Zavodnik, Epenesa homer as Cougars beat Beavers, 3-2

TEMPE, Ariz. — Home runs by Violet Zavodnik and Martha Epenesa lifted BYU softball to a 3-2 win over Oregon State in the Cougars’ second game of a doubleheader in the Littlewood Classic at Farrington Stadium on Friday afternoon.

BOX SCORE

“As a team we didn't play our best ball today,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “We just found a way. The long ball played a big role for us, and Kaysen was a warrior.”

Player Highlights

• Kaysen Korth: 7 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 9 K
• Violet Zavodnik: 1-3, R, RBI
• Martha Epenesa: 1-2, R, RBI
• Mallory Barber: 1-3, R

Zavodnik got things going for the Cougars in the top of the first, launching a solo shot to right center, her second home run of the day, to put BYU ahead early, 1-0. 

Adding to the lead in the second, Mallory Barber led off with a single, stealing second and scoring as Ailana Agbayani reached on a Beaver error. 

OSU answered in the bottom of the third inning with two solo home runs, one to left and the other down the left field line, to even the game at two runs apiece. 

After scoreless innings in the fourth and the fifth, Epenesa took the first pitch she saw in the sixth over the right field wall, going yard for the second time on the day as well, and putting the Cougars back in front, at 3-2. 

The Beavers got a runner in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but Korth induced a pop up and got a strikeout to get out of the inning. 

Looking to add an insurance run, BYU got two runners on with one out in Alyssa Podhurcak-Foss and Agbayani, but were unable to bring them around to score.

Korth got two quick outs on three pitches in the bottom of the seventh before walking two consecutive batters. She proceeded to strike out the following batter, however, to seal the 3-2 win, the Cougars’ second victory of the day.

BYU will close out the Littlewood Classic with another doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 18, playing Illinois State at 11 a.m. MST and DePaul at 1:30 p.m.