Albuquerque, N.M. - No. 1 seed BYU turned their second double play of the day in the bottom of the seventh inning to end the game and collect their first ever Mountain West Conference softball title. The Cougars scored four runs as they defeated third-seeded San Diego State, 4-3 at the 2001 Mountain West Conference Softball Championship Saturday afternoon at Lobo Field. This is the BYU softball team and the Mountain West Conference's second year of existence.

BYU took a lead with two runs in the first inning when Oli Keohouhou was hit by a pitch to start things off then Liz Smith had her first of three singles on the day. Elizabeth Boydston hit a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners and then Kari Pringle singled to left field scoring Keohouhou and Smith. Joann Figueroa, for San Diego State in the bottom of the frame, singled to left field and then advanced to second on an illegla pitch by BYU's Meghann Pricer. Kellie Nordhagen singled to the shortstop allowing Figueroa to score.

BYU scored another run in the second and third innings. San Diego State made the game interesting in the bottom of the third inning when they scored two runs to pull to within one. With two outs, Tiffany Goudy was hit by a pitch. Nordhagen singled to right field and advanced to third on an error by third base. Goudy would come in on the error. Janna Kovensky then singled to the left side, scoring Nordhagen.

For BYU, Liz Smith was 3-4 with one run and one RBI. Meghann Pricer started the game on the mound for the Cougars, going 4.0 innings, giving up five hits and one earned run. Maryon Wallentine came on in relief, going 3.0 innings, giving up three hits and allowing no runs. Pricer is now 14-6 and Wallentine picked up her first save.

For the SDSU Aztecs, Kellie Nordhagen was 3-3 with one run and one RBI and Summer Ersam was 2-3. Sandra Durazo was on the mound for SDSU, going the complete game, giving up six hits, two earned runs and striking out six. Durazo finishes the season with a 27-13 record.

TEAM                                    R     H    E
BYU       2  1  1  0  0  0  0           4     6    1
SDSU	  1  0  2  0  0  0  0           3     8    2

WP - Pricer (14-6)
LP - Durazo (27-13)

Time: 2:35

2001 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Sandra Durazo, Sr., P, San Diego State
Lyndsey Trevis, Jr., 3B, Utah
Melissa Stahnke, Fr., SS, Utah
Sarah Hershman, Jr., 2B, San Diego State
Tashie Aguinaga, Sr., 3B, San Diego State
Amy Dumas, Fr., P, New Mexico
Marianna Fenelli, Sr., SS, New Mexico
Oli Keohouho, Fr., OF, BYU
DP-Brooke Cadiente, So., DP, BYU
Molly McLean, Jr., OF, Utah

MVP-Brooke Cadiente, So., DP, BYU