OREM, Utah – Libby Sugg helped the the BYU softball team to two wins against Utah Valley University, 10-1, 6-5, Tuesday afternoon in the UCCU Crosstown Clash.

"It was nice to get two wins today on the road," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Today our offense, defense and pitching all showed up."

Sugg went 5 for 7 between the two games tallying three runs, four RBI, no strikeouts, one walk and a double in both games. 

Game One

Game 1 Summary 

• BYU scored 10 runs in the game putting up runs in every inning except the first, with four in the second and three in the fifth to end the game after five complete innings due to the NCAA eight-run rule
• In the third, Libby Sugg homered, tallying three RBI as Marissa Chavez and Erin Miklus made it home. 
• Three Cougars scored two runs in the game including Sugg, who scored her 100th career run in the second inning.

Player Highlights

• Libby Sugg: 2-3, 2R, 3 RBI, 1 2B, BB
• Arissa Paulson: W (4-5), 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
• Ashley Godfrey: 2-4, 2R, 1 RBI

BYU vs. UVU Box Score Game 1

The Wolverines (7-17, 0-0 WAC) scored first, putting up a run in the bottom of the first inning. But, BYU (12-15, 0-0 WCC) quickly answered back in the bottom of the first frame. Emilee Erickson was hit by a pitch to get her to first base and advanced to second as Ashley Godfrey singled through the right side. All runners advanced as Allie Hancock was also hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded, Marissa Chavez dropped a ball into right field to score two runs as BYU took the lead 2-1. 

The Cougars continued their scoring into the top of the third inning. Sugg doubled to right center before Arissa Paulson drew a walk. Erickson advanced all the runners, singling down the right line to load the bases. Godfrey tallied another single, driving in Sugg for her 100th career run at BYU. A fielding error from UVU scored Erickson and Rylee Jensen hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Godfrey. 

BYU tacked on another run in the top of the fourth as Williams doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Arissa Paulson recorded her first RBI of the day hitting a sacrifice fly to score Williams making the score 7-1.

A three-run bomb over the fence from Sugg capped the scoring for BYU as the Cougars went up 10 to 1. The Wolverines were unable to overcome the nine run lead and the game ended after the bottom of the fifth inning due to the NCAA eight-run rule. 

Game Two

Game Summary

• BYU scored four runs in the top of the second inning starting with a homer from Rylee Jensen, her sixth of the season. 
• Autumn Moffat earned her sixth win of the season, while Kerisa Viramontes tallied her second save this year. 

Player Highlights

• Libby Sugg: 3-4, 1R, 1 RBI, 2B
• Rylee Jensen: 2-1, 1R, 2 RBI, 1 HR
• Autumn Moffat: W (6-8), 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 K, 0 BB

BYU vs. UVU Box Score Game 2

In the second game, UVU again scored in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. 

The Wolverines held the Cougars scoreless for another inning but BYU quickly got on the board in the top of the fourth. Rylee Jensen homered followed by Marissa Chavez and Martha Epenesa making it home on a single from Sugg and a fielder error. Sugg scored as Olivia Sanchez doubled to center field. BYU finished the inning ahead 4-1. 

A double from Brooke Vander Heide followed by a single from Jensen gave BYU another run in the top of the fourth to put the Cougars lead at 5-1. The Wolverines scored a run of their own to trim the lead to 5-2. 

In the top of the seventh inning, BYU tallied another run as Alyssa Podhurcak grounded out to score Aubrielle Paulson to make the score 6-2. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh a UVU homer started a late rally for the Wolverines. UVU nailed another home run scoring three runs to bring the game within one run. But BYU held on and a pop up to Lexi Tarrow ended the game with BYU taking the win 6-5. 

The Cougars now travel to Texas to play games against UTSA and Texas A&M. BYU will play the Roadrunners, Thursday March 28 at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. CT and the Aggies on Friday, March 29 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m. CT. 
 

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.