BYU defeats Rutgers 11-2 off a three-run walk-off home run; fall to GCU 2-0

PHOENIX — BYU softball defeated Rutgers University 11-2 in five innings with a walk-off home run to run rule the Scarlet Knights and then fell to Grand Canyon University 2-0 on Friday in the Sun Devil Classic.

GAME ONE VS. RUTGERS

Player Highlights

• Martha Epenesa: 3 AB, 3 H, 3 R, 1 RBI
• Violet Zavodnik: 1 R, 2 H, 4 RBI

Game Highlights

• After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the Cougars came back to win against Rutgers
• Violet Zavodnik hit a three-run walk-off home run to reach the run-rule to close the game at 11-2 through five innings.

The Cougars started off rocky, with two errors in the top of the first inning allowing Rutgers to score two runs. However, Rutgers wouldn’t be able to get another hit the rest of the game.

In the bottom of the first, Martha Epenesa led off for the Cougars for the first time in her career and was hit by a pitch. Next, Alexis Gilio was walked, and Violet Zavodnik hit a sacrifice bunt to advance runners onto second and third. Huntyr Ava then got walked to load the bases. Macy Simmons stepped up to the plate with one out, and singled up the middle for Epenesa and Gilio to even the score at 2-2.

The BYU offense had two hits in the bottom of the second inning. First, Brooke Hill-Barrington was walked, then Taylei Williams bunted and reached first off of a fielder’s choice to second where pinch runner Lauren Flanders was tagged out. Epenesa stepped back up the plate and doubled through the left side, sending Williams to third base. Zavodnik singled to the right side to bring home Epenesa to secure BYU’s first lead of the day at 3-2.

Simmons homered to kick off the bottom of the third inning to up BYU’s lead to 4-2. Then, Alyssa Podhurcak hit a triple to left center and Marissa Chavez flew out to right field, but Podhurcak was able to score to make it 5-2 for the Cougars. After a pitching change, Williams was walked and stole second. Epenesa singled through the right side, bringing home Williams for a 6-2 lead. 

BYU scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, both by pinch runners. Ava was walked, Simmons singled and Taryn Lennon came in to pinch run for Ava at second base. Podhurcak singled for Lennon to score, and Simmons advanced to second. With pinch runner Lo Salcedo on second base, Hill-Barrington singled, allowing BYU to up its lead to 8-2.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Zavodnik hit a three-run homer to end the game at 11-2.

GAME TWO VS. GCU

BYU’s pitcher Chloe Temples dished out four strikeouts in two innings, but a two-run single by GCU’s junior Kristen Fifield in the bottom of the second enabled a 2-0 lead for the Lopes. 

The Cougars got close to getting on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning. HannahJo Peterson-Mills stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs, but fouled out to GCU. 

In the top of the fifth inning, Epenesa singled up the middle, Gilio singled to left field and Zavodnik laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third. Next, Ava was walked to load the bases for a second time. Simmons hit the ball towards second base, and GCU pulled off a double play to close to top of the fifth.

With seven hits and no runs, the Cougars needed to score in the top of the seventh inning. Epenesa got a single up the middle, Williams grounded out, Zavodnik struck out swinging and Ava grounded out to end the game

Despite out-hitting the Lopes seven to four, the Cougars lost 2-0.