in a fast 5-0 lead after one.
Rylee Jensen homered in the second and sixth innings
Arissa Paulson hit career strikeout No. 400 in the second inning

Player Highlights:

Arissa Pauslon: 6.1 IP, 4H, 1ER, 10K, 3BB
Rylee Jensen: 2-3, 2RBI, 3R, 2HR, BB
Brooke Hill-Barrington: 2-3, 2RBI, HR
Violet Zavodnik: 1-1, RBI, HR
Emilee Erickson: 1-4, RBI, HR

BYU jumped on top early, 1-0, in the bottom of the first as an attempt to throw out a stealing Rylee Jensen at third went long and allowed Jensen to take home base on a throwing error by the Dixie State catcher.

The Cougar lead stretched to two following Violet Zavodnik’s 13th long ball of the season. Emilee Erickson tacked on the second BYU homer of the inning with a shot that cleared the fence in left center to put BYU up 3-0.

Brooke Hill-Barrington hit home run number three of the inning that also scored Marrissa Chavez, who doubled, from second to cap off a five-run first inning.

Jensen picked up where the Cougars left off in the first, hitting a no-doubt jack in right center to extend the lead to 6-0 in the second inning.

After a scoreless third, Dixie State led off the fourth with a solo shot to trim the BYU lead to five runs. It was just Arissa Paulson’s second allowed hit of the game.

Leading off the bottom of the sixth, Jensen broke up a three-inning Cougar scoring drought with her second home run of the day. Erin Miklus followed up the homer with a hard-hit triple that deflected off the first baseman’s glove. Miklus brought in BYU’s eighth run with a sacrifice fly hit by Taylei Williams to center field, sending the Cougars into the top of the seventh inning with a 8-1 lead.

Senior Paulson came out in the top of the seventh to a standing ovation after striking out 10 batters in 6.1 innings and allowing just four hits and one run. Carly Brown came in to close out the 8-2 victory for BYU in game two.

The Cougars will play their final regular season game tomorrow at Utah State. First pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 4 p.m. MDT. Links to a live stream and live stats will be provided.