LOS ANGELES – BYU softball earned wins in two intensely contested games against Loyola Marymount on Saturday afternoon to open West Coast Conference play with the series victory.

"After a tough loss yesterday to open the series, we played two complete games today in a very intense environment," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Both Autumn Moffat and Arissa Paulson pitch great games, our defense was stellar and we made great adjustments offensively throughout each of the two games. It was a great team effort."

Game One

Game Highlights

• BYU (16-19, 2-1) came from behind to win the game against LMU (24-16, 1-2 WCC) scoring two runs in the top of the seventh inning
• The Cougars’ defense battled with two diving catches in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win for BYU
• The Lions were held scoreless for four straight innings after scoring their second run in the bottom of the third

Player Highlights

• Brooke Vander Heide: 2-3, 1R, 1RBI
• Autumn Moffat: W (7-10), 7.0 IP, 2R, 0BB, 1K
• Lexi Tarrow: 1-2, 1R

BYU vs. LMU Game 2 Box

With the game tied in the top of the seventh, lead-off hitter Lexi Tarrow singled to right field to get BYU on base. Autumn Moffat advanced her to second on a sacrifice bunt, before a wild pitch sent Tarrow to third. After LMU switched pitcher, Marissa Chavez drew a walk.

With two outs, Vander Heide hit a ball to the shortstop, tallying a controversial single to score Tarrow. Both LMU coaches were ejected after arguing with the umpires, but the call stood. With Rylee Jensen batting, Vander Heide stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error while Chavez made it across the plate to make the score 4-2.

A diving catch from Jensen followed by a sliding snag from center fielder Vander Heide ended the game in BYU’s favor 4-2.

LMU put up the first run of the game as a Jensen caught a foul ball in left field but couldn’t get the ball in fast enough as the runner on third made it home.

Vander Heide boosted the Cougars’ momentum hitting the ball to the shortstop and beating out the throw to get to first base. Jensen followed, drawing a walk. With two outs on the board, Taylei Williams sent a double to the back wall, bringing both Vander Heide and Jensen home to take the lead 2-1.   

LMU answered back with a homer to left field to tie the game in the bottom of the third frame before BYU secured the victory in the seventh. 

Game Two

Game Highlights

• Arissa Paulson tallied a career-high 11 strikeouts while also tying her career-best in runs and at bats with two and four, respectively.
• LMU committed eight errors throughout the game and BYU capitalized scoring four runs on the errors
• BYU came back to win for the second time in the day after the Lions scored in the first inning.

Player Highlights

• Arissa Paulson: W (7-7), 7.0 IP, 11K, 5H, 1R, 0BB,
• Arissa Paulson: 2-4, 2R, 1 RBI
• Taylei Williams: 2-3, 1R, 1RBI

BYU vs. LMU Game 3 Box

In the second game, LMU again scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning.

But, BYU scored three runs in the top of the third on three Lion errors. Williams, Erickson and Paulson all made it home. The Cougars tacked on another run in the top of the fourth as Williams hit a fly ball to center field to send Vander Heide across the plate to take a 4-1 lead.

Another error in the top of the fifth brought Arissa Paulson home for her second run of the day as BYU increased its lead to 5-1.

The Lions went three and out in the bottom of the seventh inning as Paulson struck out two of the three batters to give BYU the win 5-1.

The Cougars will play their final away game before a 10-game home stand against Utah State on Tuesday, April 9 in Logan, Utah. The game is slated for 4 p.m. MT at Johnson Softball Field.

PROVO, Utah – The BYU softball team travels south to Cedar City to play Southern Utah on Tuesday, followed by the first series in West Coast Conference play at Loyola Marymount this weekend. 

BYU Game Notes Week 8

In their first game of the week, the Cougars (13-18, 0-0) will travel to Cedar City, Utah to play SUU at 3 p.m. MT at Kathryn Berg Field. The reigning five-time WCC champions will then look to defend their title against Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles at Smith Field on Friday, April 5 at 2 p.m. PT with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 6 at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. PT.

The game against the Thunderbirds will be broadcast on PlutoTv while the games against the Lions will be available on a YouTube live stream. 

BYU Storylines

CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS. The Cougars open up West Coast Conference play this weekend against LMU. In 2017, BYU swept the Lions during opening weekend and last year the Cougars also swept Santa Clara. BYU was picked to win the WCC Conference title for a fifth year in a row with Cougars earning every vote from the conference head coaches except for two (head coaches can’t vote for their own team) which went to LMU.

HOME RUN HEAT. Nine different Cougars have hit homers this season to give BYU a total of 26. Junior Rylee Jensen leads the team with six followed by Libby Sugg, Emilee Erickson and Ashley Godfrey with four apiece

CHASING THE CHARTS. A handful of BYU softball players are moving up in the BYU all-time record books. Senior Libby Sugg finished the 2018 season ranked No. 2 and No. 3 at BYU in career on-base percentage (.455) and slugging percentage (.700), respectively. She continues to move up in other categories including No. 4 in RBI (199) and No. 5 in homers (46). After this weekend, Arissa Paulson moved into the No. 9 spot for career shutouts (6) and No. 10 in career strikeouts with 210. 

SWEEP WEEKLY AWARDS. Senior catcher Libby Sugg and sophomore pitcher Arissa Paulson swept the West Coast Conference weekly awards. Sugg led BYU to two wins against Utah Valley early in the week, batting .691 between the two games with three runs, four RBI, a home run and a double in both games. Paulson recorded two wins during the week, including a 6-0 shutout against UTSA. This is both of their first honors this season and BYU’s seventh award.

Opponent Outlook

Southern Utah University | Tuesday, April 2  | 3 p.m. MT | PlutoTV

• The Thunderbirds currently have a 3-20 record with a 1-2 record in the Big Sky Conference. 

•This will be the 62nd meeting between the two teams as the Cougars hold the series at 54-7 after overpowering SUU last year 18-4.

•Head Coach Kortny Hall begins her first season as the Thunderbirds head coach after five seasons as the head coach at Southern Virginia University. 

LMU | Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 | 2 p.m. & 12/2:30 PT | Youtube Stream

• LMU is 23-14 on the season and will also open up WCC play this weekend with the series against BYU. 

•Last season, the Lions won the postseason NISC Championship beating UC Riverside 5-0 in the final game.  

• BYU leads the series 21-8 most recently beating LMU to claim its 10th-straight conference title.