MORAGA, Calif. ­­– Sophomore McKenzie St. Clair’s go-ahead RBI-single broke the tie in extra innings as BYU softball slipped past Saint Mary’s 7-3 in the 10-inning West Coast Conference opener Friday. 

"We didn’t play our best ball, but we’re fortunate to get out of here with a win,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said.

With the game tied 3-3,  Ashley Thompson led off the top of the 10th for the Cougars (23-8, 1-0 WCC), reaching base on a dropped third strike. Sydney Broderick then doubled down the right-field line to set up St. Clair’s go-ahead RBI-single that scored Thompson from third.

Two batters later and with runners on second and third, Brittany Call pinched hit, scoring Broderick from third on the squeeze play for the 5-3 advantage. Lacey Hofstedt added another RBI with her single to center, and Bravo followed with an RBI of her own to bring the tally to 7-3 in favor of BYU before the inning ended.

The Cougars held the Gaels (15-22, 0-1) at bay, finishing the game on a double play.

Sophomore pitcher McKenna Bull notched her 21st victory this season from the circle. She went the distance, reaching a career-high 10 innings pitched and tying a career high in strikeouts with 14. She allowed three runs on 10 hits while facing 44 batters.

Catcher Sydney Broderick led the team from the plate with three hits in five at-bats—her first three-hit game this season. Gordy Bravo and Lacey Hofstedt each went 2-for-5 with an RBI while Ashley Thompson hit 2-for-4 with a home run and one RBI. Lauren Bell also hit a home run with two RBI.

The first two innings were scoreless as Bull struck out the side in the first to escape a bases-loaded jam.

The Cougars broke onto the board in the third inning as Bell smacked her second home run of the season into right center for two runs. Two batters later Thompson followed with her fourth of the year, blasting it down the left-field line, landing the ball in the trees for the 3-0 tally before the inning ended.

In the bottom half of the third, the Gaels threatened as they put two aboard with two outs, but Tauali’i scooped a grounder to get the out at first to end the frame.

Saint Mary’s cut the lead to one in the bottom of the fourth. A ground-rule double led off the inning for the Gaels, leading to the first run of the inning while the second came on a misplayed fly ball at the warning track.

In the bottom of the fifth, Saint Mary’s put two runners on base with no outs in the frame. Following a sacrifice bunt to advance baserunners to second and third, Bull struck out the final two batters to preserve the 3-2 BYU lead.

The Gaels then climbed their way back for one more, tying the game 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth.

The Cougars threatened in the top of the seventh, but Mercedes O’Connor was called out at the plate for the third out. Bull then slowed down the SMC offense as the first two batters struck out swinging before the third grounded out.

The knotted score continued with BYU retiring the next six Gaels heading into the top of the 10th when the Cougars tacked on four runs for the difference in the game.

BYU plays a doubleheader against Saint Mary’s Saturday with game times at noon and 2 p.m. PDT. Live stats are available through the softball schedule page.

Box Score–BYU vs. Saint Mary's

PROVO, Utah – BYU softball hits the road for one game at Utah State Tuesday and three at Saint Mary’s to open up West Coast Conference play this weekend.

The Cougars (21-8) willl face the Aggies (11-21) Tuesday at 4 p.m. MDT broadcast live on BYU Radio.

The three-game series with the Gaels (15-21) at Moraga, California, begins Friday at 3 p.m. PDT followed by a Saturday doubleheader at noon and 2 p.m.

Last week, BYU took an 8-0 decision in five innings at Ogden, Utah, against Weber State. Sophomore McKenna Bull picked up her 19th victory of the season. She leads the team from the circle with an ERA of 1.93 and 140 strikeouts so far this season.

At the plate, Sydney Broderick leads the team with 21 RBI while hitting .367 with a .479 OBP and three home runs. Gordy Bravo leads at the plate with a .441 batting average and a .491 OBP while Lacey Hofstedt has 14 stolen bases with a .410 batting average.

Utah State 

The Cougars are 13-1 against Utah State in Logan. The Aggies are led from the circle by Noelle Johnson (9-9, 3.26) while Sarah Chow (.443 BA, .504 OBP), Alleyah Armendariz (.337 BA, 7 HR, 18 RBI) and Hailey Froton (.352 BA, 29 RBI) have helped pace the offense.

Saint Mary’s

BYU is 11-0 all-time against Saint Mary’s with the last meeting a 3-0 Cougar win in 2014. The two teams have never faced each other at Moraga. Two pitchers have seen a majority of the innings for the Gaels with Katie Moss (8-4, 3.92, 78.2 IP) and Lujane Mussadi (5-13, 4.45, 113.1 IP). Andrea Hazel (.326 BA, 2 HR, 13 RBI), Sarah Lira (.210 BA, 8 HR, 18 RBI) and Loralie Fitzpatrick (.250, 4 HR, 16 RBI) have fueled Saint Mary’s offense.

Links to live stats, video streaming and radio are available on the softball schedule page.