CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – BYU softball ended the Mary Nutter Classic on a high note, winning 3-2 against UCSB on Saturday afternoon at the Big League Dreams complex.

BYU vs. UCSB Box Score

"Today’s game was one of those games you just need to grind out and find a way to win," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Bridget Fleener gave us a big time pinch-hit double in the seventh inning."

The Cougars (6-7, 0-0) scored the game-winning run in the top of the seventh, taking the win 3-2 against UCSB (4-7, 0-0).

In the top of the seventh, Rylee Jensen walked before Bridget Fleener came in as a pinch hitter. Fleener doubled to center field sending Jensen home to give BYU the advantage at 3-2. The Cougars were able to hold off the Gauchos to secure the win.

Ashley Godfrey hit her third home run of the season recording her eighth RBI while Emilee Erickson also recorded an RBI.

BYU got home first in the top of the first inning. Taylei Williams made it to second base on a walk and a stolen base. Erickson singled to left field driving in Williams for the first run of the game making the score 1-0.

UCSB answered back in the bottom of the inning. With bases loaded, a single to third base drove in a run, tying up the game 1-1.

The game went scoreless for two innings before Godfrey homered to left center giving BYU the lead at 2-1. The Gauchos tied up the game again in the bottom of the fifth frame. A single up the middle drove in a runner making the score 2-all.

The Cougars tacked on the game-winning run in the top of the seventh. Fleener doubled to center field sending Jensen home to give BYU the advantage at 3-2.

As the home team, UCSB looked to keep the game alive in the bottom of the seventh, but BYU’s defense stayed strong and kept the Gauchos from scoring. The Cougars secured their final win of the tournament 3-2.

BYU returns to California next week for the San Diego Classic in San Diego. The Cougars will play four new teams as well as a re-match against UC Davis in the tournament from Feb. 28- March 2.

PROVO, Utah – The BYU softball team continues its tournament slate in Cathedral City, California at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Feb. 22-24.

BYU Game Notes

The Cougars have traveled to this tournament for the last 11 years to face some of the best teams in the nation. Last season, BYU had wins against CSUN and Fresno State but fell to No. 11 Tennessee, Missouri and No. 4 Oklahoma. 

The tournament begins Thursday, Feb 22 as BYU plays Nebraska followed by Missouri at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. PT, respectively. The Cougars continue on Friday with games against Northwestern at 12:30 p.m. and No. 4 Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. BYU finishes the tournament on Saturday against UCSB at 3:00 p.m.

All the games will be played at the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, California. The games will be broadcast live on FloSoftball with live stats available on the schedule page. 

BYU Storylines

Five-Game Tournament. The Mary Nutter Classic is the second of four straight tournaments where BYU will play five games in a weekend. The other tournaments include the Boyd Gaming Rebel Classic, San Diego Classic and the UCLA/Long Beach State Invitational.  

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. 

Top 5 Team. This is the second tournament where BYU will face ranked opponents. They previously played against No. 9 South Carolina and beat No. 18 Baylor. However, the Cougars will face No. 4 Oklahoma, their first top 5 team of the season on Thursday, in Cathedral City. 

California Connections.  The Cougars have made the trip to Cathedral City every season since 2008. One of the top tournaments in the nation the tournament draws in the biggest talent in college softball. BYU will make six trips to California this season with the conference schedule, in addition to the two tournaments following the Mary Nutter Classic.  

Sweep WCC Awards. Rylee Jensen and sophomore pitcher Autumn Moffat were named West Coast Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, following their performance in Las Vegas. Jensen hit three homers and batted .800 in two games. Moffat allowed no earned runs, totaling 14 strikeouts.

Opponents Outlook 

Nebraska | Thursday, Feb. 21 | 10:30 a.m. PT 

• The Huskers finished the 2018 season with a 31-23 overall record finishing in the Big Ten 9-13.

• Nebraksa is coming off a 4-0 weekend at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with two wins each against NC State and Pitt.

•This is the 12th meeting between the two teams with Nebraska having the advantage 8-4. The two teams met last year in Tempe, Arizona.

•Head Coach Rhonda Revelle enters into her 27th season compiling a 968-537 record.

Missouri | Thursday, Feb. 12 | 1 p.m. PT 

• In 2018, the Tigers had a 30-29 overall record, going 6-17 in the SEC.

• Missouri holds the series with a 1-3 record. The two teams played against each other last year in the same tournament as Mizzou took the win 8-6.

• The Tigers advanced to an NCAA regional in 2018 but were eliminated by Oklahoma.

• Larissa Anderson is in her first season as head coach of the Tigers after coaching at Hofstra.

Northwestern | Friday, Feb. 22 | 12:30 p.m. PT 

• The Wilcats posted a 38-19 overall record during the 2018 season, including going 14-8 in the Big Ten, losing to Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament.

• Northwestern advanced to the 2018 NCAA Athens Regional but lost to No. 7 Georgia.

• Between the two teams, the series is tied 3-3. Last year, BYU took a win 8-0 at the Husky Classic.

• Kate Drohan starts the 18th season with the Wilcats recording a 570-345-1overall record. 

No. 4 Oklahoma | Friday, Feb. 22 | 3:30 p.m. PT 

• In 2018, the Sooners went 57-5 and a 18-0 mark in the Big 12.

• Oklahoma won the Big 12 title in 2018 and advanced all the way to the Women’s College World Series but lost to Washington in the first round. The Sooners have won the WCWS four times (‘00,‘13,’16,’17).

• This will be the sixth meeting between the two teams. They met last year in the Mary Nutter Classic and the Sooners took a 10-0 win.

• Patty Gasso enters her 24th season leading the Sooners compiling an overall record of 1364-386-3.

UCSB | Saturday, Feb. 23 | 3:00 p.m. PT 

• The Gauchos went 20-34 overall during the 2018 season, going 7-14 in the Big West.

• BYU holds the advantage over UCSB 8-2.

• Brie Galicinao enters her 12th season with an overall record of 291-309.