LAS VEGAS – Sophomore Mercedes O'Connor smashed a walk-off single to give BYU the 5-4 win over Hawai`i Thursday evening in day one of the Wilson/DeMarini Desert Classic at UNLV.

“It was the tale of two games,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “Innings one through four were not good. In innings five, six and seven we played good ball.”

Leading the Cougars (3-3) from the plate was sophomore McKenzie St. Clair who went 2-for-3 including a triple and one run scored. Sophomore Sydney Broderick finished the night with three walks and a run scored while Gordy Bravo, Lacey Hofstedt and O’Connor all had 1-for-3 nights at the plate. Bravo and Ashley Thompson both had an RBI each in addition to the walk-off by O'Connor.

From the circle Arianna Paulson threw 3.2 innings against the Rainbow Wahine (3-3), striking out four, walking three and allowing three hits. Bull pitched the rest of the way to pick up the win, improving to 3-1 while striking out seven, walking four and allowing three hits as well.

“We need to be more consistent and not start out so slow, giving free passes to their hitters and making errors that get their rallies going,” Eakin said. “I’m proud of them for hanging with it, battling through the tough times, finishing out the game strong and beating a quality team in Hawai`i.”

Facing a 3-1 deficit in the bottom of the sixth, the Cougars put two runners on base with back-to-back walks drawn by Sydney Broderick and O’Connor. After the second out of the frame, St. Clair singled, but a throwing error from the third baseman allowed both baserunners to come home while St. Clair advanced to third, effectively tying the game at three apiece heading into the final inning.

Hawai`i countered in the top of the frame to take a one-run lead, 4-3. With runners on first and second, a one-out single to left center allowed the Rainbow Wahine to take the lead before striking out looking and swinging to Bull.

BYU rallied for the win in the bottom of the seventh, facing a 4-3 deficit. Hofstedt first singled on a bunt before Bravo reached on a fielder’s choice bunt. Sophomore Lauren Bell advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt prior to Thompson coming to the plate.

With one out and runners on second and third, Ashley Thompson hit a fly ball to center field, driving in Hofstedt for the tying run. Gordy Bravo advanced to third and Thompson advanced to second on the play as the outfielder dropped the fly ball.

O’Connor then singled up the middle, driving in Bravo for the decisive run.

BYU will be back in action Friday against Northwestern at 11:15 a.m. PST and UNLV at 3:45 p.m. PST. Live stats will be available on the BYU softball schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – For its second tournament of the season, BYU softball will head down to Las Vegas to compete in the Wilson/DeMarini Desert Classic Thursday through Saturday at UNLV's Eller Media Stadium.

The Cougars (2-3) look to improve upon their showing in last week's Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona. BYU came away with two wins–a walkoff season-opening victory over Virginia and a 2-0 defensive performance against New Mexico.

Sophomore catcher Sydney Broderick had her first-career multi-home run game in the 9-8 setback to San Jose State. She hit two home runs and collected four RBI. Senior outfielder Lacey Hofstedt is currently batting .429 with a five-game hitting streak. From the circle sophomore pitcher McKenna Bull came away from the tournament with a 2-1 record while recording a 3.10 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.

The schedule with links to live stats is available on the BYU softball schedule page. Scores and results will be available daily.

HAWAI’I (Thurs. 4:30 p.m. PST)

Hawai’i entered the 2015 season with a 3-2 start at the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic in Honolulu. Hawai’i picked up a win over No. 25 DePaul and two victories over Saint Mary’s. Leading the team in hitting is Leisha Li`ili`i (.333 avg., 2 RBI, .429 OBP). Pitcher Kanani Aina Cabrales has a 2-0 record with a 2.39 ERA while allowing opposing hitters a .231 batting average.

NORTHWESTERN (Fri. 11:15 a.m. PST)

After starting the season with wins over North Carolina and UC Santa Barbara, Northwestern fell in its final three contests of the Kajikawa Classic. The Wildcats dropped close games to Texas and California, 5-4 and 5-2, respectively. Andrea DiPrima (.364 avg., 1 HR, 5 RBI, .727 slugging pct., .611 OBP) and Andrea Filler (.333 avg., 1 HR, 5 RBI, .667 slugging pct.) lead the team at the plate this season. From the circle Amy Letourneau is 1-2 with a 4.75 ERA while allowing a .219 opponent batting average. Northwestern last faced BYU in the NCAA regional tournament in 2014, eliminating the Cougars from the postseason.

UNLV (Fri. 3:45 p.m. PST)

Former Mountain West Conference foe UNLV brings a 3-2 record into the second week of the season. The Rebels  picked up wins over Louisville, UC Davis and CSU Bakersfield while falling to Washington and Minnesota. 

UTEP (Sat. 9 a.m. PST)

Following an 0-5 start, UTEP looks to turn its season around in Las Vegas. The Miners dropped one-run games to San Diego, Portland State and UC Santa Barbara while falling to Virginia and Stanford each in five innings. The team is led by Tahla Wade (.444 avg., .500 slugging pct., 2 stolen bases), Erica Chasco (.444 avg., .545 OBP) and Kiki Pepi (.429 avg., .579 OBP). 

Cal STATE FULLERTON (Sat. 11:15 a.m. PST)

In 2015 Cal State Fullerton began 4-1 with wins over Purdue, Idaho State, No. 21 Notre Dame and Northwestern State with its lone loss coming in its second game against the Irish. The Titans are led by Missy Taukeiaho (.563 avg., 3 HR, 4 RBI) and Courtney Rodriguez (.467 avg., 7 RBI). Jasmine Antunez (1-1, 4.22 ERA, 6 SO), Chris Washington (1-0, 5.14ERA, 5 SO) and Desiree Ybarra (2-0, 7.71ERA, 6 SO) have all split time from the circle so far this season. Cal State Fullerton broke into the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll on Feb. 10 at No. 25 in the nation.