LONG BEACH, Calif. – BYU softball secured its first two wins of the UCLA/Long Beach State Invitational against Robert Morris and Long Beach State, winning 1-0 and 11-6, Thursday morning.

"Arissa Paulson pitched a great game in the first win and Rylee Jensen had a monster day at the plate," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We are still not firing on all cylinders but we got two good team wins on the road. It was a good day."

In the wins against Robert Morris (3-11, 0-0) and co-host Long Beach State (7-11, 0-0), the Cougars (9-9, 0-0) tallied 20 hits and scored 12 runs. Rylee Jensen went a combined 6 for 8 with four runs, two doubles and one homer.

Game 1

Rylee Jensen scored the lone run of the game, hitting a double and going 2 for 3 at the plate. Libby Sugg tallied the RBI as well as a walk. Arissa Paulson secured her third win of the season, pitching a shutout with nine strikeouts.

BYU vs. Robert Morris Box Score

Jensen singled to center as the leadoff hitter to start the game, followed by Alyssa Podhurcak nailing a ball to right field for her first career base hit advancing Jensen to second. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch from Robert Morris and BYU had players on second and third. A sacrifice fly from Libby Sugg brought Rylee Jensen home to give BYU the lead 1-0.

The Cougars were able to maintain their 1-0 lead through the rest of the game and retired the side in the bottom of the seventh to take the win 1-0.

Game 2

Jensen tallied three runs in the game with four RBI going 4 for 5 at the plate and blasting her fifth homer of the season. Taylei Williams went a perfect 3 for 3 with one run, one RBI and two walks. Arissa Paulson, Martha Epenesa and Olivia Sanchez all went 2 for 4 at the plate with Paulson recording two RBI and Epenesa tallying two runs and one RBI.

BYU vs. Long Beach State Box Score

BYU again put up of the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. With Martha Epenesa on third base, Arissa Paulson singled up the middle to bring Epenesa home, making the score 1-0.

In the top of the second frame, BYU’s bats came alive for a six-run inning. Marissa Chavez, Jensen, Martha Epenesa and Olivia Sanchez all singled and tallied an RBI while Emilee Erickson, Ashley Godfrey, Chavez, Jensen, Williams and Epenesa all made it home to give the Cougars a 7-0 lead at the end of the top of the second.

Jensen sent a ball over the fence in the top of the third making BYU’s edge 8-0. But, the Beach answered back in the bottom of the fourth decreasing the Cougars' lead to 8-4.

BYU continued its scoring streak into the top of the sixth inning as Jensen drove in two runners with a double to left center. Williams followed with a double of her own scoring Jensen to make the score 11-4.

In the bottom of the seventh, Long Beach State tacked on two more runs but were unable to overcome BYU’s lead and the Cougars got their second win of the day 11-6.

BYU continues the weekend tournament Friday, March 8, with games against Ohio and Boston University in Los Angeles. The game against Ohio is set for 11:30 a.m. with the game against BU at 2:00 PT at Easton Stadium. Live stats will be available on the schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – In its final five-game tournament, BYU softball takes one last trip to California for the UCLA/Long Beach State Invitational.

BYU Game Notes Week 5

BYU came to this tournament in 2017 splitting its games 2-2, beating Dartmouth twice and losing to UCLA twice. 

The Cougars will play five different teams, starting with Robert Morris and Long Beach State on Thursday, March 7 at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. PT, respectively. Both games will be played at LBSU Softball Complex.

The tournament continues on Friday, March 8, with BYU playing against Ohio at 11:30 a.m. and Boston University at 2 p.m. PT, both at UCLA’s Easton Stadium in Los Angeles. The Cougars finish the tournament on UCLA’s home turf taking on the No. 2 team Saturday, March 9 at 3 p.m. PT.

Live stats will be available on the BYU schedule page with a live stream on the Big West Conference Network for the game against Long Beach State and a live audio feed for the game against UCLA. 

BYU Storylines

FIVE-GAME TOURNAMENT. The UCLA/Long Beach State Invitational is the last of four straight five-game tournaments BYU will attend. It is the third and final week that the Cougars will travel to California until conference play begins on April 5 against Loyola Marymount. 

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. 

RANKED OPPONENTS. The Cougars will take on No. 2 UCLA in the tournament. This will be the fourth top-25 ranked team this season (No. 9 South Carolina, No. 18 Baylor, No. 4 Oklahoma. It will be the second top 5 team, after playing No. 4 Oklahoma in Palm Springs. 

WCC WEEKLY AWARDS. Rylee Kerisa Viramontes won her first WCC Pitcher of the Week award after her performance in San Diego. Viramontes pitched a one-hit shutout against Florida Gulf Coast in a complete game where she allowed no walks. This is the fourth total WCC weekly selection for BYU this season. Autumn Moffat and Rylee Jensen have 

Opponent Outlook
Robert Morris | Thursday, March 7 | 9 a.m. PT | 

• The Colonials have compiled a 3-10 record so far this season. They most recently competed at the Liberty Softball Classic.

•This is the second meeting between the two teams as BYU won the last game 7-2 in 2016.

•Interim Head Coach Jexx Varner is in his first season with the Colonials. 

Long Beach State | Thursday, March 7 | 11:30 a.m. PT | 

• In 2019, the 49ers have a 7-10 overall record. They also competed at the San Diego Classic last week going 1-2.

• Last season, the 49ers advanced to the NCAA regional in Tempe and finished the season ranked No. 20.

• Long Beach State leads the series with a 5-3 record, last season they took the win 5-4 in Las Vegas.

• Kim Sowder is in her 13th season as head coach of the Spartans holding a 399-258-1 overall record.

Ohio | Friday, March 8 | 11:30 a.m. PT | 

• The Bobcats currently have a 11-7 overall record during the 2019 season, including going 4-1 last weekend at the Duke/NC State Invitational.

• Last season, Ohio was the Mid-American Conference Champions and advanced to the NCAA Regionals. 

• This will be the first meeting between the two teams.

• Kenzie Roark starts her first season with the Bobcats.

Boston University | Friday, March 8 | 2:00 p.m. PT | 

•During the 2019 season, the Terriers are currently 8-5. Last weekend, BU went 2-2 at the Wooo Pig Classic.

• BU went to the Norman NCAA Regionals last season but lost to No. 2 Oklahoma and Missouri.

• The two teams have met once before as the Cougars took the win 9-0 in 2017.

• Ashley Waters enters her 4th season leading the Terriers compiling an overall record of 92-71.

No. 2 UCLA | Saturday, March 9 | 3:00 p.m. PT | 

• The Bruins are 17-1 in the 2019 season, including going 9-12 in the Big West.

• UCLA recorded its only loss of the season last week against Michigan at the Judi Garman Classic.

• In 2018, the Bruins were defeats by the National Champion’s in the first round of the College World Series.

• Kelly Inouye-Perez starts her 13th season with the Bruins recording a 561-167-1 overall record including leading her team to fourth straight appearances in the College World Series.