Ava, Udall homer in Cougars' 5-2 win over Spartans

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Two home runs after a rain delay helped BYU softball to a 5-2 win over San José State in its NISC opener at Red Rocks Field on Thursday afternoon.

BOX SCORE

The Cougars (33-16, 11-4 WCC) saw homers from first baseman Huntyr Ava and designated player Maddie Udall as they rallied from a 2-1 deficit after taking an early lead.

Player Highlights

• Huntyr Ava: 1-3, 2 RBI
• Maddie Udall: 1-3, 2 R, RBI
• Ailana Agbayani: 1-3, 2 R
• Maddie Bejarano: 2-2, RBI
• Mallory Barber: 2-3, RBI
• Kaysen Korth: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 8 K

BYU struck first in the bottom of the first, stringing together back-to-back doubles by Ailana Agbayani and Maddie Bejarano, with the second scoring Agbayani for a 1-0 lead.

Tristen Turlington led off with a walk in the second inning and advanced to third as Mallory Barber singled into right center, but they were left stranded at the corners.

San José State struck back in the top of the fourth, tagging back-to-back homers to go ahead 2-1.

Martha Epenesa drew a leadoff in the home half of the fourth inning and Turlington reached on a fielder’s choice before the game went into a weather delay.

Coming out of the hour-long delay, the Cougars quickly tied things up on a Maddie Udall fielder’s choice and Barber’s double.

Agbayani was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the fifth, and advanced to second on a Bejarano sacrifice bunt. Ava then took the first pitch she saw deep to right center, putting BYU in front, 4-2 with her team-leading 15th home run of the season. 

Maddie Udall helped extend the Cougar advantage in the top of the sixth inning to 5-2, hitting a solo shot to right center, the first of her freshman career.

With two fly outs and a strikeout in the top of the seventh, starting pitcher Kaysen Korth wrapped up the 5-2 win for BYU and her 19th victory on the season.

With the win, the Cougars advance to play Maryland on Friday, May 19 at Noon MDT.