BYU Powers Past UMKC

PROVO, Utah - Getting a big lead early in both games of a doubleheader, the BYU softball team rolled to a 8-2 win in game one and a 16-1 win in game two against UMKC on Tuesday night at Gail Miller Field.

In the first game, senior Stacie Toney went 2 for 2 with a double and a home run, driving in three runs. Sophomore Katie Manuma also homered for the Cougars, finishing the game going 1 for 2 with a walk and two RBI. Junior JC Clayton had two hits and scored two runs in the win over the Roos.

Starting pitcher Tori Almond picked up the victory, improving to 6-2 on the season. The sophomore went six innings, allowing one earned run on just two hits while striking out seven.

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The Cougars jumped out of the gates early, stringing together three-straight singles to take an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. BYU added on when Toney doubled home senior Tiffany Messerschmidt and Clayton. Toney scored later in the inning on a wild pitch and, after reaching on an error, Manuma scored on a single from sophomore Ashlee Brawley to make the score 5-0.

Toney hit a solo home run to deep right field to give the Cougars a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the third. UMKC got a run back in the top of the fourth inning to make it 6-1.

In the bottom half of the fifth, Clayton led off the inning with a single up the middle. BYU picked up two more runs when Manuma homered over the left field wall for an 8-1 advantage.

Game Two

BYU jumped on the ball early and never looked back en route to a crushing 16-1 victory in five innings in the second contest of the night.

Brawley went 2 for 3 with a double while driving in four runs to lead the Cougars (21-8). Senior Delaney Willard also went 2 for 3 with a double and a home run, bringing in two runs and scoring three more.

Toney also continued her hitting from game one, tacking on two hits, including a double, with two runs, an RBI and a walk. Sophomore Carly Duckworth and senior Krista Hicks also had two hits apiece for the Cougars.

Starting pitcher Hannah Howell was consistent throughout her five innings, giving up only one earned run on five hits. Howell’s victory improved her record to 10-4 overall.

BYU took advantage of poor pitching early by the Roos as the first three Cougars batters walked. After gaining a 3-0 lead with RBIs by Toney, Duckworth and Goar, third baseman Brawley hit a bases clearing double, pushing the Cougars lead to 6-0.

BYU tacked on another run in the bottom of the second when Willard drove the ball deep over the right field wall for her team-leading 12th home run of the season.

UMKC added its only run of the game in the top of the third making it 7-1.

The fourth inning was all Cougars as BYU added nine more runs on nine hits. Freshman Megan Arnold highlighted the offensive output with her first career hit at Miller Field, a grand slam to right center field. Willard and Toney each added RBI doubles in the inning.

The team will be back in action on Friday when they travel to Fresno to face the Fresno State Bulldogs at 6 p.m. PT.