FULLERTON, Calif. – Home runs from Huntyr Ava and Martha Epenesa paced the BYU softball team to a 10-3 win over California on the final day of the Judi Garman Classic.

We played well today," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Autumn Moffat pitched a great game. We had great presence at the plate with clutch hitting. Martha Epenesa got us rolling in the first with a shot and Huntyr continues to crush the ball and drive in runs."

Game Highlights:

• Huntyr Ava and Martha Epenesa both hit three-run homers in the game. It was Ava’s fifth of the tournament and Epenesa’s second.
• Autumn Moffat threw a complete game and recorded her sixth win of the season. She also tallied her 200th career strikeout finishing with six in the game.

Player Highlights:

• Huntyr Ava: 2-3, 2R, 4RBI, 2B, HR, BB
• Martha Epenesa: 2-3, 1R, 3R, HR, HBP
• Taylei Williams: 3-4, 2R, 1RBI
• Autumn Moffat: W (6-3), 7.0 IP, 7H, 3ER, 0BB, 6K

BYU vs. Cal Box Score

BYU started off swinging in the top of the first inning as Ava doubled to left field to send HannahJo Peterson home after she reached on a fielder’s choice. Epenesa followed it up with her second homer of the tournament to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead. A three-run dinger from California tied up the game in the bottom of the second frame.

The Cougars answered back with a run in the top of the third and fourth innings to give BYU a 5-3 lead. BYU came out swinging in the top of the sixth inning starting with a sac fly from Rylee Jensen-McFarland to score Kaylee Erickson.

Taylei Williams followed it up with a single to center field to score Erin Miklus after she stole third base. Ava closed out the inning with her fifth homer of the weekend, scoring Peterson and Williams to make the score 10-3.

Both teams went scoreless in the seventh inning as the Cougars captured the 10-3 win.

BYU continues on the road traveling to the Bulldog Classic hosted by Fresno State in California. The Cougars begin the tournament with a contest against Fresno State on Thursday, March 5 at 6 p.m. PT at Margie Wright Diamond.

PROVO, Utah – The BYU softball team will head to the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California for its fourth week of competition. 

BYU at Judi Garman Classic Game Notes

BYU will play five different teams with two teams from Power 5 conferences including the No. 25 Texas Tech Raiders.  This is the third-straight week the Cougars will travel to California after competing in the Campbell Cartier Classic and Mary Nutter Classic. 

On the first day of play, BYU will face off against Cal Poly at 10 a.m. PT on Thursday, Feb. 27, followed by a game against Illinois at 3 p.m. The Cougars will then play two more games on Friday, Feb. 28 against No. 25 Texas Tech at 9:30 a.m. and Boise State at noon. 

BYU will finish out the tournament with a game against California on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 9:30 a.m.

The first three games will be played at PGF Field and the last two will be played at Cal State Fullerton’s home field, Anderson Family Field. All of the games will be streamed on FloSoftball with live stats on the BYU schedule page. 

BYU Storylines

20 Years of BYU Softball. The start of the 2020 season marks the 20th anniversary of the start of BYU softball. February 4, 2000, the Cougars defeated Sacramento State 3-2 in San Jose to start the program off with a win. In the 20 years, BYU has captured 14 conference titles and made 16 appearances in the NCAA tournament. Head coach Gordon Eakin has been part of the BYU softball program since its inception and took over the head coaching duties in 2002.

Ranked Opponents. Throughout the 2020 season, BYU will play six top 25 teams including No. 25 Texas Tech this weekend as well as a handful of teams that received votes in the poll. 

California Calling. BYU heads to California for its third straight-week to compete in the Judi Garman Classic hosted by Cal State Fullerton. The Cougars will travel to California three more times before the season ends. 

Return to the WCC. This will be BYU’s seventh season as a member of the West Coast Conference after joining in the 2014 season. Since its first season, BYU has claimed the WCC Championship for six-straight years. Last season, BYU earned three of three of the top season awards including Player of the Year (Lexi Tarrow), Pitcher of the Year (Arissa Paulson) and Defensive Player of the Year (Erin Miklus) as well as having seven players named to the All-WCC teams. 

BYU Notable Stats. Senior Rylee Jensen-McFarland recorded her 150th career run last weekend against Notre Dame and followed it up with her 100th career RBI against Bethune-Cookman.  

WCC Player of the Week. Rylee Jensen-McFarland earned her first WCC Player of the week award after her performance at the Mary Nutter Classic. This is her ninth player of the Week award.

Opponent Outlook

Cal Poly | Thursday, Feb. 27 | 10 a.m. PT | FloSoftball  

Overall: 7-4

Home: 1-0

Away: 0-0

Neutral: 6-4

Under Eakin: 7-4

Longest win Streak: 3, two times

Last win: 5-0, 3/5/11

Longest Losing Streak: 1

Last loss: 3-1, 2/27/15

Illinois | Thursday, Feb. 27 | 3 p.m. PT | FloSoftball

Overall: 3-4

Home: 0-0

Away: 0-0

Neutral: 3-4

Under Eakin: 3-4

Longest win Streak: 2

Last win: 10-0, 3/7/08

Longest Losing Streak: 2

Last loss: 14-5, 3/8/08

No. 25 Texas Tech | Friday, Feb. 28 | 9:30 a.m. PT | FloSoftball 

Overall: 0-2

Home: 0-0

Away: 0-0

Neutral: 0-2

Under Eakin: 0-1

Longest win Streak: --

Last win: --

Longest Losing Streak: 2

Last loss: 7-5, 2/10/11

Boise State | Friday, Feb. 28 | 12 p.m. PT | FloSoftball

Overall: 5-0

Home: 1-0

Away: 0-0

Neutral: 4-0

Under Eakin: 5-0

Longest win Streak: 5 

Last win: 8-0, 2/19/16

Longest Losing Streak: --

Last loss: --

California | Saturday, Feb. 29 | 9:30 a.m. PT | FloSoftball

Overall: 2-0

Home: 0-0

Away: 0-0

Neutral: 2-0

Under Eakin: 2-0

Longest win Streak: 2 

Last win: 3-0, 2/25/16

Longest Losing Streak: --

Last loss: --