SAN DIEGO, Calif. – On the second day of the San Diego Classic, BYU softball split its two games, dropping a 2-1 morning contest to San Jose State 2-1 but bounced back for a 2-0 shutout of Florida Gulf Coast in the afternoon. 

"We got locked in two pitching duels today," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Both Arissa Paulson and Kerisa Viramontes pitched very well today.

Arissa Paulson and Kerisa Viramontes both pitched complete games. Paulson recorded four strikeouts with Viramontes tallying no runs or walks. Emilee Erickson scored the lone run for BYU (7-9, 0-0) against SJSU (10-5, 0-0) while Brooke Vander Heide ripped a two-run triple in the the win against Florida Gulf Coast (7-7, 0-0).

"After dropping the first game, we faced one of the hottest pitchers in the country Riley Randolph from Florida Gulf Coast," Eakin said. "Brooke Vander Heide gave us a huge hit to score two runs. Even though that was our only hit, we squared the ball up very well throughout the game, but just right at them. It was a good win."

Game 1
San Jose State started the game out swinging, hitting a leadoff single to left field. It was followed by a home run to left, making the score 2-0 in the top of the first.

In the bottom of the second frame, the Cougars tallied a run of their own. Erickson walked to get on base. Olivia Sanchez was hit by a pitch, advancing Erickson to second. Paulson singled up the middle and advanced to second while Sanchez made it to third on a throwing error sending Erickson home. The inning ended with BYU trailing 2-1.

Both teams were quiet heading into the Cougars' last at bat. BYU was unable to get a runner on base in the bottom of the seventh as all three Cougars grounded out and BYU fell 2-1.

Game 2
A late triple from Brooke Vander Heide propelled BYU to a 2-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast in the second game of the day.

A battle in the circle between BYU and FCGU led to a scoreless game for six innings. The Eagles got the first hit of the game in the bottom of the third but were unable to score.

In the top of the sixth with her first time at the plate for BYU, Autumn Moffat drew a walk. Erin Miklus came in as a pinch runner and advanced to second when Marissa Chavez reached on a fielding error. A triple, BYU’s first of the season, from Vander Heide scored Miklus and Chavez giving BYU the lead 2-0.

The Cougar defense held down the stretch and secured the win. 

BYU plays its final two games of the tournament on Saturday, March 2 against Illinois Chicago at 9 a.m. and UC Davis at 11 a.m. PT. The two games will be played at the USD Softball Complex with live stats available on the schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – The BYU softball team continues on the road this week to participate in the San Diego Classic co-hosted by the University of San Diego and San Diego State University.

BYU Game Notes Week 4

In 2017, the Cougars went 4-1 at this tournament beating San Diego State, Miami (Ohio), Detroit Mercy and Boston University and falling to McNeese State. 

BYU’s tournament slate will begin with one game on Thursday, Feb. 28 against San Diego State at 5 p.m. PT. The Cougars continue on Friday, March 1 against San Jose State and Florida Gulf Coast at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. PT, respectively. All three games will be played at the San Diego State University Softball Stadium. 

BYU concludes with two games on Saturday, March 2 against Illinois Chicago at 11:30 a.m. and UC Davis at 2 p.m. This will be the second meeting between BYU and UC Davis this season, with the Cougars losing 4-2 at the Boyd Gaming Rebel Classic. The final two games will be played at San Diego Stadium. 

Live stats will be available on the BYU schedule page. 

BYU Storylines

Five-Game tournament. The San Diego Classic is the third of four straight tournaments where BYU will play five games in a weekend. The other tournaments include the Boyd Gaming Rebel Classic, Mary Nutter 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. 

California Connections.  The Cougars last went to the San Diego Classic in 2018 coming away with a 4-1 record. every season since 2008. This is the second weekend in a row that BYU will travel to California and will again make the trip next week for the UCLA and Long Beach State Invitational.

WCC Weekly Awards. Rylee Jensen received WCC Player of the week for the second consecutive time. She tallied her fourth homer of the season as well as two RBI against Nebraska while going 2 for 4 at the plate. Against No. 4 Oklahoma, the Idaho native recorded a double and scored a run in BYU’s win against UCSB. Jensen and Autumn Moffat were named West Coast Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week the previous week after their performance in Las Vegas. 

Opponents Outlook 

San Diego State | Thursday, Feb. 28 | 5 p.m. PT | 

• The Aztecs have compiled a 8-6 record so far this season. They also competed at the Mary Nutter Classic last week finishing with a 2-2 record.

•This is the 53rd meeting between the two teams with BYU having the advantage 28-24.

•Head Coach Kathy Van Wyk enters into her 23th season compiling a 736-504-1 record 

San Jose State | Friday, March 1 | 9 a.m. PT | 

• In 2019, the Flames have a 9-5 overall record. They competed in the Silicon Valley Classic I this past weekend going 4-0. 

• BYU holds the series with a 8-3 record

• Peter Turner is in his 11th season as head coach of the Spartans holding a 323-391 overal record.

Florida Gulf Coast | Friday, March 1 | 2:00 p.m. PT | 

• The Eagles currently have a 7-5 overall record during the 2019 season, including going 1-2 last weekend at the FAU Strike Out Cancer Tournament.

• This will be the second meeting between the two teams, with the Eagles holding the advantage 1-0.

• David Deiros starts his 16th season with the Eagles after building it team from the ground up recording a 612-314-3 overall record. 

Illinois Chicago | Saturday, March 2 | 11:30 a.m. PT | 

• During the 2019 season, the Flames are currently 2-8. Last weekend, UIC went 0-5 at the Hillenbrand Invitational

• UIC went to the NCAA Regionals last season but lost to Kentucky and Michigan

• This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams as BYU holds the series 3-0.

• Lynn Curylo enters her 3rd season leading the Flames compiling an overall record of 74-31

UC Davis | Saturday, March 2 | 2:00 p.m. PT | 

• The Aggies posted a 27-24 overall record during the 2018 season, including going 9-12 in the Big West

• The game in San Diego will be the fifth time the two teams have met and the second of the season. The Aggies beat the Cougars at the Boyd Gaming Rebel Classic two weeks ago 4-2 to tie the series 2-2

• Erin Thorpe starts the 5th season with the Aggies recording a 306-413 overall record.