SAN ANTONIO – BYU softball claimed a 6-0 victory over the University of Texas San Antonio but fell 4-1 in the second game of the doubleheader Thursday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.

“We got a split on the road today in two hard fought games," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “It was not what we wanted or needed but to win a doubleheader on the road you have to play with passion and energy. As a team we lack those key ingredients right now and we seemed tired. It’s possible 29 straight road games could create a fatigued team but that’s where passion has to kick in.”

Game One

Game Highlights

• Arissa Paulson and Kerisa Viramontes combined for the shutout against UTSA with Paulson recording her fifth win of the season and retiring the side in three consecutive innings
• Ashley Godfrey and Olivia Sanchez both hit solo homers to give BYU the advantage early.
• Three Cougars tallied multiple hits including Libby Sugg who went 3 for 4 at the plate and Sanchez and Godfrey recording two each.

Player Highlights

• Ashley Godfrey: 2-3, 1R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
• Olivia Sanchez: 2-3, 2R, 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI
• Arissa Paulson: W (5-5), 6.0 IP, 0R, 6K

BYU vs. UTSA Box Score Game 1

Ashley Godfrey and Olivia Sanchez started the Cougars (13-16, 0-0) out strong with both hitting homers in the first and second innings, respectively, as BYU went up 2-0.

In the top of the fourth, Sanchez doubled to right field to score Arissa Paulson from second base. Martha Epenesa followed by reaching on an error and Sanchez made it home to increase the Cougars' lead 4-0.

Rylee Jensen got on base in the top of the fifth frame and tallied a run as Taylei Williams reached second base on an error. Sugg hit her third single of the day to score Williams making the score 6-0. The Cougars held off the Roadrunners (16-15, 0-0) in the bottom of the seventh to take the win 6-0. 

Game Two

Game Highlights

• UTSA scored two runs in its first and last innings of the game
• Brooke Vander Heide scored the Cougars lone run as Ashley Godfrey recorded the RBI.

Player Highlights

• Brooke Vander Heide: 1-2, 1R
• Autumn Moffat: L (7-9), 3.0 IP, 2R, 0BB, 2K
• Kerisa Viramontes: 3.0 IP, 2H, 2R, 1BB, 2K

BYU vs. UTSA Box Score Game 2

UTSA went up early in the second game, recording two runs in the bottom of the first inning. BYU was held scoreless for five innings before Brooke Vander Heide bunted and made it to first. A double from Jensen then advanced Vander Heide to third and she scored on a fielder’s choice.

Although, the Cougars cut the Roadrunners lead in half, UTSA tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.  In the top of the seventh, Sugg got on base, singling to the shortstop but was left stranded on base as the game ended with the Roadrunners taking the second game 4-1.

BYU continues on the road to face Texas A&M in College Station on Friday, March 29 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m. CT. Both games will be played at Davis Diamond with the games being broadcast on the SECN+ and WatchESPN App. Live radio coverage and live stats will be available on the schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – For the first time this season, the BYU softball team will play an in-state game against Utah Valley University on Tuesday before traveling to Texas to take on UTSA and Texas A&M this weekend.

BYU Game Notes Week 7

This is will be the first mid-week game as well as a doubleheader for the Cougars this season as they take on in-state foe UVU. 

For the UCCU Crosstown Clash, BYU will travel to UVU on Tuesday for two games against the Wolverines on Wolverine Field at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. MT. The Cougars will then travel to Texas, first to San Antonio to play a doubleheader against UTSA on Thursday, March 28 at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. CT at Roadrunner Field. BYU will head three hours southeast to College Station for two games against Texas A&M, one on Friday, March 29 at 6 p.m. followed by a game on Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m. CT. Both games will be played at Davis Diamond. 

The games against UVU will be broadcast live on the WAC Digital Network while both games against Texas A&M will be available on the SEC+ Network and the Watch ESPN App. Live stats will be available for all five games. 

BYU Storylines

FIRST IN-STATE GAMES. On Tuesday, BYU softball will play its first game of the season in Utah. After, six straight weeks of road games, BYU will play in-state foe at Utah Valley University in a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 26 in the UCCU Crosstown Clash. 

TEXAS TEAMS.  The Cougars have already faced one team from the state of Texas facing No. 11 Texas two weeks ago in Nashville. This weekend BYU will travel over 1,200 miles to face two more Texas teams. First UTSA, before making the trip to College Station for a game against Texas A&M.

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.

WCC WEEKLY AWARDS. Rylee Jensen has won three WCC weekly awards this season. The outfielder started all five games on the last trip to California, batting .597 while tallying runs in every game including a homer against Long Beach State. She was 11 for 19 through five games with seven runs and four RBI. A BYU softball player has earned a weekly award in four different weeks this season. Autumn Moffat and Kerisa Viramontes previously won WCC Pitcher of the Week awards while Jensen earned the award in back-to-back weeks.

Opponent Outlook

Utah Valley | Tuesday, March 26  | 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. MT | WAC Digital Network

• The Wolverines have compiled a 7-15 record so far, playing their first WAC series against Grand Canyon last weekend going 0-3.

•The two teams will meet for the 44th time for the UCCU Crosstown Clash with the Cougars having the advantage 39-4.

• In 2018, UVU took second in the WAC Championships after compiling a 10-4 league record.

•TJ Hubbard is in his third season as the head coach at UVU recording a 44-69 record.

University of Texas at San Antonio | Thursday, March 28  | 3 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. CT | 

• The Roadrunners currently have a 14-14 record after playing conference foes Marshal going 1-2 last weekend.

•This will be the third meeting between the two teams and the first time since Gordon Eakin was named head coach of the BYU softball team. The series is currently tied at 1-1. 

•Head Coach Michelle Cheatham enters her fifth season as the Roadrunners head coach after eight as an assistant coach. She has tallied a 135-157 overall record. 

Texas A&M | Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30 | 6 p.m. & 2 p.m. CT | SEC Network

• In the 2019, the Aggies have posted a 18-13 overall record. Last weekend, Texas A&M went 1-2 against No. 4 Alabama.

• Last season, Texas A&M hosted the College Station Regional winning all three games to advance to the Super Regional but lost to No. 2 Florida. 

•A series tied at 6-6, the two teams will meet for the 13th time for two games this weekend. 

• A native of Utah, Jo Evans is in her 23rd season as head coach of the Aggies. She played for the University of Utah and was the head coach of the Utes for seven years before being named the head coach of the Aggies. She holds an overall record of 869-428 with Texas A&M.