TEMPE, Ariz. – Sophomore pitcher McKenna Bull powered BYU softball to a 2-0 win over New Mexico as it split its two games in the Kajikawa Classic Friday.

The Cougars (2-2) beat the Lobos (1-1) in the morning game while falling to California (1-0) 12-4 in the afternoon game.

"There were positives and negatives again today," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. " We played a tough New Mexico team in the first game. We were able to get some timely hitting in the fifth inning and pulled out the win."

Bull (2-0) turned in another solid outing for BYU, going the distance with a complete-game shutout, including nine strikeouts, while only allowing four hits and two walks. The shutout is her second career seven-inning shutout and third overall.

"In the Cal game, they just outplayed us in every area," Eakin said. " We’ll learn from today’s game and improve for tomorrow."

Broderick led the Cougars from the plate going 3-for-4 on the day with two RBI, two walks and a double.

Centerfielder Gordy Bravo hit 3-for-7 on the day, while Ashley Thompson had two walks and an RBI on a 1-for-4 day hitting. Senior Lacey Hofstedt collected two hits on the day, going 2-for-5.

Game One

The early game was deadlocked in a 0-0 tie thanks to Bull’s effort from the circle.  The Cougars had chances to score but left three runners on base in the third inning.

The team continued to battle, eventually breaking the tie in the fifth inning. Turning out to be the difference-makers in the game, Broderick and Thompson each came through with an RBI in the frame. The designated hitter Thompson singled to right field, allowing O’Connor to advance from first to third, while scoring Bell from second. Broderick followed with a base hit up the middle, driving in O’Connor for the RBI and the final score of the game.

The Cougars held the 2-0 lead the rest of the game as Bull struck out three more batters in the final two innings while not allowing any Lobos to reach base.

Game Two

The second game of the day began with BYU taking the lead in the top of the first, scoring three runs after advancing on illegal pitches.

Cal then countered in the bottom of the frame with a one-out grand slam as Danielle Henderson took the first pitch from Thompson out to left field.

With the score 4-3, BYU loaded the bases. Bell reached base on a fielder’s choice and then advanced to second on O’Connor’s walk. Thompson then drew a base on balls as well, loading the bases with two outs in the process. Broderick then drew the RBI-walk before Merrell struck out swinging for the third out.

Heading into the bottom of the second, the Golden Bears broke the 4-4 tie with a two-run homer with no outs. They struck again with a single through the left side four batters later, advancing a runner to third while scoring one.

Another run came in as Kobie Pettis reached on an error. With the game 8-4 in favor of Cal, the Cougars gave up two unearned runs before getting out of the inning, 10-4. The Bears held BYU scoreless for the next three innings while tacking on one run each in the fourth and fifth innings, resulting in the game being called per the eight-run rule.

The Cougars face Cal Poly in their last game of the Kajikawa Classic Saturday at 9:15 a.m. Updates will be available on Twitter @BYUCougars.

PROVO, Utah – BYU softball travels to Tempe, Arizona, for the start of the 2015 season in the Kajikawa Classic beginning Thursday.

Kajikawa Classic
Feb. 5-7
Tempe Sports Complex
Tempe, Arizona

Virginia
Thursday, Feb. 5 at 4:30 p.m. MST

San Jose State
Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. MST

New Mexico
Friday, Feb. 6 at 11:15 a.m. MST

California
Friday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. MST

Cal Poly
Saturday, Feb. 7 at 9:15 a.m. MST

Results will be updated daily on the BYU Athletics website. Scoring updates for the whole tournament will be available on the Arizona State website.

BYU

Coming off it's fourth-consecutive championship in its fourth-different conference, BYU softball aims for another postseason run to extend its streak of 10-straight NCAA appearances. This will be the first time since the 2011 season that the Cougars have played in the same conference two years in a row. The Cougars have taken the conference title each year since 2009. The 2015 season welcomes back six sophomore starters led by pitcher McKenna Bull and catcher Sydney Broderick. Bull broke the BYU freshman record for strikeouts in a season (206) and is 10th all-time at BYU. Broderick hit .360 with six home runs and 31 RBI in addition to stringing together a 16-game hitting streak in 2014.

The Cougars are coached by Gordon Eakin who holds a 483-223 record entering his 13th year as head coach.

Virginia

Virginia looks to improve coming off a tough 2014 campaign in which the team went 8-43 (1-25 Atlantic Coast Conference). The Cavaliers return two seniors, two juniors and six sophomores while welcoming six freshmen. Returning contributors include Aimee Chapdelaine (8-36, 6.90 ERA, 91 SO) while Madison Labshere (.230 BA, 6 HR, 23 RBI) and Iyana Hughes (.256 BA, 12 RBI).

San Jose State

After a 30-24 season overall record and a 13-11 mark in Mountain West Conference play, San Jose State looks to compete with key players returning. Pitcher Allison Lang led the team with a 3.03 ERA and a 12-5 win-loss record with 56 strikeouts in 2014. Other pitchers Madison Fish and Katelyn Linford return after they went 8-6 and 9-12, respectively. Batting leaders include Jessie Hufstetler (.441, 5 HR, 44 RBI) and Sharon-Renae Estrada (.311, 4 HR, 34 RBI).  Michelle Cox also had a solid season, batting .342. 

New Mexico

The Mountain West’s New Mexico hopes to improve on a 16-36 (7-17 MW) 2014 season. The Lobos hope to show strides of growth as they bring back a host of pitching in Lauren Soles (6-8, 6.14 ERA, 42 SO), Carrie Sheehan (5-10, 7.00 ERA, 67 SO), Lisa Rodrigues (4-9, 7.38 ERA, 62 SO) and Tess McPherson (1-9, 12.44 ERA, 25 SO). Brandi Heimburg (.388, 1 HR, 15 RBI), McPherson (.375, 1 HR, 5 RBI) and Mariah Rimmer (.308, 4 HR, 34 RBI) come back to improve upon their 2014 seasons at the plate.

California

The Pac-12’s California was picked to finish seventh in the conference preseason poll. Following a 23-29 (4-18 Pac-12) season, the Golden Bears will try to find its stride with returning pitchers Nisa Ontiveros (9-9, 4.23 ERA, 52 SO) and Stephani Trzcinkski (8-15, 4.93 ERA, 86 SO). Key batters returning this season are Cheyenne Cordes (.401, 13 HR, 40 RBI), Kylie Reed (.352, 19 RBI), Danielle Henderson (.345, 12 HR, 37 RBI) and Breana Kostraba (.324, 5 HR, 30 RBI).

Cal Poly

After a second-place finish in the Big West, Cal Poly looks to best its 33-19 (14-7) 2014 record. Sierra Hyland (26-8, 1.94 ERA, 263 SO) will be the mainstay from the circle while also contributing for her own cause at the plate. She batted .366 with six home runs and 36 RBI last season. Other key batters include Emily Ceccacci (.356, 21 RBI), Jillian Andersen (.318, 20 RBI) and Lauren Moreno (.273, 5 HR, 30 RBI).