SAN DIEGO – BYU softball split a doubleheader on the first day of the San Diego Classic I on Thursday, dropping the first game 6-3 to McNeese State before defeating San Diego State 5-1 in the nightcap.

“I saw some good things today and some things we need to work on," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Mostly we need to work on our consistency. Tomorrow we will try to put together two solid games."

BYU (8-6, 0-0 West Coast Conference) totaled 15 hits on the day. The Cougars did not commit one error in the two games. Freshman Rylee Jensen hit 4 for 6 in the doubleheader, including a 3-for-4 outing against San Diego State.

Game one

BYU dropped the first game of the doubleheader 6-3 to McNeese State (8-8, 0-0 Southland). Freshman Kerisa Viramontes got the start in the circle, throwing 3.2 innings. Briielle Breland led the team at the plate, going 2 for 3 along with her six putouts in right field.

BYU got on the board in the bottom of the first. When Ashley Thompson attempted to steal second, she gave Jensen time to score from third, making it 1-0.

In the top of the third inning, a double to right field scored a run for the Cowgirls to tie the game. Then in the top of the fourth, McNeese State brought in three runs, one off of a walk with the bases loaded and two from a double down the left field line. BYU had a 4-1 deficit heading into the bottom of the fourth.

The Cougars were able to score again in the bottom of the fourth. Libby Sugg drove home Lexi Tarrow off a double to the left corner, cutting it to 4-2 after four innings.

A solo shot by the Cowgirls extended the lead to 5-2 in the top of the fifth, but the Cougars struck back in the bottom frame. Jensen drilled a double to left center, bringing Breland home to make it 5-3.

In the top of the sixth, McNeese scored one more run, pushing the lead to 6-3. That would hold as the final score.

BYU vs. McNeese State Box Score

Game two

The Cougars picked it up in the second game, defeating the Aztecs (8-7, 0-0 Mountain West) 5-1 while allowing just four hits. McKenna Bull pitched all seven innings in the win, throwing a season-high eight strikeouts. Jensen went 3 for 4 with one run scored.

The bats came out strong to start the game. With Lauren Bell and Jensen on first and second, respectively, Sugg homered over left field to give BYU an early 3-0 lead.

To extend the lead, the Cougars brought in two more runs in the top of the third. A single from Thompson and a sacrifice fly from Caitlyn Larsen Alldredge pushed the score to 5-0. The defense brought Breland to the infield for two slap hitters, and the Aztecs went three up, three down in the bottom frame.

Bull threw two strikeouts in the bottom of the fifth to up her game total to six. After five innings, BYU still held a 5-0 lead.

San Diego State scored one run in the bottom of the sixth to avoid the shutout, making it 5-1, but BYU's tough infield defense in the bottom of the seventh sealed the win for the Cougars.

BYU vs. SDSU Box Score

The Cougars continue the tournament on Friday with a doubleheader against Miami (Ohio) and Detroit Mercy. Live stats will be available for both games on the BYU softball schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – After a 2-3 turnout last week, BYU softball looks to have a strong outing at the San Diego Classic I this week, playing five teams from March 2-4.

BYU Game Notes

The Cougars (7-5, 0-0 WCC) will face McNeese State and San Diego State on Thursday at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. PST, respectively.  BYU plays another doubleheader on Friday against Miami (Ohio) and Detroit Mercy starting at 1 p.m. PST.  The final game of the tournament for the Cougars will be against Boston University on Saturday at 1 p.m. PST.

The game between the Cougars and the Aztecs will be streamed live on theMW.com. Additionally, live stats will be available for each game. Links can be found on the BYU softball schedule page.

BYU Storylines

• At the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic last week, BYU played three ranked teams. The Cougars shutout No. 11/12 Georgia 4-0 and lost to No. 9 Arizona and No. 18 Texas A&M. They also beat Louisville and dropped a game to LIU Brooklyn.
• In the tournament hosted by both San Diego State and the University of San Diego, BYU will play two teams it has never faced before: Detroit Mercy and Boston University. The Cougars will play the host team SDSU, a matchup the Cougars lost last year, along with McNeese State and Miami (Ohio).
• After being ranked No. 25 and No. 23 in the second and third weeks of the season, BYU dropped out of the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll this week. The Cougars are one out of the poll this week, receiving 38 votes. At the San Diego Classic I this week, San Diego State is the only other opponent receiving votes, picking up two in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll.
• Sophomore Lexi Tarrow was named WCC Player of the Week for the first time in her career. Last week she hit .455 with a .571 on-base percentage. During the doubleheader on Saturday, she went 4 for 6 with three RBI. Her two RBI in the win over Louisville tied her career high. The Cougars have now won at least one of the weekly awards in each of the first three weeks of the season. Last week, BYU swept both player and pitcher of the week.
• Senior McKenna Bull is 20 strikeouts away from tying the BYU career record strikeouts total. Paige Affleck is currently at No. 1 with 803 while bull is sitting at 783. Last week, she tied the career record for complete games with Affleck at 74.

Opponents Outlook

McNeese State (7-9, 0-0 Southland) | Thursday, March 2 | 1 p.m. PST

• The 7-9 Cowboys have played some of the top teams close, losing by one run to both No. 4 LSU and No. 24 Baylor.
• In 2016, they won the Southland Conference Tournament, advancing to the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. They beat Arizona State before falling to LSU and then again to the Sun Devils.
• BYU has not faced McNeese State since 2003 when the two teams played twice at the Texas A&M Tournament, with the Cougars winning both games.
   

San Diego State (8-5, 0-0 MW) | Thursday, March 2 | 6 p.m. PST

• The Aztecs picked up a big win over the weekend against No. 17 Utah at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, improving their record to 8-5.
• As former Mountain West Conference foes, BYU has a 27-24 all-time record over SDSU, including a 16-11 advantage on the road. In 2016, the Cougars fell 3-2 in the San Diego Classic.
   

Miami (Ohio) (5-8, 0-0 MAC) | Friday, March 3 | 1 p.m. PST

• The RedHawks have started 2017 with a 5-8 record.
• After winning the 2016 MAC Tournament, they advanced to the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional, picking up one win against Notre Dame.
• BYU has played Miami just twice in its history, winning both matchups. The last win came in 2006, a 10-0 run-rule victory at the Stanford Classic in Stanford, California.
   

Detroit Mercy (3-7, 0-0 Horizon League) | Friday, March 3 | 3:30 p.m. PST

• The Bulldogs have started their season on the road, gathering a 3-7 record.
• In 2016, they had a 17-39 overall record, 7-17 in conference play.
• This game will be the first meeting between BYU and Detroit Mercy.
   

Boston University (5-4, 0-0 Patriot League) | Saturday, March 4 | 1 p.m. PST

• The Terriers have started 2017 with a 5-4 record, picking up a win over then-No. 23 Florida Atlantic.
• In 2016, they advanced to the NCAA Lafayette Regionals after winning the Patriot League Championships.
• BYU and Boston have never played in softball before this game.