Walk-off homer by Zavodnik brings down Utah State 9-1 in six innings

PROVO, Utah — With a sixth-inning walk-off home run by Violet Zavodnik, BYU softball earned a 9-1 victory over Utah State University on Tuesday evening at Gail Miller Field. 

Player Highlights

• Violet Zavodnik: 3 runs, 3 hits, 3 RBI, .407 avg
• Autumn Moffat-Korth: 6 IP, 1 walk and 1 run allowed, 2 Ks, 1.79 ERA

After Autumn Moffat-Korth retired the first three Utah State batters in the top of the first, Taylei Williams had the first hit of the night to put BYU on base. With the bases loaded, Alyssa Podhurcak singled to left center, sending Williams home for a 1-0 lead. Marissa Chavez continued the momentum with a double to put the Cougars up by three. Singling to right center, Mallory Barber brought Chavez home to give BYU its fourth run.

In the top of the fourth, the Aggies scored an unearned run off an error for their first and only run of the night. The Cougars responded in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back doubles by Williams and Zavodnik to strengthen BYU’s lead. With BYU up by five runs, Huntyr Ava had BYU's final hit of the inning with an RBI single, bringing home Zavodnik to make the score 7-1.

The Aggies attempted to rally, getting two of their batters on base in the top of the fifth inning, but a fly ball caught by Podhurcak would end the inning.

Utah State then went three up, three down in the top of the sixth, giving the Cougars a chance to end the game early with the mercy rule. Zavodnik took advantage of the opportunity with a two-run walk-off homer to give the Cougars the 9-1 win.

Up next, the Cougars will host Saint Mary’s on Friday for BYU's final series of the regular season, starting a doubleheader at 5 p.m. MDT. The game will be streaming live on BYUtv.