Cougars Continue Winning Fall Season

PROVO, Utah - The BYU softball swept both games of a doubleheader on Saturday at Miller Field to go to 5-0 during the Cougars' fall preseason schedule.

Sophomore Tori Almond and freshman Caroline Umphlett combined to pitch a one-hit shutout against Southern Utah in the game one as BYU defeated the Thunderbirds, 3-0. Almond threw six innings before Umphlett came on to close out the game in the seventh.

"I’m happy with our pitching," said head coach Gordon Eakin. "They have been performing really well for us this fall." 

In game two, Salt Lake Community College tested the Cougars, taking an early 2-0 lead on BYU in the first inning.

A bases-loaded double by senior Delaney Willard put the Cougars back on top, 3-2, but multiple errors later in the game again handed the lead back to the Bruins who took a 4-3 edge.

Senior Jessica Dugas finally tied the game up in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring from third on a sacrifice fly hit by sophomore Jenna Goar. After Umphlett sat down the SLCC side to preserve the tie, the Cougars put two on base with senior Krista Hicks and junior Bailie Hicken reaching on back-to-back singles.

With two outs and the runners now on second and third in the bottom of the seventh, senior Tiffany Messerschmidt kept the game out of extra innings by knocking a single over the Bruin third baseman, sending home Dugas for the game-winning run and the 5-4 victory.

After its final Blue/White scrimmage of the season on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 1:30 p.m., BYU will travel to St. George, Utah, for its final fall games at Dixie State in a doubleheader on Saturday, Oct. 22, beginning at 11 a.m.