Temples strikes out a program-record 15, Cougars take double-header sweep

PROVO, Utah — BYU softball took down the Saint Mary’s Gaels 15-0 and 7-1 in a double header at Miller Park on Friday evening.

The Cougars have now won 16 games in a row and have a record of 41-10 on the season.

In the second game, BYU pitcher Chloe Temples set a new BYU program record with 15 strikeouts in a single game.

Game One  

Player Highlights

• HannahJo Peterson: 2 R, 1 H, 3 RBI
• Violet Zavodnik: 1 R, 2 H, 6 RBI
• Martha Epenesa: 3 R, 1 H, 1 RBI

Game Highlights

• 12 different Cougars scored in the game
• Pitcher Autumn Moffat-Korth had five strikeouts in five innings

After Saint Mary’s was unable to capitalize with loaded bases in the top of the first, BYU’s No. 3 hitter Violet Zavodnik hit a two-run home run over the right field scoreboard to put the Cougars up 2-0. Zavodnik’s home run marks her 19th on the season for a new single-season career high. With the bases loaded, Mallory Barber singled to left field, sending Huntyr Ava home to give BYU its third run. Peterson hit her second triple of the season as BYU extended its lead 6-0. Epenesa had BYU’s final hit of the inning with an RBI single, bringing home Peterson to make the score 7-0 in the bottom of the first.

In the bottom of the third, Taylei Williams doubled to left center to bring home Alexis Gilio, followed by an RBI single by Zavodnik, bringing home Epenesa to expand BYU’s lead. An Ava single to right center brought Williams home to make the score 10-0. 

The Cougars started the bottom of the fourth inning with a hit by Epenesa that brought Brooke Barrington home on an unearned run. Barrington’s run was followed by an RBI triple by Zavodnik to bring the score to 15-0 and end the first game of the double header.

Game Two

Player Highlights

• Chloe Temples: 15 K
• Taylei Williams: 1 RBI, 1 R, 3 H

Game Highlights

• The Cougars held the Gaels to a single run in seven innings
• Chloe Temples set the new BYU program record with 15 strikeouts in a single game

Temples quickly retired three batters before Espenesa led off the bottom of the first with a home run to right center on the first pitch. Simmons and Peterson hit back-to-back doubles to add two to the Cougars score. With another double and RBI by Williams, BYU led by four to end the second inning. 

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Ava singled to left field to extend BYU’s lead to five. Podhucak followed with a double to center field, bringing home Ava to make the score 6-0. 

In the top of the sixth, Temples recorded her record-breaking 15th strikeout on the 22nd batter she faced in the game. She would continue to pitch the complete game without registering a walk.

In the final inning, Saint Mary’s came away with a run on an error by BYU. With a pop up to second base, Hereda made the final play of the game, finalizing the Cougars' 6-1 win over the Gaels. 

The Cougars and Gaels play their final game of the regular season tomorrow at 1 p.m. MDT at Miller Park.