BYU Opens Conference Play Against Utah Saturday

PROVO -- The BYU women's softball team (20-7) will start conference play when it hosts in-state rival Utah this Saturday in a doubleheader starting at noon at Gail Miller Field. The Cougars have won 11 straight games, a new school record.

Live stats and live audio with Jay Monsen calling the action will be available for the first game at byuradio.org. Only live stats will be available for the second game. Check under the 2003 schedule of the softball home page for the link.

Utah is 10-16 and last place in the Mountain West Conference, but the Utes defeated the Cougars in both games last season in Salt Lake 3-2 8-7 that both went to eight innings. The doubleheader last year in Provo was cancelled due to inclement weather. Utah leads the all-time series 7-5.

BYU received three votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll this week, currently placing it No. 32 in the country.

The Cougars lead the MWC in several categories including slugging percentage (.474), on base percentage (.382), runs scored (145), RBI (132), doubles (31), triples (10), home runs (28), and total bases (323).

All-American Oli Keohohou, a junior, leads the conference in batting average (.419), runs scored (29), total bases (71), slugging percentage (.959), triples (3), walks (24), on base percentage (.560), RBI (26), and home runs (10). MWC Player of the Week Lauren Watson is right behind her with a .381 batting average and leads the team in hits with 32. Senior Brooke Cadiente is hitting .329 and has seven home runs and 25 RBI on the season.

The Cougar's pitching seems to be getting its confidence just in time for conference play with last week's MWC Pitcher of the Week Mandy Flint (6-1), a senior transfer from Southern Utah, leading the way with a 1.41 ERA. Senior Cynthia Fallowfield (5-2) is right behind her with a 1.95 ERA. Freshman Brooke Boyce (4-1) has come in relief in several key wins for the Cougars and leads the team in strikeouts with 35. Sophomore Niki Andersen (5-3) is finding confidence in her game after a shaky start of the season.

Movie Night at Miller Park with Disney's "The Rookie" being shown on a 20'x40' inflatable screen will start on the baseball side of Miller Park starting at 8:30. Cost is $2 per person with proceeds going towards the baseball and softball programs.

Conference        Overall
Team                   W   L  T  Pct.    W   L   T  Pct.
Colorado State.......  0   0  0  .000   19   6   0  .760
BYU..................  0   0  0  .000   20   7   0  .741
San Diego State......  0   0  0  .000   20  14   0  .588
UNLV.................  0   0  0  .000   14  21   0  .400
New Mexico...........  0   0  0  .000   13  21   1  .386
Utah.................  0   0  0  .000   10  16   0  .385
Last updated Mar. 24, 10 AM MT