Cougars Split with Seminoles

PROVO -- Playing on a damp field, BYU softball split a double-header with Florida State 3-12 and 5-2 Friday at Gail Miller Field.

BYU softball (41-12) gave up 12 hits to 2004 Women's College World Series contender Florida State (33-23) in game one of the double-header.

"We played poorly," BYU softball head coach Eakin said. "They took it to us early and we never recovered."

The Florida State Seminoles took the lead early in the game with an 8-0 advantage over BYU, but the Cougars put up a good fight in the third inning.

BYU shortstop Jodi Norton started out in the third inning by hitting her second triple of the season. She ran home off an error by Seminole pitcher, Casey Hunter, reached by Jennifer Whiteley. Whiteley and Emi Snow also scored bringing the Cougars to 3-8.

Despite the Cougar's third inning efforts, they couldn't stop the Seminoles in the first game.

BYU had a huge turnaround in the second game as the Cougars scored four runs in the third inning. Ariel Capra scored off Ianeta Le`i's single to left field. Ashlyn Russell and Le`i both scored off Lindi Kennedy's homerun to right field giving the Cougars a 4-0 advantage. BYU defense held the Seminoles scoreless in the second game until the sixth inning.

"Emi Snow deserves a lot of credit as a freshman," Eakin said. "She was thrown into fire when our two other catchers couldn't play."

Urincho finished the second game for the Cougars as she caught a linedrive hit by Seminoles Lesley Palmer and threw the ball to shortstop Norton to snap the last out of the game.

"I'm proud of the way they bounced back," Eakin said.

Five Cougars, including seniors Niki Andersen, Ariel Capra, Debbie Dodds, Millie Jones and Lauren Watson-Perry were honored tonight at Senior Night.

The Cougars will rest until next week as they head to sunny San Diego as the number one seed in the Mountain West Conference Tournament May 12-14.