(ST. GEORGE, Utah)—The BYU women’s softball team made its way to another big win, 10-0, against Northern Colorado before suffering its first loss of the season in a heartbreaker against No. 15 Washington, 7-3, on Friday at the Red Desert Classic. The Cougars are now 3-1 on the season.

“Against Northern Colorado we got some key hits and the right time,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “It was a learning experience against Washington. Softball is a game of inches and we needed to make plays and not give away walks.”

Sophomore Paige Affleck received the loss for the Cougars after tossing 3.2 innings giving up 7 runs, 5 earned, off of six hits and four walks. Junior Christie Zinanti made a relief appearance for BYU, holding Washington to 1 hit in 3.1 innings. Sophomore Kristin Delahoussaye led BYU from the plate going 2-for-3 with a solo homer.

The Cougars fell behind early against Washington, but rallied several times to threaten the lead. The Washington outfield made two stunning, over-the-fence catches robbing BYU of two home runs for a total of seven runs.

After Affleck retired the side in the first inning, Washington came to life in the second. Following a walk, Affleck gave up a single. With two outs, a single scored both runners before scoring off an error in the third inning.

In the fourth, two walks and a single loaded the bases for Washington when a long bomb gave Ashley Charters a grand slam, bringing the Washington lead to 7-0.

Following Delahoussaye’s solo shot in the fifth inning, the Cougars manufactured a run when senior Monica Gonzales took home following a failed pickoff attempt to first base. Sophomore Caschjen Davis hit a single to put two runners on before junior Amanda Vance came to the plate. Vance hit a long shot, but the Washington centerfielder, Alyson McWherter, made a spectacular catch, falling over the centerfield fence to end the inning and keep the Cougars from adding three runs to the board.

In the bottom of the sixth BYU had a two-out rally. Delahoussaye scored on a pass ball and a succession of base hits and a walk loaded the bases for BYU slugger sophomore Jessica Purcell. After hitting a grand slam on Friday, Purcell launched a ball straight to centerfield. McWherter made another unbelievable play, again diving over the fence to hold back the tying runs.

In the seventh inning Washington took no chances as Danielle Lawrie came in to close the game with a perfect seventh inning to hold onto the win.

Against Northern Colorado Zinanti recorded her second win of the season when she tossed a two hitter, while striking out eight Northern Colorado batters. Purcell led the Cougars going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI. She knocked a solo homer and an RBI single.

Junior Andrea Ramirez got the Cougar momentum started with a two-run bomb in the top of the first inning. Ramirez recorded an additional RBI with a ground out in the second inning and an error allowed freshman Tiffany Messerschmidt to score.

Purcell led off the fourth inning with a home run and BYU added four more runs in the fifth inning to enact the run rule.

The Cougars continue play at the Red Desert Classic on Saturday when they face No. 12 Tennessee at 1:30 p.m. and San Jose State at 4 p.m.

Box Score
                            The Automated ScoreBook
                    Brigham Young Univ. vs Northern Colorado
                 Feb 06, 2009 at St. George, Utah (The Canyons)
Brigham Young Univ. 10 (3-0)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
DELAHOUSSAYE, Kristi 2b..  3  1  1  0   1  0  0  2   0
MESSERSCHMIDT, Tiffa lf..  1  3  1  0   3  0  1  0   0
RAMIREZ, Andrea ss.......  4  2  1  3   0  0  0  0   3
PURCELL, Jessica c/dp....  3  3  2  2   1  0  6  0   0
 JENKINS, Shaylyn c......  1  0  1  0   0  0  1  1   0
DAVIS, Caschjen cf/rf....  3  1  1  2   1  1  2  0   0
WILLARD, Delaney rf/1b...  4  0  2  2   0  0  4  0   1
VANCE, Amanda 1b.........  3  0  2  0   0  0  0  0   0
 NIX-THOMAS, Whitney 1b/c  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   1
HICKS, Krista 3b.........  2  0  0  0   1  0  1  0   1
 HOLT, Amy 3b............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
HOPKINS, Stephanie dp....  2  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   3
ZINANTI, Christie p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 27 10 11  9   7  3 15  3   9
Northern Colorado 0 (1-2)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
SCHOEPFLIN cf............  3  0  0  0   0  2  0  1   0
HENDERSON p/dp...........  0  0  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
 JUELFS p................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
McNABB ss................  2  0  0  0   0  1  3  0   0
RYBA 3b..................  2  0  1  0   0  1  2  0   1
VAN OTTERLOO dp/p........  3  0  0  0   0  2  0  2   0
RYMAN 2b.................  2  0  1  0   0  0  0  2   0
WILKINSON c..............  2  0  0  0   0  1  4  0   1
LANDORF 1b...............  1  0  0  0   1  0  4  0   0
WEES lf..................  2  0  0  0   0  1  2  0   2
GEDDIS rf................  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 17  0  2  0   2  8 15  5   4
Score by Innings               R  H  E
--------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ.. 320 14 - 10 11  0
Northern Colorado... 000 00 -  0  2  2
--------------------------------------
E - VAN OTTERLOO; RYMAN. LOB - Cougars 9; Bears 4. 2B - DAVIS. HR - RAMIREZ;
PURCELL.
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
ZINANTI, Christie...  5.0  2  0  0  2  8 17 19
Northern Colorado      IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
HENDERSON...........  1.0  2  5  4  6  1  5 11
VAN OTTERLOO........  3.2  9  5  5  1  1 21 22
JUELFS..............  0.1  0  0  0  0  1  1  1
Win - ZINANTI (2-0).  Loss - HENDERSON (0-1).  Save - None.
WP - JUELFS; VAN OTTERLOO 3. PB - PURCELL; WILKINSON.
Umpires - HP: Chuck Stanley  1B: Anthony Lewis  3B: Ani Carson
Start: 10:30 am   Time: 1:51   Attendance: 550
Weather: partly cloudy
HENDERSON faced 2 batters in the 2nd.
Game: NC1
Play-by-Play
                            The Automated ScoreBook
            Brigham Young Univ. vs Northern Colorado - Play-by-Play
                 Feb 06, 2009 at St. George, Utah (The Canyons)
Score by Innings               R  H  E
--------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ.. 320 14 - 10 11  0
Northern Colorado... 000 00 -  0  2  2
--------------------------------------
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 20/lf MESSERSCHMID; 31/ss
RAMIREZ; 10/c PURCELL; 9/cf DAVIS; 11/rf WILLARD; 6/1b VANCE; 22/3b HICKS; 5/dp
HOPKINS; 14/p ZINANTI;
Northern Colorado starters: 3/cf SCHOEPFLIN; 11/p HENDERSON; 23/ss McNABB;
27/3b RYBA; 18/dp VAN OTTERLOO; 2/2b RYMAN; 20/c WILKINSON; 15/1b LANDORF; 8/lf
WEES; 6/rf GEDDIS;
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - DELAHOUSSAYE grounded out to 2b. MESSERSCHMID
walked. RAMIREZ homered, 2 RBI; MESSERSCHMID scored. PURCELL walked. DAVIS
walked; PURCELL advanced to second. WILLARD singled down the lf line, RBI;
DAVIS advanced to second; PURCELL scored. VANCE popped up to lf. HICKS walked;
WILLARD advanced to second; DAVIS advanced to third. HOPKINS struck out
swinging. 3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Northern Colorado 1st - SCHOEPFLIN struck out swinging. HENDERSON
walked. McNABB struck out swinging. RYBA struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits,
0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - DELAHOUSSAYE walked. MESSERSCHMID walked;
DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to second. HENDERSON to dp. VAN OTTERLOO to p.
MESSERSCHMID advanced to second on a passed ball; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to
third. RAMIREZ grounded out to 1b unassisted, RBI; MESSERSCHMID advanced to
third; DELAHOUSSAYE scored. PURCELL reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to
second on the throw; MESSERSCHMID scored on an error by p, unearned. DAVIS
struck out swinging. PURCELL advanced to third on a wild pitch. WILLARD
grounded out to 2b. 2 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Northern Colorado 2nd - HENDERSON to dp for VAN OTTERLOO. VAN OTTERLOO
to p for HENDERSON. VAN OTTERLOO struck out swinging. RYMAN singled down the rf
line. WILKINSON struck out looking. RYMAN advanced to second on a passed ball.
LANDORF walked. WEES flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - VANCE singled to left field. HICKS lined out
to 3b. HOPKINS fouled out to c. DELAHOUSSAYE singled up the middle; VANCE
advanced to second. MESSERSCHMID walked; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to second; VANCE
advanced to third. RAMIREZ grounded out to p. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3
LOB.
Northern Colorado 3rd - SCHOEPFLIN struck out swinging. VAN OTTERLOO
flied out to lf. McNABB popped up to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - PURCELL homered to right field, RBI. DAVIS
reached on an error by 2b. DAVIS advanced to second on a wild pitch. WILLARD
flied out to lf. VANCE singled, out at second cf to ss; DAVIS advanced to
third. HICKS lined out to ss. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Northern Colorado 4th - JENKINS to c for PURCELL. HOLT to 3b for HICKS.
RYBA singled to third base. VAN OTTERLOO struck out swinging. RYMAN flied out
to cf. WILKINSON flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - HOPKINS to dp for JENKINS. JENKINS to c for
HOPKINS. JENKINS singled to right center. DELAHOUSSAYE reached on a fielder's
choice; JENKINS out at second p to ss. MESSERSCHMID singled, bunt; DELAHOUSSAYE
advanced to second. RAMIREZ reached on a fielder's choice; MESSERSCHMID
advanced to second; DELAHOUSSAYE out at third 3b unassisted. PURCELL to dp for
HOPKINS. PURCELL singled to left field, advanced to second on the throw, RBI;
RAMIREZ advanced to third; MESSERSCHMID scored. DAVIS doubled to left center, 2
RBI; PURCELL scored; RAMIREZ scored. DAVIS advanced to third on a wild pitch.
WILLARD singled to left center, RBI; DAVIS scored. NIX-THOMAS to 1b for VANCE.
JUELFS to p for VAN OTTERLOO. VAN OTTERLOO to dp. WILLARD advanced to second on
a wild pitch. NIX-THOMAS struck out looking. 4 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Northern Colorado 5th - DAVIS to rf. WILLARD to 1b. NIX-THOMAS to cf.
LANDORF grounded out to 2b. WEES struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b.
SCHOEPFLIN grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
==================================================================
Box Score
                            The Automated ScoreBook
                     #15 Washington vs Brigham Young Univ.
                 Feb 06, 2009 at St. George, Utah (The Canyons)
Washington 7 (2-0)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Charters, Ashley 2b......  3  2  2  4   1  0  2  0   0
Stenson, Bailey lf.......  4  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
Blake, Alicia 1b.........  4  0  1  0   0  1  1  0   1
Watson, Ashlyn dp........  3  0  1  0   1  1  0  0   0
Stuart, Morgan ss........  2  1  0  0   2  1  4  0   2
Greer, Lauren rf.........  2  2  1  0   2  1  2  0   0
Harris, Felecia p........  3  0  0  0   1  1  0  1   1
 Clifton, Jenna p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 Lawrie, Danielle p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Williams, Niki 3b........  2  1  1  2   1  1  1  1   2
Fleischman, Amanda c.....  3  1  1  0   0  2  5  0   0
McWherter, Alyson cf/pr..  0  0  0  0   0  0  6  0   0
Totals................... 26  7  7  6   8  9 21  3   6
Brigham Young Univ. 3 (3-1)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
DELAHOUSSAYE, Kristi 2b..  3  2  2  1   1  0  1  5   0
MESSERSCHMIDT, Tiffa lf..  3  0  2  0   0  1  1  0   0
GONZALES, Monica cf......  4  1  2  0   0  0  0  0   0
RAMIREZ, Andrea ss.......  3  0  1  0   1  0  1  3   2
PURCELL, Jessica c.......  4  0  0  0   0  0  9  1   5
DAVIS, Caschjen rf.......  3  0  1  0   1  1  0  0   0
VANCE, Amanda 1b.........  4  0  0  0   0  1  8  0   2
LOPEZ, Coreen 3b.........  4  0  1  0   0  1  1  0   0
WILLARD, Delaney dp......  3  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   2
AFFLECK, Paige p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
 ZINANTI, Christie p.....  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 31  3  9  1   3  5 21 10  11
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Washington.......... 021 400 0 -  7  7  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 000 021 0 -  3  9  3
-----------------------------------------
E - Blake; DELAHOUSSAYE; MESSERSCHMID; LOPEZ. LOB - WASH 6; Cougars 11. 2B -
Watson; DELAHOUSSAYE. HR - Charters; DELAHOUSSAYE. HBP - MESSERSCHMID.
Washington             IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Harris, Felecia.....  4.1  4  0  0  2  1 17 20
Clifton, Jenna......  1.2  5  3  2  1  1 11 12
Lawrie, Danielle....  1.0  0  0  0  0  3  3  3
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
AFFLECK, Paige......  3.2  6  7  5  4  4 16 20
ZINANTI, Christie...  3.1  1  0  0  4  5 10 14
Win - Harris (1-0).  Loss - AFFLECK (1-1).  Save - None.
WP - Harris; ZINANTI. HBP - by Harris (MESSERSCHMID). PB - Fleischman 2.
Umpires -
Start: 2:43   Time: 2:36   Attendance: 550
Weather: Cloudy, slight rain
Game: UW1
Play-by-Play
                            The Automated ScoreBook
              #15 Washington vs Brigham Young Univ. - Play-by-Play
                 Feb 06, 2009 at St. George, Utah (The Canyons)
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Washington.......... 021 400 0 -  7  7  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 000 021 0 -  3  9  3
-----------------------------------------
Washington starters: 11/2b Charters; 20/lf Stenson; 12/1b Blake; 25/dp Watson;
18/ss M. Stuart; 21/rf Greer; 44/p Harris; 3/3b Williams; 5/c Fleischman; 22/cf
McWherter;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 20/lf MESSERSCHMID; 24/cf
GONZALES; 31/ss RAMIREZ; 10/c PURCELL; 9/rf DAVIS; 6/1b VANCE; 7/3b LOPEZ;
11/dp WILLARD; 12/p AFFLECK;
Washington 1st - Charters grounded out to ss. Stenson struck out
swinging. Blake grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - DELAHOUSSAYE lined out to ss. MESSERSCHMID
struck out looking. GONZALES singled to shortstop. RAMIREZ singled up the
middle; GONZALES advanced to second. PURCELL popped up to ss. 0 runs, 2
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Washington 2nd - Watson reached on an error by 2b. Watson runner left
early, out at first 1b unassisted. M. Stuart walked. Greer singled, advanced to
second on an error by lf; M. Stuart advanced to third. Harris struck out
swinging. Williams singled, advanced to second on the throw, 2 RBI; Greer
scored, unearned; M. Stuart scored. Williams out at third c to 2b to 3b, picked
off. 2 runs, 2 hits, 2 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - DAVIS grounded out to 3b. VANCE flied out to
cf. LOPEZ flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Washington 3rd - Fleischman struck out swinging. Charters singled up the
middle. Stenson grounded out to p; Charters advanced to second. Blake singled,
advanced to second on a throwing error by 3b, advanced to third; Charters
scored, unearned. Watson walked. M. Stuart struck out swinging. 1 run, 2
hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - WILLARD popped up to 2b. DELAHOUSSAYE doubled.
MESSERSCHMID hit by pitch. GONZALES lined out to 3b. RAMIREZ flied out to rf.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Washington 4th - Greer walked. Harris grounded out to 2b; Greer advanced
to second. Williams walked. Fleischman singled; Williams advanced to second;
Greer advanced to third. Charters homered to center field, 4 RBI; Fleischman
scored; Williams scored; Greer scored. Stenson grounded out to ss. ZINANTI to p
for AFFLECK. Blake struck out swinging. 4 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - PURCELL flied out to cf. DAVIS walked. VANCE
reached on a fielder's choice; DAVIS out at second p to ss. VANCE advanced to
second on a wild pitch. LOPEZ singled to left field; VANCE advanced to third.
WILLARD lined out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Washington 5th - Watson struck out swinging. M. Stuart walked. M. Stuart
advanced to second on a wild pitch. Greer struck out swinging. Harris walked.
Williams struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - Clifton to p for Harris. DELAHOUSSAYE homered
to center field, RBI. MESSERSCHMID singled up the middle. GONZALES reached on a
fielder's choice; MESSERSCHMID out at second p to 2b. GONZALES advanced to
second on a passed ball. RAMIREZ reached on an error by 1b; GONZALES advanced
to third. PURCELL flied out to rf. RAMIREZ failed pickoff attempt; GONZALES
scored on the throw, unearned. DAVIS singled to right field; RAMIREZ advanced
to third. VANCE flied out to cf. 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Washington 6th - Fleischman struck out looking. Charters walked. Stenson
flied out to lf. Blake grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - LOPEZ flied out to cf. WILLARD struck out
swinging. DELAHOUSSAYE walked. MESSERSCHMID singled; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to
second. GONZALES singled; MESSERSCHMID advanced to second; DELAHOUSSAYE
advanced to third. Harris to p for Clifton. GONZALES advanced to second;
MESSERSCHMID advanced to third; DELAHOUSSAYE scored on a passed ball. RAMIREZ
walked. PURCELL flied out to cf. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Washington 7th - Watson doubled to left field. McWherter pinch ran for
Watson. Watson to dp for McWherter. M. Stuart lined out to 2b; McWherter out at
second 2b to ss. Greer walked. Harris grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 7th - McWherter to cf. Lawrie to p for Harris. DAVIS
struck out looking. VANCE struck out swinging. LOPEZ struck out swinging. 0
runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

PROVO -- The BYU women’s softball team heads to St. George, Utah, to open the 2009 season at the BYU/UVU Red Desert Classic beginning Thursday.

The Cougars have opened their third-straight season by hosting the tournament at The Canyons Softball Complex. Eleven teams will make the trip to St. George to begin the season.

BYU will face off against Southern Utah for the first game of a Thursday afternoon twinbill and finish off the night against Loyola Marymount.

On Friday the Cougars compete against Northern Colorado before facing their first ranked opponent, No. 15 Washington.

The team will play its second ranked opponent of the season on Saturday against No. 12 Tennessee before completing the doubleheader against San Jose State.

With 12 players returning to the team the Cougars are anchored by sophomore pitcher Paige Affleck who led BYU with a 1.42 ERA in 2008. Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year Kristin Delahoussaye will return to BYU’s young infield. Delahoussaye finished 2008 batting .363 with a .505 on-base percentage.

In 2008 the Cougars finished the season 44-20 competing in the fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament.

All games will be available via live stats at byucougars.com