BYU sweeps Pacific with a 11-0 mercy rule win, scoring 24 runs in the series

STOCKTON, Calif. — BYU softball swept Pacific University with a 11-0 mercy rule victory on Saturday afternoon at Bill Simoni Field. The Cougars out scored the Tigers 24-0 through three games with their 3-0, 10-0 and 11-0 wins.

BYU improved to 38-10 on the season and 10-2 in West Coast Conference play. 

Game Highlights

• Emma Andrewjeski got her first collegiate start in BYU’s lineup.
• With a three-run home run, Violet Zavodnik took her season total to 50 RBI.
• BYU hit three home runs during the game bringing their total to eight in the series. 

Lead-off hitter Martha Epenesa started with a hit to right center, sliding her way safe to second base. But Pacific’s defense outed BYU’s next three batters. Through two innings, each team had two hits a piece and the game was scoreless.

In the top of the third inning, Violet Zavodnik connected on a three-run home run to give the Cougars the lead. Epenesa singled to center field and Taylei Williams singled through the left side for Zavodnik to go yard next just near the right field line. 

BYU got its third double play of the series in the bottom of the third from Alyssa Podhurcak to Huntyr Ava.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Cougars added six runs before getting a single out. Marissa Chavez singled to the right side followed by pinch hitter Lauren Flanders who reached all the way to third base on an error, allowing Chavez to score the unearned run. Next, Brooke Hill-Barrington singled to the left driving in another run. The Cougars made it back to the top of the batting order with singles by HannahJo Peterson and Epenesa, followed a three-run homer by Williams to push the lead to 9-0. Pacific entered pitcher Amiyah Aponte to the circle who had one strikeout and closed the fourth inning allowing one hit.

The Cougars didn’t let their foot off the gas as they added two more runs in the top of the fifth. Peterson got hit by a pitch and Alexis Gilio entered as her pinch runner. Next, Williams hit BYU’s third home run of the day, taking the score to 11-0. BYU had eight home runs over the three game series against Pacific.

BYU’s Autumn Moffat-Korth struck out the first two batters in the bottom of the fifth, and with a ground out from second base to shortstop, the game ended at 11-0 due to the NCAA eight-run mercy rule.

Up Next

Next week, the Cougars will host four games at home, starting with a matchup against Utah State University on Tuesday, May 10th. The first pitch will be at 6 p.m. MDT and the game will be streaming on the BYUtv app or byutv.org