Cougars Host Pivotal MWC Doubleheaders

PROVO -- The BYU women's softball team (23-8) will host two pivotal MWC doubleheaders as they play UNLV (16-23) on Thursday at 1:30 and league-leading San Diego State (26-14) on Friday at 1 p.m. The games were originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday but were moved up a day due to General Conference.

The Cougars defeated Utah State Tuesday in Logan behind nine home runs in the doubleheader. Oli Keohohou hit three home runs to improve her total to a league-best to 13 home runs. BYU is now a perfect 15-0 against the Aggies since the program's inception in 2000. BYU has also won 14 of its last 15 games.

The Rebels come into Provo on Thursday with a 2-2 MWC record thanks to splits with New Mexico and Colorado State over the weekend. In league play, the Rebels have a conference best 0.68 ERA. Lisa Moses boasts 10 multiple-hit games. BYU leads the all-time series 9-3 and won two games at Las Vegas during conference play last season and also eliminated the Rebels in the MWC Tournament in Provo last May. The two teams did not play in regular season action in Provo due to inclement weather last season.

San Diego State is a perfect 4-0 in conference play with weekend sweeps over New Mexico and Colorado State over the weekend. All four wins were tough ones decided by two runs or less. The Aztecs boast this week's MWC Player and Pitcher of the Week in Jacque Vaca and Celena Vasquez, a freshman right-hander. The Aztec rotation also boast last year's MWC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year Bre DeSanta. San Diego State has won six straight, including a sweep over No. 22 Oregon State last week.

The Aztecs have a 9-3 advantage in the all-time series and won four out of five games over the Cougars last season, including a 10-4 win in the MWC Tournament that ended the Cougar's season.

As a team, BYU leads the conference in several offensive categories including batting average (.292), runs scored (180), doubles (37), triples (11), home runs (38), RBI, (156), slugging percentage (.509), walks (121), and total bases (405).

All-American Oli Keohohou leads the conference in several categories including batting average (.447), runs scored (36), total bases (89), slugging percentage (1.047), triples (3), walks (28), on base percentage (.583), RBI (33), and home runs (13).

Sophomore Lauren Watson is right behind her in several categories with a .388 batting average, 25 runs scored, .622 sluggins percentage, .469 on base percentage, and five home runs. Senior Brooke Cadiente has eight home runs and 28 RBI.

Live stats will be available for all games this weekend. The link is available at www.byucougars.com on the softball page under the 2003 schedule.

MWC CONFERENCE STANDINGS
                        Conference             Overall
Team                   W   L  T  Pct.   GB   W   L   T  Pct.
San Diego State......  4   0  0 1.000   --  26  14   0  .650
UNLV.................  2   2  0  .500    2  16  23   0  .410
BYU..................  1   1  0  .500    2  23   8   0  .742
Utah.................  1   1  0  .500    2  11  17   0  .393
Colorado State.......  1   3  0  .250    3  20   9   0  .690
New Mexico...........  1   3  0  .250    3  16  24   1  .402
Last updated Apr. 2, 10 AM MT