BYU takes series victory with a 17-1 trouncing of New Mexico

PROVO, Utah — After splitting two games in a doubleheader yesterday, BYU softball finished its series with New Mexico, earning a convincing 17-1 victory on Friday at Gail Miller Field. Seventeen runs in a single game is tied for the sixth-most in BYU softball history.

"The team played fantastic today," said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin. "We came out of the gate strong, scoring five runs in each of the first three innings. It was a dominating performance in every way."

Player Highlights

• Huntyr Ava: 1 H, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .500 AVG
• HannahJo Peterson: 3 H, 6 RBI, .750 AVG
  • Career-high 6 RBI
• Taylei Williams: 3 H, 3 R, .750 AVG

Game Highlights

• BYU scored five runs in each of the first, second and third innings
• Freshman Emma Andrewjeski earned her first collegiate hit and run in today's game

With one batter on base for New Mexico in the first, the Cougars secured two outs early on in a double play from third to first. Starting pitcher Autumn Moffat-Korth and the BYU defense closed out the top of the first allowing no runs.

Martha Epenesa led off for BYU and was hit by a pitch to make it to first base. With a double to right center by Violet Zavodnik, BYU brought two runners home for its first score of the game. New Mexico attempted to cut off BYU's momentum with a pitching change, but the Cougars were able to add three more runs to boost their lead to 5-0. Alyssa Podhurcak hit a sacrifice fly for Zavodnik to score, and HannahJo Peterson singled to bring home Marissa Chavez and Huntyr Ava.

Moving into the second inning, the Lobos went three up, three down, with Moffat-Korth dishing out two strikeouts. With BYU still up by five, Taylei Williams singled to left center and Zavodnik reached based off a catcher's interference. Ava followed with a bomb to right center, upping BYU's lead to 8-0. Peterson then tripled to right field, piling on another two runs to the scoreboard for BYU.

The Lobos scored their first and only run of the day in the top of the third inning. With runners on second and third and one out, Ashley Archuleta grounded out, but teammate Leslie Romero was able to reach home plate for a 10-1 score.

BYU added another five runs in the bottom of the third inning off of three singles and an error by New Mexico's second baseman. Freshman Emma Andrewjeski pinch hit for Macy Simmons and connected for the first hit of her collegiate career. Peterson's single would allow Andrewjeski to also score the first run of her collegiate career. Through three innings, the score was 15-1.

Carley Brown took the mound for BYU in the top of the fourth. With two fly outs to center field and a strike out for New Mexico, BYU quickly moved up to bat. Brooke Barrington singled to center field to bring home two of her teammates, keeping BYU ahead 17-1 to end the fourth inning.

New Mexico only got one player on base in the top of the fifth, but were unable to survive the explosive offense that the Cougars set up for themselves. BYU won 17-1 in five innings due to the NCAA eight-run rule, scoring its highest amount of runs this season. 

Eight Cougars hit at least a .500 average on the day, with Williams and Peterson both going three-for-four.

Up Next

The Cougars will travel to play University of Utah Tuesday, April 5. The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. MDT.