BYU outlasts SDSU 2-1 in extra innings, with a game-winning home run from Zavodnik

SAN DIEGO — BYU softball defeated San Diego State University 2-1 in extra innings at its first game of the San Diego Classic on Thursday evening.

Player Highlights

• Marissa Chavez: 3 AB, 3 H, 1 R
• Alyssa Podhurcak: 3 AB, 2 H, 1 RBI
• Chloe Temples: 2 IP, 3 K, 0 R, 0 H

Game Highlights

• Alyssa Podhurcak hit the first triple of her collegiate career
• Violet Zavodnik scored a game-winning home run in the top of the eighth inning

The matchup was a pitchers’ duel for the majority of the game. However, the Cougar defense showed off in the bottom of the fourth when Martha Epenesa and Huntyr Ava pulled off a double play.

With a 0-0 score in the top of the fifth, Marissa Chavez got her second hit of the night and made it to first base. Next, Alyssa Podhurcak tripled down the right field line, allowing Chavez to score the first run of the game. In the bottom of the fifth, San Diego State had three base hits in a row and were able to tie the score at 1-1.

In the top of the sixth, the Aztecs brought in a new pitcher, freshman Dee Dee Hernandez who replaced senior Maggie Balint. Hernandez was able to strike out BYU’s Violet Zavodnik.

To start off the top of the seventh inning, Chavez singled through the left side, and freshman Lauren Flanders came in to pinch run. Podhurcak singled to left center. Then, Mallory Barber stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter for Brooke Hill-Barrington, with two outs for a chance to take the lead, but Barber popped up, right into the pitcher’s circle.

BYU’s Chloe Temples went in to pitch for Autumn Moffat-Korth with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Moffat-Korth had five strikeouts on the night. Temples struck out her first batter and then SDSU grounded out to first base, advancing the game into extra innings. 

Taryn Lennon was up to bat first in the top of the eighth, and struck out looking. Then, HannahJo Mills grounded out to second. Zavodnik stepped up to the plate and hit a home run to left field, forcing SDSU into a do-or-die situation in the bottom of the inning.

Temples dished out two strikeouts to start off the bottom of the eighth, and then BYU’s catcher Macy Simmons caught the game-ending ball off of a fly ball in foul territory.

The Cougars outhit the Aztecs seven to five. Both teams didn't record an error. In total, the Aztecs stranded eight runners on base. 

Up next, the Cougars play two games tomorrow in Triton Stadium. At 12 p.m. PST BYU will play Yale and then at 5 p.m. PST it will face the University of California San Diego. BYU’s second game of the day will be streaming on ESPN+.