Cougars Capture Third-Consecutive MWC Title

PROVO, Utah -- The BYU softball team claimed its third-straight Mountain West Conference championship on Saturday, defeating Utah by scores of 3-0 and 12-1 during a doubleheader in front of a record crowd of 1,488 people at Gail Miller Field.

"It feels great," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "It's been a challenging year, but it's also been the most gratifying championship we've won."

The wins also give BYU its fourth Deseret First Duel softball trophy as the Cougars improve to 37-16, 11-2.

BYU senior pitcher Paige Affleck earned her MWC-best 24th victory of the year with a complete-game shutout of the Utes in the first game of the day. The senior improved to 24-11 on the year.

Helping secure BYU’s three-peat championship, the BYU defense turned three double plays and catcher Jessica Fitu added three key defensive gems to take Utah runners off the base paths. Thanks to the strong defensive play, Affleck faced only 22 batters to secure the required 21 outs despite Utah managing five hits and two bases on balls.

Fitu highlighted the strong defense by gunning down three Utah base runners with her arm. In the top of the first the senior from Walunt, Calif., turned Affleck’s only two walks of the day into outs by throwing out both Ute runners attempting to steal second for an unconventional 1-2-3 inning. In the third inning after Utah’s Cheyella Myers led off with a double, Fitu again provided the defensive heroics, picking off Myers at third base for the third out of the frame.

On the offensive end, third baseman Caschjen Atagi delivered the big play for the Cougars in the bottom of the third, crushing a clutch two-out, bases-loaded double off the base of the left field wall to score two runs. Fitu, who advanced to third on the play, later crossed the plate on a wild pitch to give BYU a 3-0 lead and the ultimate final outcome.

"They played a complete game," Eakin said. "Utah came out with a lot of energy, but I'm proud of our kids for holding up and playing well."

In the second game of the day, Kristin Delahoussaye led off with a walk, setting up a home run by Fitu in the first inning to put BYU up early, 2-0.

Fitu had two hits and four RBIs to lead BYU while junior Jessica Dugas went 3-for-3 in game two.

While JC Clayton, Dugas and Delahoussaye were all able to single in the top of the second, it was a hit by Madisen Robb that allowed Dugas to make it home and advance the score to 3-0.

The fourth inning proved successful for the Cougars and extended their lead over Utah by four more runs. Lacey Millet scored first in the inning before a double by Delany Willard brought Dugas home. Another hit by Fitu, this one a single, allowed both Delahoussaye and Willard to score and pushed BYU’s lead to 7-0.

In the top of the fifth, BYU's Alexandra Hudson doubled to put both Clayton and Dugas across the plate. Robb and Hudson added two runs after a single by Atagi, pushing the score to 11-0. Fitu later made her way around the bases for another run before Utah retired the side.

Brooke Olson put the Utes on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth for Utah's only run of the doubleheader.

The Cougars now await to hear where they will play in the NCAA Regional beginning Thursday. The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Sunday at 8 p.m. MT on ESPNU.

Utah at BYU (Game 1)
May 14, 2011 at Provo, Utah (Gail Miller Field)
Utah 0 (29-21,7-4)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
OLSON, Brooke c..........  2  0  0  0   1  0  6  1   0
GLOVER, Tara lf..........  3  0  1  0   0  0  1  0   0
FANKHAUSER, Chalese cf...  2  0  0  0   1  1  0  0   0
PALAUNI, Tia 1b..........  3  0  0  0   0  0  6  0   0
PARKER, Brittany dh......  2  0  1  0   0  1  0  0   0
HOOPIIAINA, Kelsi ss.....  2  0  2  0   0  0  2  4   0
HOLM, Whitney 3b.........  2  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   1
MYERS, Cheyella rf.......  2  0  1  0   0  0  1  0   0
SWEET, Jackie 2b.........  2  0  0  0   0  1  2  1   0
NIELSON, Generra p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 AMU, Naomi p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 20  0  5  0   2  3 18  8   1
BYU 3 (36-16,10-2)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
DELAHOUSSAYE, Kristi 2b..  4  0  0  0   0  0  2  4   3
MESSERSCHMIDT, Tiffa dh..  3  1  0  0   0  2  0  0   0
CLAYTON, JC ss...........  3  1  1  0   0  0  3  2   0
FITU,Jessica c...........  2  1  0  0   0  1  3  3   0
ATAGI,Caschjen 3b........  3  0  1  2   0  0  4  3   0
WILLARD, Delaney rf......  2  0  2  0   1  0  1  0   0
 MILLETT,Lacey pr........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HUDSON,Alexandra rf.....  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
DUCKWORTH,Carly lf.......  2  0  0  0   0  2  1  0   2
GRAHAM, Stacie 1b........  3  0  2  0   0  1  7  0   2
DUGAS,Jessica cf.........  2  0  1  0   1  1  0  0   0
AFFLECK,Paige p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 24  3  7  2   2  7 21 12   7
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Utah................ 000 000 0 -  0  5  0
BYU................. 003 000 X -  3  7  0
-----------------------------------------
DP - UT 1; BYU 3. LOB - UT 1; BYU 7. 2B - MYERS; ATAGI. HBP - FITU;
DUCKWORTH. SB - GRAHAM. CS - OLSON; FANKHAUSER.
Utah                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
NIELSON, Generra....  2.2  4  3  3  1  2 12 15
AMU, Naomi..........  3.1  3  0  0  1  5 12 13
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
AFFLECK,Paige.......  7.0  5  0  0  2  3 20 22
Win - AFFLECK (24-11).  Loss - NIELSON (21-12).  Save - None.
WP - NIELSON 2. HBP - by NIELSON (DUCKWORTH); by NIELSON (FITU).
Umpires - HP: Anthony Lewis  1B: Clair McBride  3B: Ray Meibos
Start: 2:45 pm   Time: 1:58   Attendance: 1488
Weather: Cold, windy and wet
Utah starters: 7/c OLSON; 2/lf GLOVER; 25/cf FANKHAUSER; 18/1b PALAUNI; 4/dh
PARKER; 24/ss HOOPIIAINA; 3/3b HOLM; 17/rf MYERS; 1/2b SWEET; 11/p NIELSON;
BYU starters: 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 20/dh MESSERSCHMID; 16/ss CLAYTON; 10/c FITU;
9/3b ATAGI; 28/rf WILLARD; 3/lf DUCKWORTH; 21/1b GRAHAM; 19/cf DUGAS; 12/p
AFFLECK;
Utah 1st - OLSON walked. GLOVER flied out to lf. OLSON out at second c
to ss, caught stealing. FANKHAUSER walked. FANKHAUSER out at second c to ss,
caught stealing. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 1st - DELAHOUSSAYE flied out to lf. MESSERSCHMID struck out looking.
CLAYTON popped up to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Utah 2nd - PALAUNI grounded out to 2b. PARKER singled through the left
side. HOOPIIAINA singled to right field; PARKER advanced to third. HOLM
grounded into double play 2b to 1b; HOOPIIAINA out on the play. 0 runs, 2
hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 2nd - FITU grounded out to p. ATAGI grounded out to ss. WILLARD
singled through the right side. DUCKWORTH hit by pitch; WILLARD advanced to
second. GRAHAM struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Utah 3rd - MYERS doubled to right field. SWEET struck out looking. OLSON
flied out to rf; MYERS advanced to third. MYERS out at third c to 3b, picked
off. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 3rd - DUGAS singled to third base. DELAHOUSSAYE flied out to rf.
MESSERSCHMID reached on a fielder's choice; DUGAS out at second ss to 2b.
CLAYTON singled to pitcher; MESSERSCHMID advanced to second. CLAYTON advanced
to second on a wild pitch; MESSERSCHMID advanced to third. FITU hit by pitch.
ATAGI doubled to left field, 2 RBI; FITU advanced to third; CLAYTON scored;
MESSERSCHMID scored. WILLARD walked; ATAGI advanced to third; FITU scored on a
wild pitch. AMU to p for NIELSON. DUCKWORTH struck out looking. 3 runs, 3
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Utah 4th - GLOVER singled to pitcher. FANKHAUSER fouled into double play
3b unassisted; GLOVER out on the play. PALAUNI fouled out to 3b. 0 runs, 1
hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 4th - GRAHAM singled to left field. DUGAS struck out swinging.
DELAHOUSSAYE grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; GRAHAM out on the play.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Utah 5th - PARKER struck out swinging. HOOPIIAINA singled up the middle.
HOLM grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b; HOOPIIAINA out on the play. 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 5th - MESSERSCHMID struck out swinging. CLAYTON grounded out to 3b.
FITU struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
Utah 6th - MYERS grounded out to ss. SWEET grounded out to 3b. OLSON out
at first 3b to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
BYU 6th - ATAGI lined out to ss. WILLARD singled up the middle. MILLETT
pinch ran for WILLARD. DUCKWORTH struck out swinging. GRAHAM singled to
pitcher; MILLETT advanced to third. GRAHAM stole second. DUGAS walked.
DELAHOUSSAYE grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Utah 7th - HUDSON to rf for MILLETT. GLOVER grounded out to 3b.
FANKHAUSER struck out looking. PALAUNI grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
BYU at Utah (Game 2)
May 14, 2011 at Provo, Utah (Gail Miller Field)
BYU 12 (37-16,11-2)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
DELAHOUSSAYE, Kristi 2b..  2  2  0  0   2  1  1  3   0
MESSERSCHMIDT, Tiffa dh..  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
 ROBB, Madisen ph/ss.....  2  1  1  1   1  1  1  0   0
WILLARD, Delaney rf......  3  1  1  1   0  0  0  0   2
 HUDSON,Alexandra rf.....  1  1  1  2   0  0  0  0   0
FITU,Jessica c...........  3  2  2  4   0  0  5  1   0
ATAGI,Caschjen 3b/dh.....  3  0  2  2   1  0  2  3   0
DUCKWORTH,Carly lf.......  2  0  0  0   1  1  0  0   1
 MANUMA, Katie ph........  0  0  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
GRAHAM, Stacie 1b........  3  0  1  0   0  1  4  0   3
 ENGEL, Jenna ph/1b......  1  0  1  1   0  0  1  0   0
CLAYTON, JC ss/dh........  2  1  1  0   1  0  0  0   0
 MILLETT,Lacey pr........  0  1  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HICKS, Krista ph/3b.....  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   2
DUGAS,Jessica cf.........  3  3  3  1   0  0  1  0   0
ALMOND,Tori p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 HOWELL,Hannah p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 27 12 13 12   7  5 15  7   8
Utah 1 (29-22,7-5)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
OLSON, Brooke c..........  3  1  1  1   0  0  5  0   0
GLOVER, Tara lf..........  3  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
PARKER, Brittany dh/p....  3  0  2  0   0  1  0  0   0
PALAUNI, Tia 1b..........  2  0  1  0   0  0  6  0   1
 BOWLES, Sandi ph........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
FANKHAUSER, Chalese cf...  2  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 CLEMENTS, Hannah cf.....  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   1
HOOPIIAINA, Kelsi ss.....  1  0  1  0   1  0  0  3   0
HOLM, Whitney 3b.........  2  0  0  0   0  1  1  0   0
MYERS, Cheyella rf.......  0  0  0  0   2  0  1  0   0
SWEET, Jackie 2b.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  3   0
 ELLIOTT, Katelyn ph/2b..  1  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   2
AMU, Naomi p/dh..........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   2
 NIELSON, Generra p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 COOK, Joni p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 20  1  6  1   3  4 15  8   7
Score by Innings               R  H  E
--------------------------------------
BYU................. 210 45 - 12 13  0
Utah................ 000 01 -  1  6  0
--------------------------------------
DP - UT 1. LOB - BYU 8; UT 7. 2B - WILLARD; HUDSON. HR - FITU; OLSON. HBP -
FITU. SB - DELAHOUSSAYE; MILLETT.
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
ALMOND,Tori.........  4.1  5  1  1  3  2 17 20
HOWELL,Hannah.......  0.2  1  0  0  0  2  3  3
Utah                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
AMU, Naomi..........  2.2  5  3  3  2  1 13 15
PARKER, Brittany....  0.1  1  3  3  2  0  2  4
NIELSON, Generra....  1.1  5  5  5  2  4  9 11
COOK, Joni..........  0.2  2  1  1  1  0  3  5
Win - ALMOND (10-3).  Loss - AMU (8-9).  Save - None.
WP - ALMOND 2; PARKER. HBP - by COOK (FITU).
Umpires - HP: Clair McBride  1B: Ray Meibos  3B: Anthony Lewis
Start: 5:15 pm   Time: 2:18   Attendance: 1488
Weather: Cloudy
PARKER faced 3 batters in the 4th.
BYU starters: 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 20/dh MESSERSCHMID; 28/rf WILLARD; 10/c FITU;
9/3b ATAGI; 3/lf DUCKWORTH; 21/1b GRAHAM; 16/ss CLAYTON; 19/cf DUGAS; 8/p
ALMOND;
Utah starters: 7/c OLSON; 2/lf GLOVER; 4/dh PARKER; 18/1b PALAUNI; 25/cf
FANKHAUSER; 24/ss HOOPIIAINA; 3/3b HOLM; 17/rf MYERS; 1/2b SWEET; 10/p AMU;
BYU 1st - DELAHOUSSAYE walked. MESSERSCHMID struck out swinging;
DELAHOUSSAYE stole second. WILLARD flied out to rf. FITU homered to left field,
2 RBI; DELAHOUSSAYE scored. ATAGI singled up the middle. DUCKWORTH grounded out
to ss. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Utah 1st - OLSON grounded out to 3b. GLOVER singled to left field.
PARKER struck out swinging. PALAUNI singled to center field; GLOVER advanced to
second. GLOVER out at second c to 2b to 3b to 2b, picked off. 0 runs, 2
hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 2nd - GRAHAM singled through the left side. CLAYTON reached on a
fielder's choice; GRAHAM out at second ss to 2b. DUGAS singled to shortstop;
CLAYTON advanced to second. DELAHOUSSAYE reached on a fielder's choice; DUGAS
advanced to second; CLAYTON out at third p to 3b. ROBB pinch hit for
MESSERSCHMID. ROBB singled through the left side, RBI; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to
second; DUGAS scored. WILLARD grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.
Utah 2nd - ROBB to ss. CLAYTON to dh. FANKHAUSER lined out to ss.
HOOPIIAINA walked. HOLM fouled out to 3b. MYERS walked; HOOPIIAINA advanced to
second. AMU to p for SWEET. SWEET to 2b for AMU. AMU reached on a fielder's
choice; MYERS advanced to second; HOOPIIAINA out at third 3b unassisted. 0
runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 3rd - FITU grounded out to 2b. ATAGI grounded out to 2b. DUCKWORTH
walked. PARKER to p. SWEET to 2b for AMU. AMU to dh for SWEET. GRAHAM grounded
out to 1b unassisted. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Utah 3rd - OLSON fouled out to c. GLOVER grounded out to 2b. PARKER
singled through the left side. PALAUNI grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 4th - CLAYTON walked. MILLETT pinch ran for CLAYTON. MILLETT
advanced to second on a wild pitch. MILLETT stole third. DUGAS singled up the
middle, RBI; MILLETT scored. DELAHOUSSAYE walked; DUGAS advanced to second.
PARKER to dh. NIELSON to p for AMU. ROBB struck out swinging. WILLARD doubled
to center field, RBI; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to third; DUGAS scored. FITU
singled through the right side, 2 RBI; WILLARD scored; DELAHOUSSAYE scored.
ATAGI walked; FITU advanced to second. DUCKWORTH struck out swinging. GRAHAM
struck out swinging. 4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Utah 4th - HUDSON to rf for WILLARD. FANKHAUSER grounded out to 1b
unassisted. HOOPIIAINA singled up the middle. HOLM struck out swinging.
HOOPIIAINA advanced to second on a wild pitch. MYERS walked. ELLIOTT pinch hit
for SWEET. MYERS advanced to second on a wild pitch; HOOPIIAINA advanced to
third. ELLIOTT flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 5th - ELLIOTT to 2b. CLAYTON to dh for MILLETT. CLAYTON singled to
left field. DUGAS singled to third base; CLAYTON advanced to second.
DELAHOUSSAYE struck out looking. ROBB walked; DUGAS advanced to second; CLAYTON
advanced to third. HUDSON doubled to left center, 2 RBI; ROBB advanced to
third; DUGAS scored; CLAYTON scored. COOK to p for NIELSON. FITU hit by pitch.
ATAGI singled through the left side, 2 RBI; FITU advanced to second; HUDSON
scored; ROBB scored. MANUMA pinch hit for DUCKWORTH. MANUMA walked; ATAGI
advanced to second; FITU advanced to third. ENGEL pinch hit for GRAHAM. ENGEL
singled up the middle, RBI; MANUMA advanced to second; ATAGI advanced to third;
FITU scored. HICKS pinch hit for CLAYTON. HICKS grounded into double play ss to
2b to 1b; ENGEL out on the play. 5 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Utah 5th - ATAGI to dh. DUCKWORTH to lf for MANUMA. ENGEL to 1b. HICKS
to 3b. OLSON homered to center field, RBI. GLOVER grounded out to 2b. HOWELL to
p for ALMOND. PARKER singled through the left side. BOWLES pinch hit for
PALAUNI. BOWLES struck out looking. CLEMENTS to cf for FANKHAUSER. CLEMENTS
struck out looking. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.