BYU Trades Shutout Wins with Southern Utah

PROVO -- Competing in a rare nonconference home meeting, the BYU softball team traded shutout victories with Southern Utah Tuesday in Provo. The Cougars claimed the first game, 3-0, while the Thunderbirds took the second, 2-0.

The Cougars (13-22) jumped out to a quick lead in the first game, capitalizing on two key Southern Utah errors to put three runs on the board. Those runs were the only ones of the game, however, as the teams remained in a scoreless battle the remainder of game and evenutally finished with the initial 3-0 score. BYU pitcher Maryon Dewitt (7-10) held the Thunderbirds to just four hits to get the win, while Lori Shepard let up seven hits and no earned runs in defeat for Southern Utah.

The story was much the same in the second game, with both BYU's Meghann Pricer and SUU's Renee Hietbrink combining to allow no earned runs and 12 hits. Pricer turned out a solid complete game performance in which she permitted just five hits while walking none and striking out four, but Pricer fell victim to the defensive hold of the Thunderbirds. Dating back to the previous game, BYU was unable to score a run in 13 successive innings. The inability to score runners hurt the Cougars as they snapped their season-high string of consecutive wins at three.

Center fielder Lindsay Hodgen led the Cougars with a 4-for-7 performance in both games, while

second baseman Jackie Ellis completed a 3-for-3 stint at the plate in the second game.

BYU concludes its first-ever home season with doubleheaders Friday and Saturday against conference opponents Colorado State and New Mexico. All games will take place at Harmon Park in Provo (900 East 250 South), with Friday's action beginning at 1 p.m. and Saturday's play kicking off at noon.