PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico ­– With both games coming down to the final inning, BYU softball split its first two games of the 2019 season. The Cougars fell to No. 9 South Carolina 4-3 first, but held on to win against No. 18 Baylor 4-3 on the first day of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge on Thursday.

“As coaches we are proud of the way our team competed today,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “After a tough loss in game one, we fought through a tough start in game two and beat a very good Baylor team. It was a great team win.”

To kick off the 2019 season, BYU (1-1, 0-0 WCC) gave up a heartbreaker to No. 9 South Carolina (1-1, 0-0 SEC) in the first game of the day. Two runs from the Gamecocks in the bottom of the sixth inning ultimately gave BYU its first loss of the season 4-3.

When the Cougars faced No. 18 Baylor (1-1, 0-0 BIG 12) for their second game of the day, the Bears had just beaten the Gamecocks 4-1, but BYU was ready to go. Protecting a one-run lead with the bases loaded and only one out in the top of the seventh, BYU maintained its composure and finished off the 4-3 win over the Bears.

Junior Rylee Jensen tallied three hits, an RBI as well as one run across the two games. In her first game since a season-ending injury last year, Arissa Paulson pitched 6.1 innings against Baylor and tallied her first win of the year while also going 2 for 3 at the plate and recording an RBI.

Game One

After leading 2-0 through three innings, the Cougars lost to the Gamecocks 4-3 giving up two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.  

BYU vs No. 9 South Carolina Box Score

Junior Emilee Erickson went 2 for 3 at the plate and senior captain Libby Sugg was on base three times with a hit, a walk and was hit by a pitch. Allie Hancock blasted a homer and also got on base after being hit by a pitch.

The Cougars got on the board first as Jensen hit a double to left field driving in pinch runner Martha Epenesa in the top of the second to put the Cougars up 1-0.  

Senior captain Hancock came up big two innings later hitting the first homer of the season to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. South Carolina answered back in the bottom of the inning with a two-run home run tying the score at 2-2.

BYU took a one-run lead in the sixth frame when Erickson started it off doubling to right center. Taylei Williams subbed in as a pinch runner and made it home when Ashley Godfrey reached on a Gamecocks’ error.

Unable to hold off South Carolina, Kenzi Maguire hit a two-run single to right field and the Gamecocks took their first lead of the game 4-3. The Cougars went down in order in the top of the seventh as South Carolina held on to the win 4-3.

Game Two

In the second game of the day, the Cougars held on in the top of the seventh inning to take the win over No. 18 Baylor. With a runner on second and BYU up by one in the top of the seventh inning, Kerisa Viramontes came in to pitch. A single and a walk, loaded the bases with only one out on the board. The Bears’ Hannah Thompson fouled out to catcher Sugg and a fly ball to second base ended the game and the Cougars secured their first win of the 2019 season.

BYU vs No. 18 Baylor Box Score

Jensen went 2 for 4 at the plate, scoring one run and recording two RBI. In her first collegiate start, catcher Morgan Bevell went 2 for 3, hitting a double in her first at bat. Arissa Paulson pitched 6.1 innings, recording seven hits, three runs and one strikeout while also going 2 for 3 at the plate and recording an RBI. Viramontes recorded a save in the game, only giving up a single and recording the final two outs. 

BYU went down in the first frame giving up a run. But a single from Jensen in the bottom of the first set the Cougars in motion. Back-to-back wild pitches from the Bears advanced Jensen to third base and Olivia Sanchez hit a sacrifice fly to center sending Jensen home to tie the score at 1-1 at the end of the first inning.

BYU’s bats came alive in the bottom of the second as the Cougars scored three runs. Erickson singled and then advanced to second as Williams struck out. Arissa Paulson followed, singling to the left side driving in Erickson to give BYU its first lead of the game at 2-1. Bevell doubled to left center and Aubrielle Paulson, a pinch runner for sister Arissa Paulson, advanced to third. With her second at bat of the game, Jensen doubled to right center sending Bevell and Aubrielle Paulson across the plate to make the score 3-1.

The Bears answered back two innings later, as Baylor’s Thompson singled, tallying two RBI to make the score 4-3. The Cougars held on in the top of the seventh as the Bears loaded the bases but couldn’t score a run and BYU took the win 4-3.

BYU continues at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge Friday morning against Liberty at 10 a.m. CST at Nancy Almaraz Stadium. A live broadcast is available at FloSoftball with live stats on the schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – The BYU softball team will open the 2019 season in Mexico at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge from Thursday to Saturday this week. 

BYU Game Notes

The Cougars will face two ranked teams, No. 9 South Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, in a doubleheader on Thursday to start the season.  The first game against the Gamecocks begins at 10 a.m. CST with the game against Baylor at 3 p.m. CST. On Friday, BYU will take on Liberty at 10 a.m. CST and a game on Saturday against North Carolina at 12:30 p.m. CST.

All of the games will be played at the Nancy Almaraz Stadium in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with streaming available on FloSoftball with a subscription. Links are available on the BYU schedule page.

BYU STORYLINES

Ranked Opponents. BYU will face two ranked teams at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge: No. 9 South Carolina and No. 18 Baylor. Liberty also received 30 votes, good for No. 28.

Power at the Plate. BYU captain Libby Sugg returns for her final season at BYU. The two-time captain has been named to the USA Softball College Softball Player of the Year watch list and was named NFCA All-American Third Team after the 2018 season. She finished the season ranked nationally as No. 7 in RBI (67), No. 10 in RBI per game (1.16), No. 32 in batting average (0.414),  No. 33 in on base percentage (0.707) and No. 58 in slugging percentage

Back to Mexico. This is the third time that BYU has traveled to the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. At their last appearance at the tournament in 2017, the Cougars came home with a 2-2 record. They lost to No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 Auburn but beat No. 13 Washington and Nebraska. In 2015, BYU won all four of its games. 

Senior Leadership. The Cougars return four seniors: Libby Sugg, Allie Hancock, Olivia Sanchez, Ashley Godfrey and Lexi Tarrow. Sugg and Hancock have been named captains of the team while all four players could be starters for the Cougars. Sugg and Tarrow were named All-WCC First Team following the 2018 season. 

OPPONENTS OUTLOOK 

South Carolina | Thursday, Feb. 7 | 10:00 a.m. CT | FloSoftball

• The Gamecocks finished the 2018 season with a 49-17 record, 15-9 in SEC play taking the third place spot. 
• South Carolina advanced to the its second-ever super regional, going into the NCAA postseason tournament as the No. 9 seed.  After advancing through the regionals, Carolina ultimately lost to Arizona State in the Tempe Super Regional. 
• This is the first meeting between the two teams. 
• Head Coach Beverly Smith enters into her fifth season with the Gamecocks compiling a 378-196 record.

Baylor | Thursday, Feb. 7 | 3:00 p.m. CT | FloSoftball

• In 2017, the Lady Bears had a 38-18 overall record, going 10-8 in the Big 12.
• Baylor competed in its seventh-straight NCAA Regional after the 2018 regular season.
• The series between the teams are split 1-1. The Cougars took the most recent win last season in March defeating the Lady Bears 3-1.
• Glenn Moore is in his 17th season as the head coach for Baylor, posting a 872-388 overall record.

Liberty | Friday, Feb. 8 | 10:00 a.m. CT | FloSoftball

• The Lady Flames posted a 49-14 overall record during the 2018 season, including being 18-3 in the Big South taking the title for the conference.
• Liberty qualified for the NCAA Regional Final for the first time taking down Hofstra in their first NCAA Regional victory in program history. 
• The game in Puerto Vallarta will be the first time the two teams will meet.
• Dot Richardson starts the fifth season with the Lady Flames recording a 166-142 overall record. 

North Carolina | Saturday, Feb. 9 | 12:30 p.m. CT | FloSoftball

• In 2018, the Tar Heels went 30-26 and a 14-9 mark in the ACC 
• North Carolina fell to Pitt in the ACC tournament ending their 2018 campaign finishing third in conference. 
• The Cougars took the only win in the series back in 2008.
• Donna Papa enters her 30th season leading the Tar Heels compiling an overall record of 1,257-704-5