Anonymous | Posted: 12 May 2001 | Updated: 12 May 2001

Cougars Win Mountain West Conference Tournament

ALBUQUERQUE -- After nearly nine hours of softball Saturday, No. 1 seeded BYU (35-24) won the Mountain West Conference Tournament by defeating No. 3 seed San Diego State 4-3. Earlier in the day, the Cougars lost to Utah in 10 innings, 7-6, before beating the Utes in 10 innings, 6-5, to advance to the championship game against the Aztecs. BYU now advances to the NCAA Regionals at a place and against an opponent yet to be determined.

In the title game, freshman Oli Keohohou was hit by an pitch to start things off before Liz Smith knocked her first of three singles on the day. After a sacrifice bunt by all-conference selection Elizabeth Pierce-Boydston, Kari Pringle knocked a single to left field, scoring Keohohou and Smith and giving BYU an early 2-0 lead.

"Getting runs early really helped give us energy," BYU coach Mary Kay Amicone said. "Our pitchers did what they had to do to keep us in the game."

Leading 3-1, Mindy Hanson hit a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing in Pringle from third. After San Diego State scored two runs in the bottom of the third, neither team scored the rest of the game, although each team had chances. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and only one out, the Aztec batter lined a shot to Hanson who stepped on first base to double off the runner and give BYU the 4-3 victory and the championship. Meghann Pricer (14-6) got the win, pitching four innings and giving up three runs, while Maryon DeWitt-Wallentine got the save in relief, going three innings, giving up three hits and no runs.

Keohohou and Brooke Cadiente were both named to the all-tournament team with Cadiente winning the tournament's Most Valuable Player honor.

"I couldn't be any prouder of what these kids have done," Amicone said. "They've earned everything they got."

In the third round game against Utah, the Cougars fought off elimination, scoring two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning en route to the 6-5 victory.

The Utes jumped out to an early 4-0 lead but BYU battled back and scored three runs in the bottom of the third, one on a single by Lindsey Hodgen-Kelly and two more on a single from Pringle, cutting the lead to 4-3.

Neither team scored until the Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when Hodgen-Kelly got her second RBI of the game, singling in pinch-runner Jackie Ellis to even the game at 4-4. After Utah scored a run in the top of the 10th inning, Hodgen-Kelly doubled and advanced to third on a single by Becca Erickson. Catcher Angie Christiansen then singled in Hodgen-Kelly to tie the game at 5-5. Keohohou, the league's leading hitter, then walked for an NCAA-tying sixth time in as many at-bats to load the bases. Smith followed with a shot to third base, but the throw home came up short as Erickson crossed the plate to give BYU the victory. DeWitt-Wallentine (17-15) pitched 7 1/3 innings of relief, allowing one run on nine hits to pick up the win for the Cougars.

"We had lots of opportunities to just give in, but the team refused to quit," Amicone said. "Neither team wanted to lose the game, but it was a great victory for us, because they (Utah) played well."

Utah rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the second round game to score in the bottom of the 10th inning and win 7-6, forcing the third round elimination matchup with the same teams. The game began at 5:05 p.m. (MDT) on Friday and finished at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday. After an hour and 32-minute weather delay, the teams were able to finish three and a half innings before play was suspended due to darkness.

The game was suspended with BYU leading 4-1. Before darkness set in, BYU took an early 2-0 lead when Cadiente belted a two-run home run, her 12th of the season, in the first inning. She then followed it with another homer in the second inning, giving the Cougars a 3-1 lead.

When play resumed Saturday, Utah cut the lead to 4-3, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Keohohou increased the BYU lead to 5-3 with her 21st home run of the season in the sixth. The Utes scored two runs on one hit and one error in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.

Pierce-Boydston doubled in Smith in the top of the eighth to give the Cougars a slim 6-5 lead. Utah came back and tied the game in the bottom of the inning and won the game in the bottom of the tenth when Angie Kenny slapped a hard grounder to short, allowing Melissa Stahnke to score from third.

The Automated ScoreBook

Brigham Young Univ. at University of Utah

May 11, 2001 at Albuquerque, NM (Lobo Field)

Brigham Young Univ. 6 (33-24)

Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A

KEOHOHOU, Oli rf.......... 3 2 2 1 3 0 1 0

SMITH, Liz lf............. 6 1 1 0 0 0 2 0

BOYDSTON, Liz 3b.......... 4 1 2 1 1 0 2 1

JOHNSON, Megan 3b......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CADIENTE, Brooke dh....... 4 2 2 3 2 0 0 0

HANSON, Mindy 1b.......... 6 0 2 0 0 1 8 0

HODGEN-KELLY, Lindse cf... 4 0 2 0 0 0 3 0

PRINGLE, Kari 2b.......... 5 0 2 0 0 0 4 3

FERNLEY, Emily pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

ERICKSON, Becca ss........ 4 0 0 0 1 1 2 3

CHRISTIANSEN, Angie c..... 4 0 0 0 0 2 6 2

ELLIS, Jackie ph.......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

PRICER, Meghann p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

WALLENTINE, Maryon p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals.................... 41 6 13 5 7 4 28 11

University of Utah 7 (37-24-1)

Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A

McLEAN, Molly cf.......... 3 2 2 0 3 1 1 0

JEPPSON, Amberly lf....... 6 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

TREVIS, Lyndsey 3b........ 5 1 2 2 0 1 2 4

STAHNKE, Melissa ss....... 3 3 3 1 3 0 3 1

HAYHURST, Niki 1b......... 2 1 1 0 4 0 7 1

LARSEN, Michele 2b........ 5 0 0 1 1 0 5 1

KENNEY, Angie dh.......... 5 0 2 3 0 0 0 0

OTA, Masie rf............. 5 0 1 0 0 0 3 0

BOWLIN, Heather p......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

ARBOGAST, Kristin p....... 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 2

PFENINGER, Christa c...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0

Totals.................... 38 7 11 7 11 5 30 9

Score by innings: R H E

-----------------------------------------------

Brigham Young Univ. 201 101 010 0 - 6 13 6

University of Utah 100 200 210 1 - 7 11 2

-----------------------------------------------

E - BOYDSTON; JOHNSON, M.; HODGEN-KELLY 2; ERICKSON 2; LARSEN, M; PFENINGER, C.

DP - Cougars 1; UTAH 2. LOB - Cougars 14; UTAH 17.

2B - BOYDSTON; HANSON; TREVIS, L; STAHNKE, M; KENNEY, A.

HR - KEOHOHOU; CADIENTE 2; STAHNKE, M.

SB - McLEAN, M; OTA, Masie.

SH - BOYDSTON; HODGEN-KELLY; ARBOGAST, K. SF - TREVIS, L; KENNEY, A.

Brigham Young Univ. IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

PRICER, Meghann..... 5.0 5 3 2 5 3

WALLENTINE, Maryon.. 4.1 6 4 2 6 2

University of Utah IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

BOWLIN, Heather..... 2.1 7 3 3 0 0

ARBOGAST, Kristin... 7.2 6 3 2 7 4

Win - ARBOGAST, K 29-18. Loss - WALLENTINE 16-15. Save - None.

WP - WALLENTINE; BOWLIN, H. PB - PFENINGER, C.

Umpires -

Start: 5:05 Time: 3;33 Attendance:

The Automated ScoreBook

University of Utah vs Brigham Young Univ.

May 12, 2001 at Albuquerque, NM (Lobo Field)

University of Utah 5 (37-26-1)

Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A

McLEAN, Molly cf.......... 6 2 3 0 0 0 2 1

JEPPSON, Amberly lf....... 5 2 3 0 0 0 1 0

TREVIS, Lyndsey 3b........ 5 1 1 0 0 1 2 0

CULLIGAN, Becky 3b........ 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1

STAHNKE, Melissa ss....... 4 0 0 0 2 2 3 6

HAYHURST, Niki 1b......... 4 0 2 3 0 0 8 1

LARSEN, Michele 2b........ 5 0 2 0 0 0 2 2

KENNEY, Angie dh.......... 5 0 1 0 0 1 0 0

OTA, Masie rf............. 4 0 1 1 0 0 4 0

ARBOGAST, Kristin p....... 5 0 1 0 0 1 0 0

PFENINGER, Christa c...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0

Totals.................... 44 5 15 5 2 5 28 11

Brigham Young Univ. 6 (34-24)

Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A

KEOHOHOU, Oli rf.......... 0 1 0 0 6 0 3 1

SMITH, Liz lf............. 6 0 1 1 0 1 3 0

BOYDSTON, Liz 3b.......... 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 1

CADIENTE, Brooke dh....... 2 1 1 0 3 0 0 0

ELLIS, Jackie pr.......... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

HANSON, Mindy 1b.......... 5 1 1 0 0 1 8 0

JOHNSON, Megan pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

HODGEN-KELLY, Lindse cf... 5 1 3 2 0 0 3 1

PRINGLE, Kari 2b.......... 5 0 1 2 0 0 0 3

ERICKSON, Becca ss........ 5 1 1 0 0 1 4 2

CHRISTIANSEN, Angie c..... 4 0 1 1 0 1 7 0

FERNLEY, Emily ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

PRICER, Meghann p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

WALLENTINE, Maryon p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

Totals.................... 37 6 9 6 9 4 30 10

Score by innings: R H E

-----------------------------------------------

University of Utah 103 000 000 1 - 5 15 3

Brigham Young Univ. 003 000 100 2 - 6 9 5

-----------------------------------------------

E - CULLIGAN, B; STAHNKE, M; LARSEN, M; PRINGLE 2; ERICKSON 3.

DP - UTAH 1; Cougars 1. LOB - UTAH 14; Cougars 13.

2B - HODGEN-KELLY.

SB - JEPPSON, A.

SH - JEPPSON, A; OTA, Masie; BOYDSTON. SF - HAYHURST, N.

University of Utah IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

ARBOGAST, Kristin... 9.1 9 6 2 9 4

Brigham Young Univ. IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

PRICER, Meghann..... 2.1 6 4 2 1 1

WALLENTINE, Maryon.. 7.2 9 1 0 1 4

Win - WALLENTINE 17-15. Loss - ARBOGAST, K 29-19. Save - None.

Umpires -

Start: 11:45 Time: 3:15 Attendance:

The Automated ScoreBook

Brigham Young Univ. vs San Diego State

May 12, 2001 at Albuquerque, NM (Lobo Field)

Brigham Young Univ. 4 (35-24)

Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A

KEOHOHOU, Oli rf.......... 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 0

SMITH, Liz lf............. 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 0

BOYDSTON, Liz 3b.......... 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 3

CADIENTE, Brooke dh....... 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 0

PRINGLE, Kari 2b.......... 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 0

HODGEN-KELLY, Lindse cf... 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 0

HANSON, Mindy 1b.......... 2 1 0 1 0 1 9 2

ERICKSON, Becca ss........ 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 1

CHRISTIANSEN, Angie c..... 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 1

PRICER, Meghann p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

WALLENTINE, Maryon p...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals.................... 23 4 6 3 3 6 21 7

San Diego State 3 (38-23)

Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A

FIGUEROA, John ss......... 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 0

GOUDY, Tiffany rf......... 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

NORDHAGEN, Kellie lf...... 3 1 3 1 1 0 2 0

KOVENSKY, Janna cf........ 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 0

AGUINAGA, Tashie 3b....... 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 5

HERSHMAN, Sarah 2b........ 2 0 0 0 1 0 4 1

FISHER, Shauna dh......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 1

KIRK, Kristina c.......... 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

COBOS c................... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

JOHNSON, Brooke c......... 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0

EHRSAM, Summer 1b......... 3 0 2 0 0 0 6 1

DURAZO, Sandra p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

Totals.................... 24 3 8 2 2 2 21 10

Score by innings: R H E

-------------------------------------------

Brigham Young Univ. 211 000 0 - 4 6 1

San Diego State 102 000 0 - 3 8 2

-------------------------------------------

E - BOYDSTON; NORDHAGEN 2.

DP - Cougars 2; Aztecs 1. LOB - Cougars 6; Aztecs 7.

SH - BOYDSTON; PRINGLE; ERICKSON; FIGUEROA; GOUDY; KOVENSKY; AGUINAGA. SF - HANSON.

Brigham Young Univ. IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

PRICER, Meghann..... 4.0 5 3 1 0 1

WALLENTINE, Maryon.. 3.0 3 0 0 2 1

San Diego State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF

DURAZO, Sandra...... 7.0 6 4 2 3 6

Win - PRICER 14-6. Loss - DURAZO 27-13. Save - WALLENTINE (1).

WP - PRICER; DURAZO. PB - FISHER. BK - PRICER.

HBP - KEOHOHOU; GOUDY.

Umpires -

Start: 3:30 Time: 2:35 Attendance:

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