Barber, Epenesa homer in senior day win over Pacific

BYU softball celebrates a home run in win over Pacific on May 6, 2023.

Alyssa Podhurcak-Foss celebrates senior day after BYU's win over Pacific on May 6, 2023.

Martha Epenesa celebrates senior day after BYU's win over Pacific on May 6, 2023.

Huntyr Ava slides into home in BYU's win over Pacific on May 6, 2023.

BYU hits the ball in its win over Pacific on May 6, 2023.

Huntyr Ava slides into home in BYU's in over Pacific on May 6, 2023.

BYU Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe congratulates senior Mallory Barber after BYU's win over Pacific on May 6, 2023.

BYU softball welcomes home a runner in the Cougars win over Pacific on May 6, 2023.

Chloe Temples on the mound in BYU's win over Pacific on May 6, 2023.

PROVO, Utah — Mallory Barber, Martha Epenesa and Alyssa Podhurcak-Foss each celebrated their senior day with runs scored in BYU softball’s 8-0 run-rule win over Pacific at Gail Miller Field on Saturday afternoon.

BOX SCORE

Player Highlights

Mallory Barber: 2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Martha Epenesa: 1-3, HR, RBI
Alyssa Podhurcak-Foss: 1-3, 2B
Maddie Bejarano: 2-2, HR, 2B, RBI
Hailey Morrow: 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Chloe Temples: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 8 K

The seniors formed a three-pronged attack for the Cougars (31-14, 10-2 WCC) that put the game away in the bottom of the fifth. Epenesa took to the plate and quickly homered over the left field fence to put BYU up 6-0. Podhurcak-Foss stepped up next and doubled to left field, coming home moments later as Barber brought her home with a second home run of the day.

Barber’s two home runs on Saturday became the first and second of her career. The senior from Spanish Fork, Utah recorded her first-career homer in the bottom of the fourth, sending the ball over the left fence and putting the Cougars up 3-0.

After two scoreless innings to open the game, BYU broke it open in the bottom of the third as Maddie Bejarano came out swinging with two outs. Bejarano sent one over the right wall to give the Cougars their first run of the day. Huntyr Ava then walked and advanced to second after a Hailey Morrow single to left field.

BYU quickly scored again as Ava came sliding home on a Violet Zavodnik RBI that sent Morrow to second. Despite three runners left on base, the Cougars led 2-0 heading into the fourth.

Chloe Temples kept up her stingy pitching in the top of the fourth as she struck out her fifth-consecutive Pacific batter and helped the Cougars keep the Tigers off the board yet again.

The bottom of the fourth proved to be another fruitful frame for the BYU batters with Barber starting the action on her opening homer of the day. Bejarano and Ava walked consecutively and came home on a Morrow double to left field. While two BYU runners were left on base, the Cougars had built their lead to a commanding 5-0 after four.

With Saturday’s win, the Cougars completed a three-game sweep of the Tigers. BYU has won nine of its last 11 games, with its two losses coming to top-5 ranked UCLA and Stanford. The 8-0 win over Pacific marks the Cougars' seventh shutout of the season and second on back-to-back Saturdays.

Senior Spotlight: Mallory Barber \| Utility
Parents are Ryan and Sharla Barber
Major: Exercise and Wellness
2023 Stats: 42 GP, 34 GS, 98 AB, 15 R, 27 H, 17 RBI, 43 PO
Career Stats: 98 GP, 60 GS, 182 AB, 33 R, 49 H, 32 RBI, 79 PO

Senior Spotlight: Martha Epenesa \| Third Baseman
Parents are Ieti and Corina Epenesa
Major: Family Life
2023 Stats: 41 GP, 37 GS, 109 AB, 19 R, 30 H, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 37 PO
Career Stats: 189 GP, 162 GS, 456 AB, 98 R, 137 H, 26 HR, 99 RBI, 125 PO

Senior Spotlight: Alyssa Podhurcak-Foss \| Second Baseman
Parents are Andy and Patty Podhurcak
Major: Global Supply Chain Management
2023 Stats: 30 GP, 21 GS, 54 AB, 8 R, 13, H, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 33 PO
Career Stats: 126 GP, 100 GS, 267 AB, 46 R, 70 H, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 161 PO

BYU closes out its regular season facing Saint Mary’s (18-28, 7-5 WCC) with a three-game series at Cottrell Field in Moraga, California May 12-13.