SAN -- After winning the regular season Mountain West Conference title, the Cougars continued their winning ways in the first round of the MWC softball tournament, knocking off fourth-seeded Utah 6-1 to advance to the semifinals and move to 42-12 on the season.

"This was a good win for us," said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin. "We started off strong and finished strong. Beating a team five times in one season is tough to do, especially when it's Utah."

Freshman pitcher Daniella Urincho, who earned All-MWC honors this season, gave the Cougars a great outing as she went the distance, recording one earned run, five strikeouts and just one walk in seven innings to move to 14-2 on the season.

The Cougars also got strong performances from the middle of the batting order. Senior outfielder Debbie Dodds went 1-for-3, scoring one run, as did junior third baseman Ashlyn Russell, who also had two runs batted in. Freshman right fielder Lyndi Kennedy also went 1-for-3 with an RBI while junior first baseman Ianeta Le'i was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI's. Junior shortstop Paige Paramore went a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

"Dani (Urincho) had a heck of a game for us," Eakin said. "We also had timely hitting from Ianeta (Le'i), who always gives us a punch, and Lyndi Kennedy, who really stepped it up today."

After BYU Urincho retired the first three Ute batters in order, the Cougars struck first in the bottom of the first inning, beginning with a Paramore single straight up the middle. Le'i then singled to move Paramore to second base and set the stage for Russell, who ranks second in the league in runs batted in. Russell stayed true to form, doubling down the left field line to bring in Paramore and Le'i and then crossing home on an error, giving the Cougars a 3-0 lead at the end of the first inning.

The Utes threatened in the top of the second, loading the bases with a single, a walk and a batter hit by a pitch. However, with two outs, Urincho buckled down and struck out the next batter, forcing the Utes to leave three stranded.

Jennifer Whiteley led off the top of the second inning, earning a free trip to first base on four straight balls. Whiteley then advanced to third on sacrifices by Jodi Norton and Lauren Watson-Perry but would get no further as Krystle Chamberlain flied out to end the inning.

A one-out single in the top of the third by Ute Diana Phillips gave Utah its second hit of the game. After Phillips advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, Devina Quintero hit a blooper into left field that was bobbled by Chamberlain, allowing Phillips to score the Utes' first run of the game and leaving the score 3-1 in favor of the Cougars.

The Cougars tried to answer back in the bottom of the third inning as Paramore earned a one-out walk, but Le'i flied out to center field for the second out and pinch runner Milli Jones was caught stealing to end the inning.

Both teams went three up three down in the fourth and fifth innings, leaving the score 3-1 Cougars.

Urincho retired all three Ute batters in order to start the sixth inning, bringing up Dodds to lead it off for the Cougars. Dodds singled into left field and then advanced to second on a single from Paige Paramore. Le'i then ripped one up the middle for a triple, scoring both Dodds and Paramore and extending the Cougar lead to 5-1.

Kennedy kept the Cougar bats singing as she sent one all the way to the wall in left-center field for a triple, scoring pinch runner Emi Snow on the play. Whiteley flied out on the next pitch and Kennedy was tagged out coming home to end the sixth inning but not before BYU took a commanding 6-1 lead.

The Utes had one more chance in the top of the seventh inning but could not take advantage as Russell made a diving catch at third base to get the first out and Urincho struck out the next two batters to give BYU the victory.

The Cougars will play their semifinal game Friday at 4:30 PDT against the winner of Friday morning's game between New Mexico and the winner of the evening game between UNLV and host San Diego State.

PROVO -- After stealing two games away from Utah Wednesday night, 7-2 and 4-3, and soldifying the number one seed in the Mountain West Conference, the Cougars are ready for tournament time.

San Diego State University, the softball tournament's No. 6 seed team, (26-28 overall, 4-16 MWC) will host the 2005 The Mountain West Conference Tournament May 12-14.

BYU (41-12 overall, 16-2 MWC) received an opening round bye in the double-elimination tournament and will play the winner of the Utes-Lobos game Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The winner of that game will play Friday at 4:30 p.m.

"If we can have enough healthy players to play then we expect to win," BYU head softball coach Eakin said. "We're working on all aspects of the game, something we've been doing all season."

FINAL MWC SOFTBALL STANDINGS

Conference Overall

1. BYU 16-2 41-12

2. UNLV 17-3 41-16

3. Colorado State 8-8 29-20

4. Utah 6-12 20-27

5. New Mexico 5-15 15-32

6. San Diego State 4-16 26-28

National Attention...

- BYU softball is currently ranked fourth in slugging percentage at .535 and fourth in scoring at 6.3.

- The Cougars are currently ranked sixth in the nation in home runs per game at 1.28, with junior Ashlyn Russell ranking 10th in the nation at .32.

- BYU has the ninth best batting average in the nation at .319 with Lauren Watson-Perry ranking 13th at .438 and ranking seventh in runs per game at 1.0.

- Junior Ianeta Le`i is ranked 24th nationally in runs batted in per game at .98.

- BYU pitcher junior Summer Tobias is ranked 19th nationally in saves with 4.

- Senior Lauren Watson-Perry was recently drafted 21st overall in the Ladies Pro Fastpitch Association (LPFA) senior draft. The selection was made March 11, and Watson-Perry was among the first ever batch of draftees.

Offense

As a team the Cougars are batting .319 and are ranked No. 9 in the nation in batting average and No. 4 in the nation in scoring (6.3 runs per game). Leading the way offensively for the Cougars is Lauren Watson-Perry with a .438 batting average. She is followed by teammates Ianeta Le`i (.357), Paige Paramore (.346), Debbie Dodds (.303), Jodi Norton (.302) and Krystle Chamberlain (.300). Watson-Perry leads the team in hits (70) and in runs scored (51). Paramore posted a team-high 12 extra base doubles this season and Jennifer Whiteley leads in triples (4). Le`i posts a team-high 50 RBI. BYU continues its long-ball offense hitting 68 home runs in 53 games with Russell leading the way with 17 home runs so far this season. Watson-Perry leads in stolen bases with 12-out-of 15 attempts.

Pitching

The pitching staff is posting a 2.26 overall ERA led by junior Summer Tobias who registers a 1.71 ERA in 30 appearances. Tobias has pitched 15 complete games and posts a 17-6 overall record with 97 strikeouts. Freshman Danilla Urincho follows Tobias with 1.82 ERA and a 14-2 record and 67 strikeouts. Urincho has pitched 13 complete games this season for BYU while appearing in 20 games. Senior Niki Andersen has appeared in 10 games this season to post a 2.74 ERA and a 2-0 record. Junior Brooke Boyce has a 3.62 ERA posting a 8-4 record and has four saves.

All-time BYU vs. MWC Opponents in MWC Tournament

Colorado State: 0-2

New Mexico: 1-2

San Diego State: 2-2

UNLV: 2-1

Utah: 2-1