PROVO -- Strong defense and hot hitting contributed to an 8-0 BYU (31-14, 7-2) softball victory over the University of Utah (22-20, 5-4) Friday night at Miller Park. The game was the first in a four-game series between the two schools that is part of the Deseret First Duel.

The Cougars scored eight runs on 11 hits, as the eight-run rule was enacted after five innings. Pitcher Christina Gwyn-Trice gave up two hits and did not surrender a walk until the top of the fifth inning, the only one on the night. Shortstop Jessica Purcell went 2-for-2 and drove in three runs to lead the scoring attack. First baseman Daniela Snow also went 2-for-2.

"I am more pleased with our total game that just our hitting," said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin. "We are playing a total game right now with a combination of better base running, better hitting and more effort."

BYU began the first innings with a quick out followed by a double play to end the Utes scoring hopes. Utah responded though, not allowing the Cougars any hits in the bottom of the first.

BYU stepped up offensively in the second inning with aggressive base running, resulting in four hits and two runs. The scoring started when Purcell hit a RBI single up the middle. With runners on the corners, Purcell stole second, allowing Angeline Quiocho to reach home on the throw. BYU led 2-0 at the end of the second.

The Cougars scored again in the third inning with Snow and Stephanie Platt-Hopkins both hitting RBI singles, making it a 4-0 game at the close of the third.

Freshman Kristin Delahoussaye set the tone in the bottom of the fourth as she hit a double to left field. Amanda Vance followed with a single to center, allowing Delahoussaye to score. With Quiocho's single, the Cougars loaded the bases and the next batter, Emi Snow-Willing, hit a RBI single. Purcell followed with a two run single. BYU topped the Utes 8-0 at the end of the fourth.

Facing the eight-run rule, the Utah could not get anything going in fifth and final inning. Gwin-Trice finally gave up a walk, but would not allow the Utes a hit as the Cougars closed out the game in the fifth.

"We have a system of hitting that we play with and this time of season it all comes together as the girls get more comfortable," said Eakin. "It really came together tonight."

The Cougars will play game two of the Deseret First Duel against the Utes at Miller Park on Saturday at 2 p.m. The victory Friday night gives BYU a 29.5 to 24.5 lead in the inaugural season of the Deseret First Duel.

Box Score
                            The Automated ScoreBook
                          Utah at Brigham Young Univ.
                Apr 18, 2008 at Provo, Utah (Gail Miller Field)
Utah 0 (22-20,5-4 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
PHILLIPS, Diana cf.......  2  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
FONOTI, Sharee ss........  2  0  2  0   0  0  2  2   0
QUINTERO, Devina 3b......  2  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
FOSTER, Kara 1b..........  2  0  0  0   0  1  5  0   1
BOARDMAN, Angie rf.......  1  0  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
KELLER, Kristie lf.......  2  0  0  0   0  1  1  0   0
HOFFMAN, Andrea c........  2  0  0  0   0  0  4  0   0
HEMINGWAY, Staci 2b......  2  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   1
MATTHEWS, Kelly dp.......  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
PARKER, Brittany p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
Totals................... 16  0  2  0   1  3 12  7   2
Brigham Young Univ. 8 (31-14,7-2 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
DELAHOUSSAYE,Kristin 2b..  2  1  1  0   1  0  1  1   0
DAVIS, Caschjen lf.......  3  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   3
VANCE, Amanda dp.........  2  2  1  1   1  1  0  0   0
SNOW, Daniela 1b.........  2  2  2  1   1  0  4  0   0
 NIX, Whitney pr.........  0  1  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
QUIOCHO, Angeline 3b.....  3  2  2  0   0  0  1  0   0
WILLING, Emi c...........  3  0  1  1   0  1  3  0   0
PURCELL, Jessica ss......  2  0  2  3   0  0  3  3   0
HOPKINS, Stephanie rf....  3  0  1  1   0  0  1  0   2
GONZALES, Monica cf......  2  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
TRICE, Christina p.......  0  0  0  0   0  0  2  1   0
Totals................... 22  8 11  7   3  2 15  5   6
Score by Innings               R  H  E
--------------------------------------
Utah................ 000 00 -  0  2  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 022 4X -  8 11  0
--------------------------------------
E - KELLER. DP - BY 1. LOB - UTAH 2; BY 6. 2B - DELAHOUSSAYE. HBP - PURCELL.
SB - QUIOCHO; PURCELL 2; HOPKINS; GONZALES.
Utah                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
PARKER, Brittany....  4.0 11  8  7  3  2 22 26
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
TRICE, Christina....  5.0  2  0  0  1  3 16 17
Win - TRICE (13-5).  Loss - PARKER (9-11).  Save - None.
WP - PARKER 3. HBP - by PARKER (PURCELL).
Umpires - HP: Bob Marcialis  1B: Bobby Shelton  3B: Brett Higgins
Start: 7:00   Time: 1:40   Attendance: 624
Game: livegame
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play-by-Play
                            The Automated ScoreBook
                   Utah at Brigham Young Univ. - Play-by-Play
                Apr 18, 2008 at Provo, Utah (Gail Miller Field)
Score by Innings               R  H  E
--------------------------------------
Utah................ 000 00 -  0  2  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 022 4X -  8 11  0
--------------------------------------
Utah starters: 20/cf PHILLIPS; 1/ss FONOTI; 33/3b QUINTERO; 12/1b FOSTER; 16/rf
BOARDMAN; 5/lf KELLER; 13/c HOFFMAN; 19/2b HEMINGWAY; 4/dp MATTHEWS; 24/p
PARKER;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 9/lf DAVIS; 6/dp VANCE; 22/1b
SNOW; 33/3b QUIOCHO; 18/c WILLING; 10/ss PURCELL; 5/rf HOPKINS; 24/cf GONZALES;
11/p TRICE;
Utah 1st - BOARDMAN to dp. MATTHEWS to rf. PHILLIPS grounded out to ss.
FONOTI singled. QUINTERO hit into double play ss to 2b to 1b; FONOTI out on the
play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - DELAHOUSSAYE grounded out to 1b unassisted.
DAVIS flied out to lf. VANCE struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors,
0 LOB.
Utah 2nd - FOSTER struck out swinging. BOARDMAN grounded out to p.
KELLER lined out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - SNOW singled to right center. QUIOCHO singled,
bunt; SNOW advanced to second. NIX pinch ran for SNOW. WILLING struck out.
PURCELL singled up the middle, RBI; QUIOCHO advanced to third; NIX scored.
PURCELL stole second, advanced to third on the throw; QUIOCHO stole home.
HOPKINS reached on a fielder's choice; PURCELL out at home 3b to c. HOPKINS
stole second. GONZALES singled up the middle; HOPKINS advanced to third.
GONZALES stole second. DELAHOUSSAYE walked. DAVIS lined out to ss. 2 runs, 4
hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Utah 3rd - SNOW to 1b for NIX. HOFFMAN grounded out to ss. HEMINGWAY
popped up to p. MATTHEWS struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - VANCE walked. VANCE advanced to second on a
wild pitch. SNOW singled, advanced to third on an error by lf, RBI; VANCE
scored. QUIOCHO grounded out to ss. WILLING popped up to ss. PURCELL hit by
pitch. PURCELL stole second. HOPKINS singled, RBI; PURCELL advanced to third on
the throw, out at home ss to p to c; SNOW scored, unearned. 2 runs, 2 hits,
1 error, 1 LOB.
Utah 4th - PHILLIPS popped up to 3b. FONOTI singled. QUINTERO flied out
to ss. FOSTER flied out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - GONZALES grounded out to 2b. DELAHOUSSAYE
doubled. DAVIS grounded out to 2b; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to third. VANCE
singled to center field, RBI; DELAHOUSSAYE scored. VANCE advanced to second on
a wild pitch. SNOW walked. QUIOCHO singled; SNOW advanced to second; VANCE
advanced to third. WILLING singled, RBI; QUIOCHO advanced to second; SNOW
advanced to third; VANCE scored. PURCELL singled, 2 RBI; WILLING advanced to
second; QUIOCHO scored; SNOW scored. PURCELL advanced to second on a wild
pitch; WILLING advanced to third. HOPKINS grounded out to p. 4 runs, 5 hits,
0 errors, 2 LOB.
Utah 5th - BOARDMAN walked. KELLER struck out swinging. HOFFMAN fouled
out to rf. HEMINGWAY popped up to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- BYU sophomore Angeline Quiocho and Utah sophomore righthander Ashley Smuda and BYU senior righthander Christina Gwyn-Trice have been named Mountain West Conference Softball Player and Co-Pitchers of the Week, respectively.

"It's exciting for Quiocho and Gwyn-Trice to gain much deserved recognition," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said.

Quiocho, from Walnut, Calif., carried the Cougars to a 1-0 victory over nationally-ranked San Diego State. The sophomore hit a game-winning home run in the top of the ninth inning, recording the only run of the game. In BYU's six wins last week, Quiocho managed a hit in all six, carrying a .500 batting average. She had three multiple-hit games, including two home runs on the week. In 18 at-bats, Quiocho earned nine hits, six runs and four RBI.

Smuda, a Scottsdale, Ariz., native, allowed one hit in 15.2 innings pitched over the weekend. In the 1-0 win against No. 21/18 San Diego State, she pitched a one-hitter, while striking out eight batters. She entered the first game against UNLV with the tying run on base and one out in the sixth inning. She got out of the jam, forcing the next two batters into outs to save the inning. In the second game vs. the Rebels, Smuda earned her second no-hitter of the season, while striking out five batters. She becomes the first Utah pitcher since Ali Andrus-Sagas in 1997 to pitch two no-hitters in a year.

Gwyn-Trice, hailing from Keller, Texas, was the winning pitcher in BYU's no-hitter against Southern Utah. It marked the team's first no-hitter of the season. She faced 13 batters over the weekend, striking out five and walking only two. Against San Diego State, she threw a complete nine innings without giving up a run. She allowed five hits, compared to nine strikeouts and only one walk. During her three appearances of the week, she gave up two earned runs in a combined 18.1 innings.