PROVO, Utah – The BYU softball team took two wins in a double-header with San Diego, earning an 8-0 win in game one and 15-2 in game 2 at Gail Miller Field on Friday.

"We played two solid games today," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "I like the energy and urgency this team is playing with right now. They were two complete team wins."

Game One

Game Highlights:

• Home runs by Rylee Jensen and Libby Sugg aided the Cougars (23-20, 7-1 WCC) to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning.
• A sacrifice fly by Brooke Vander Heide added a fourth before Jensen tallied her second homer to extend BYU’s lead to 5-0.
• After three scoreless innings, the Cougars tallied a pair of runs and ended the game with a walk when the bases were loaded.
• Paulson pitched all six innings and only allowed one hit while striking out five batters.

Player Highlights:

• Rylee Jensen: 2-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI
• Libby Sugg: 2-3, 1 HR, 1 2B, 2 RBI
• Arissa Paulson: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 5 K

BYU vs. USD Game 1 Box Score

The Cougars’ bats were swinging in the first inning, as Jensen led off the bottom of the first by slamming a home run to left field for the first run of the game. Taylei Williams got on base with a single and then stole second with Libby Sugg at bat. Sugg recorded BYU’s second homer of the game to give the Cougars an early 3-0 advantage.

In the second inning, Paulson retired the first three batters as BYU maintained its momentum. A double by Olivia Sanchez put her in scoring position before crossing home plate with a Brooke Vander Heide sacrifice fly to center field. Jensen returned to the plate and hit her second homer of the game to extend the Cougars’ lead to 5-0.

BYU put the game away in the sixth inning as Lexi Tarrow and Maria Sanchez each recorded an RBI and helped the Cougars load the bases. The final run of the game came off of a walk.

Game Two

Game Highlights:

• The Cougars jumped to an early 4-0 lead in the first after Paulson, Autumn Moffat, Emilee Erickson and Tarrow each recorded an RBI.
• In the second inning, BYU added three more runs to bring the score to 7-0. Williams recorded 2 RBI and Paulson add an RBI of her own.
• The third inning was highlighted by home runs by Moffat and Tarrow, who combined to drive in four runs. Williams and Erickson each added a 2 RBI singles to bring the score to 15-0.
• Singles in the fourth inning gave the Toreros their only runs of the day.

Player Highlights:

• Lexi Tarrow: 3-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 2B
• Rylee Jensen: 2-2, 3 R, 1 2B
• Taylei Williams: 2-2: 2 R, 4 RBI
• Arissa Paulson: 2-2, 2 RBI, 1 R
• Autumn Moffat: 5.0 IP, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR

BYU vs. USD Game 2 Box Score

Once again, the Cougars started out the game strong as a double by Jensen jumpstarted the momentum. She returned to home plate for the first run of game two as Paulson recorded a single. Autumn Moffat added an RBI and doubles by Emilee Erickson and Tarrow gave each batter an RBI to help bring the score to 4-0.

In the second inning, BYU added three more runs to bring the score to 7-0. Brooke Vander Heide was first at bat and was walked. Jensen and Williams each hit a single and Williams recorded 2 RBI. Paulson hit an RBI single to center field for the final run of the inning.

An impressive eight runs in the third extended BYU’s lead to 15-0. The inning was highlighted by back-to-back homers by Moffat and Tarrow for a combined four runs. Williams and Erickson each recorded two RBI with singles down the middle.

The Toreros (19-22, 3-5 WCC) scored their only runs in the fourth inning as a pair of singles were tallied.

Moffat pitched five innings, recording no walks and one strikeout.

The Cougars return to Gail Miller Field on Saturday, April 26 for the final game of the series against USD. The game will be televised on BYUtv and will begin at 1 p.m. MDT.

PROVO, Utah – Following a week off from West Coast Conference competition, BYU softball plays one more non-conference game against Southern Utah before a weekend WCC series against San Diego this week. 

BYU Game Notes

On Wednesday, the Thunderbirds travel to Provo for their second game this season against the Cougars. The game will being at 6 p.m. MT with a live stream on BYUtv.  

Then, BYU will play the Toreros in a doubleheader on Friday followed by one game on Saturday. The games on Friday are slated for 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. with the Saturday game beginning at 1 p.m. All three games will be broadcast live on BYUtv. 

BYU Storylines

THIRD CONFERENCE SERIES. After a week off from West Coast Conference play, BYU returns home for its third conference series against San Diego. The Cougars are currently 5-1 in conference play after sweeping Pacific. 

NATIONAL ACTIVE LEADER. Libby Sugg is currently No. 2 nationally among active career leaders in RBI with 204. Sugg has tallied 23 so far this season including tying her career-high of five RBI against UTEP. She is also No. 9 nationally in career homers (47), No. 11 in total bases (385) and No. 25 in doubles (42).

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. 2 in doubles (45), No. 3 in RBI (204), No. 5 in homers (47) and No. 5 in walks (101). Arissa Paulson moved into the No. 9 spot for career shutouts (6) and No. 10 in complete games (25) in career strikeouts with 235.

NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK. Rylee Jensen was named the Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on April 16. She also earned her fourth WCC Player of the Week award after her performance in the sweep of Pacific. The starting left fielder batted .900 through three games over the weekend totaling nine hits, five runs, four RBI as well as a homer, a triple and a double.

Opponent Outlook

Southern Utah | Wednesday, April 24 | 6 p.m. MDT | BYUtv Digital

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

• Earlier this season, the Cougars traveled to Cedar City and came away with a 14-3 win. BYU still holds the series 55-7. 

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

San Diego | Friday, April 26 at 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 27 at 1 p.m. | BYUtv

• The Toreros currently have a 19-21 record and are 3-3 in conference after falling to LMU two weeks ago

• This will be the 27th meeting between the two teams with the Cougars holding the advantage at 22-5 after sweeping San Diego last season. 

• Head Coach Melissa McElvain enters her 18th season as the Toreros head coach with an overall record of 380-497.