Three home runs lift Cougars to fifth straight win

PROVO, Utah — Huntyr Ava, Martha Epenesa and Violet Zavodnik each went yard as BYU softball beat the Southern Utah Thunderbirds 8-0 in game two of Saturday's double-header at Miller Park.

Epenesa continued the solid hitting from game one as she led off the bottom of the first with a double into the left field gap. She then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Taylei Williams doubled on a 1-0 count, which scored Epenesa and gave the Cougars the first-inning lead.

Ava led off the second inning for BYU, fouling off multiple pitches before getting all of a 1-2 offering for a monster home run, sending the ball across University Parkway. Ava’s solo shot gave the Cougars an early two-run lead over Southern Utah.

In the top of the third, SUU went to the bullpen, bringing in Oregon State transfer Payton Goodrich who had only faced three batters this season. Goodrich retired six straight Cougars before Epenesa led off the bottom of the fifth by taking an outside pitch deep over the right field fence for her third home run of the season. Epenesa’s solo homer sparked a four-run fifth inning for the Cougars.

Williams singled through the left side before Zavodnik sent a ball soaring over the center field fence, giving the Cougars a 5-0 lead. After the Thunderbirds retired the next two BYU batters, Ava hit her second home run of the game which extend the Cougar lead to six.

In the bottom of the sixth, Brooke Barrington beat the throw for an infield single to lead off the inning. Lauren Flanders entered the game as a pinch runner and promptly stole second to move into scoring position.

Taryn Lennon worked a full-count before doubling over the head of the left fielder, scoring Flanders. Lennon then advanced to third on a wild pitch before SUU intentionally walked Zavodnik. Podhurcak hit a hard ground ball to third that was bobbled, allowing Lennon to score, ending the game with BYU winning 8-0.

Autumn Moffat-Korth pitched a complete-game shutout for BYU, holding the Thunderbirds to five hits while ringing up four SUU batters. 

The Cougars will next take the field against the Oregon Ducks on Monday, March 21 at Miller Park.