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BYU Takes Two from UVSC, 15-2, 11-1
Cougars improve to 18-9.
March 31, 2004
OREM, Utah - The BYU softball team took care of business in Orem on Tuesday as they swept Utah Valley State College 15-2, 11-1 in two five-inning games. With the wins, the Cougars enter conference play posting an 18-9 overall record. The Cougars scored a season-high 15-runs in the first game and tallied an explosive 26 runs combined, while only allowing the Wolverines three total runs in the doubleheader. "We played pretty solid all around," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We didn't start off very well, but we kept our heads up and played the last nine innings really well." In game one, the Wolverines came out strong to snatch an early 2-0 lead off a two-run homer by Kelli Hardy in the bottom of the first inning. BYU didn't get discouraged as pitcher Brooke Boyce and the Cougars registered a great defensive performance to allow no more UVSC runs for the remainder of the game. The Cougars also posted no errors in game one. The Cougars scored their first run of the game in the top of the second inning off a double from Debbie Dodds that scored Belinda Osborn. Sophomore Paige Paramore highlighted the five-run third inning with a three-run homer, her fifth of the year. With bases loaded, junior Lauren Watson knocked in two RBI with a single to give BYU the 6-2 advantage over the Wolverines. In he top of the fourth, UVSC committed two errors and BYU was able to score four more runs off of four hits coming from Ianeta Le`i, Kate Walker, Debbie Dodds and Lauren Watson. Going into the top of the fifth inning with a 10-2 lead, Norton stepped up to hit her fifth home run of the year. Ashlyn Russell, Dodds and Jennifer Whiteley all produced hits to give the Cougars the big 15-2 victory. Boyce (6-5) battled back to pick up the win on the mound in five innings of play. In game two, the Cougars continued their sturdy offense scoring 11 runs off of nine hits in five innings of play.
It was a long first inning for the Wolverines as the Cougars scored 8 runs off of five hits.
BYU was able to capitalize on two UVSC errors in the top of the third to score three more runs and run away with the 11-1 win. Junior Ariel Capra (3-1) posted a solid performance on the mound for BYU pitching a four-hitter, allowing no earned runs and striking out five batters. Overall against the Wolverines, the Cougars were hot at the plate with seven hitters batting .333 or better. Dodds led BYU hitting 3-4 (.750) followed by teammates Crystal Young 2-3 (.666), Le`i 4-6 (.666), Osborn 3-5 (.600) and Whiteley 2-5 (.500). Norton and Walker also batted 2-6 (.333) each. BYU will open its conference season hosting UNLV on Thursday starting at 3 p.m. and SDSU on Friday starting at 4 p.m. These will be the first home games of the season after a long 27 games on the road. |
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