PROVO -- Fighting to stay perfect in the Mountain West Conference, the BYU softball team (31-14,6-0) held off UNLV (25-16, 2-5) 7-1 at Gail Miller Field Friday night.

“They gave us a fight,” said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin. “However, we created their opportunities with defensive miscues.”

Christie Zinanti improved to 17-7 on the season allowing one run and four hits. The junior went seven innings wehile striking out 11 batters, helping BYU to a 31-14 record.

“Zinanti threw a great game and pitched her way out of tight spots that our defensive errors created,” said Eakin.

Kristin Delahoussaye led the team with three runs on the night, followed by Angeline Quiocho with two. Purcell tallied four RBI with four hits, including a three-run homer. Tiffany Messerschmidt also chalked up one run.

Zinanti started out the game with two strikeouts in the top of the first inning. The Cougars then loaded the bases with Delahoussaye and Quiocho scoring the first runs. The Rebels struck back with a run in the top of the second, bringing the score to 2-1.

Sparking a two-out rally, Delahoussaye hit a double to the center field wall,followed by Messerschmidt who was hit by the pitch. Quiocho took a walk to load the bases for the Cougars, before Purcell hitt and RBI single.

In the top of the third after two outs and walking a player, Zinanti struck out a Rebel. She followed with three more strikeouts in the top of the fourth, bringing her strikeout count to six.

The bottom of the fourth started out with Delahoussaye singling to left field. Quiocho reached first on a well placed bunt to put two Cougars on base with Purcell up to bat. For the third-straight game Purcell hit a three-run home run, bringing the lead to 6-1.

With six quick outs in the fifth, neither team scored or got on base. Zinanti added three more strikeouts to her count on the night in the top of the sixth, brining her total to nine.

In the bottom of the sixth after Messerschmidt was walked, Quiocho grounded a single to left field. On a full count, Purcell singled to load the bases with no outs. Ramirez reached first on a bobbled ground ball to bring Messerschmidt home, scoring the last run of the game.

Zinanti finished out the game with two more strikeouts, totaling 11 on the night.

The Cougars return to the diamond Saturday to take on UNLV at 2 p.m. in the final game of the two-game series.

Box Score
                            The Automated ScoreBook
                       UNLV Rebels at Brigham Young Univ.
                   Apr 17, 2009 at PROVO, Utah (Miller Park)
UNLV Rebels 1 (25-16,2-5 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
NICHOLS, Marissa lf......  2  0  0  0   2  0  0  0   3
DE LA TORRE, Alyssia rf..  4  0  0  0   0  3  0  0   6
HULL, Jaci ss............  4  0  1  0   0  1  1  2   0
FEARN, Kendall 1b........  3  1  1  0   0  1  8  0   0
HOLLAND, Ashli 2b........  4  0  1  0   0  1  2  0   1
BOLINGER, Brittany cf....  3  0  0  0   1  0  2  0   0
BRIONES, Laura c.........  4  0  0  0   0  3  4  1   2
MEADE, Brittany 3b.......  1  0  0  0   1  1  0  1   0
 FATA, Elena 3b..........  1  0  0  0   0  1  1  0   0
BENDT, Tara dp...........  1  0  1  0   1  0  0  0   0
ODEGARD, Traci p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  4   0
 O'CONNOR, Jessica p.....  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
 BREGANTE, Stephanie p...  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 27  1  4  0   5 11 18  8  12
Brigham Young Univ. 7 (31-14,6-0 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
DELAHOUSSAYE, Kristi 2b..  4  3  3  0   0  0  1  5   0
MESSERSCHMIDT, Tiffa dp..  1  1  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
QUIOCHO, Angeline cf.....  2  2  2  0   1  0  2  0   0
PURCELL, Jessica c.......  4  1  4  4   0  0 11  0   0
RAMIREZ, Andrea 1b.......  4  0  1  2   0  0  6  0   3
LOPEZ, Coreen 3b.........  4  0  1  1   0  1  0  1   0
HOPKINS, Stephanie rf....  3  0  0  0   0  2  0  0   3
 DAVIS, Caschjen ph......  0  0  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
HICKS, Krista ss.........  3  0  1  0   0  0  1  0   0
 VANCE, Amanda ph........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   3
GONZALES, Monica lf......  3  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   1
ZINANTI, Christie p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 29  7 12  7   3  4 21  6  10
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
UNLV Rebels......... 010 000 0 -  1  4  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 210 301 X -  7 12  3
-----------------------------------------
E - HULL(15); DELAHOUSSAYE(8); RAMIREZ(9); ZINANTI(2). DP - Cougars 1. LOB -
LV 12; Cougars 10. 2B - DELAHOUSSAYE(3). HR - PURCELL(13). HBP - FEARN;
BENDT, T.; MESSERSCHMID; QUIOCHO. SH - MESSERSCHMID(11).
UNLV Rebels            IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
ODEGARD, Traci......  4.0 10  6  6  1  2 21 25  90
O'CONNOR, Jessica...  1.0  0  0  0  0  1  3  3  12
BREGANTE, Stephanie.  1.0  2  1  0  2  1  5  7  49
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF  NP
--------------------------------------------------
ZINANTI, Christie...  7.0  4  1  0  5 11 27 34 170
Win - ZINANTI (17-7).  Loss - ODEGARD (9-6).  Save - None.
HBP - by ODEGARD (QUIOCHO); by ODEGARD (MESSERSCHMID); by ZINANTI (FEARN); by
ZINANTI (BENDT, T.). PB - PURCELL(9). Pitches/strikes: ODEGARD 90/55; O'CONNOR
12/8; BREGANTE 49/31; ZINANTI 170/101.
Umpires - HP: Jack Krauser  1B: Ray Meibos  3B: Willie Newman
Start: 7:01   Time: 2:41   Attendance: 352
Weather: 54 degrees, slight wind
Game: livegame
Play-by-Play
                            The Automated ScoreBook
               UNLV Rebels at Brigham Young Univ. - Play-by-Play
                   Apr 17, 2009 at PROVO, Utah (Miller Park)
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
UNLV Rebels......... 010 000 0 -  1  4  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 210 301 X -  7 12  3
-----------------------------------------
UNLV Rebels starters: 23/lf NICHOLS; 30/rf DE LA TORRE; 21/ss HULL; 37/1b
FEARN; 7/2b HOLLAND; 18/cf BOLINGER; 27/c BRIONES; 6/3b MEADE; 3/dp BENDT, T.;
2/p ODEGARD;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 20/dp MESSERSCHMID; 33/cf
QUIOCHO; 10/c PURCELL; 31/1b RAMIREZ; 7/3b LOPEZ; 5/rf HOPKINS; 22/ss HICKS;
24/lf GONZALES; 14/p ZINANTI;
UNLV Rebels 1st - NICHOLS grounded out to 2b (1-1). DE LA TORRE struck
out looking (3-2). HULL struck out swinging (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors,
0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - DELAHOUSSAYE singled through the right side
(3-2). MESSERSCHMID out at first c to 2b, SAC (0-0); DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to
second. QUIOCHO hit by pitch (2-0). PURCELL singled to left field (2-2);
QUIOCHO advanced to second; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to third. RAMIREZ singled up
the middle, RBI (0-0); PURCELL advanced to second; QUIOCHO advanced to third;
DELAHOUSSAYE scored. LOPEZ grounded out to ss, RBI (2-1); RAMIREZ advanced to
second; PURCELL advanced to third; QUIOCHO scored. HOPKINS struck out looking
(0-2). 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UNLV Rebels 2nd - FEARN singled up the middle (2-2). HOLLAND reached on
a fielder's choice (0-2); FEARN advanced to second on a throwing error by p.
BOLINGER grounded into double play 2b to 1b (2-2); HOLLAND out on the play;
FEARN advanced to third. BRIONES reached on an error by 2b (2-2); FEARN scored,
unearned. MEADE walked (3-1); BRIONES advanced to second. BENDT, T. walked
(3-2); MEADE advanced to second; BRIONES advanced to third. NICHOLS grounded
out to 2b (1-0). 1 run, 1 hit, 2 errors, 3 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - HICKS grounded out to 3b (1-1). GONZALES
grounded out to p (3-2). DELAHOUSSAYE doubled to left center (0-1).
MESSERSCHMID hit by pitch (3-1). QUIOCHO walked (3-0); MESSERSCHMID advanced to
second; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to third. PURCELL singled up the middle, RBI
(1-2); QUIOCHO advanced to second; MESSERSCHMID advanced to third; DELAHOUSSAYE
scored. RAMIREZ grounded out to p (0-0). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
UNLV Rebels 3rd - DE LA TORRE grounded out to 3b (1-2). HULL flied out
to cf (2-2). FEARN hit by pitch (1-1). HOLLAND struck out swinging (0-2). 0
runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - LOPEZ flied out to cf (3-2). HOPKINS struck
out swinging (1-2). HICKS singled to left field (3-2). GONZALES fouled out to
ss (1-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV Rebels 4th - BOLINGER reached on an error by 1b (3-2). BRIONES
struck out swinging (2-2). MEADE struck out swinging (0-2). BENDT, T. hit by
pitch (3-2); BOLINGER advanced to second. BENDT, T. advanced to second on a
passed ball; BOLINGER advanced to third. NICHOLS walked (3-1). DE LA TORRE
struck out looking (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - DELAHOUSSAYE singled down the lf line (1-2).
MESSERSCHMID grounded out to p (1-2); DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to second. QUIOCHO
singled, bunt (2-1); DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to third. PURCELL homered to left
center, 3 RBI (0-0); QUIOCHO scored; DELAHOUSSAYE scored. RAMIREZ grounded out
to p (1-1). LOPEZ singled to shortstop (1-0). HOPKINS grounded out to 1b
unassisted (0-2). 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV Rebels 5th - HULL flied out to cf (2-1). FEARN grounded out to 2b
(0-2). HOLLAND grounded out to 2b (3-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - FATA to 3b for MEADE. O'CONNOR to p for
ODEGARD. HICKS flied out to 2b (1-2). GONZALES struck out swinging (1-2).
DELAHOUSSAYE grounded out to 1b unassisted (2-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors,
0 LOB.
UNLV Rebels 6th - BOLINGER walked (3-2). BRIONES struck out swinging
(2-2). FATA struck out swinging (1-2). BENDT, T. singled through the left side
(1-0); BOLINGER advanced to second. NICHOLS walked (3-2); BENDT, T. advanced to
second; BOLINGER advanced to third. DE LA TORRE struck out swinging (2-2). 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - BREGANTE to p for O'CONNOR. MESSERSCHMID
walked (3-2). QUIOCHO singled to left field (2-2); MESSERSCHMID advanced to
second. PURCELL singled to shortstop (3-2); QUIOCHO advanced to second;
MESSERSCHMID advanced to third. RAMIREZ reached on an error by ss, RBI (2-2);
PURCELL advanced to second; QUIOCHO out at third ss to 3b; MESSERSCHMID scored,
unearned. LOPEZ struck out looking (1-2). DAVIS pinch hit for HOPKINS. DAVIS
walked (3-2); RAMIREZ advanced to second; PURCELL advanced to third. VANCE
pinch hit for HICKS. VANCE flied out to cf (2-2). 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 3
LOB.
UNLV Rebels 7th - DAVIS to rf. HICKS to ss for VANCE. HULL singled
through the right side, advanced to second on the throw (0-0). FEARN struck out
swinging (3-2). HOLLAND singled up the middle (3-1); HULL advanced to third.
BOLINGER popped up to ss (3-2). BRIONES struck out swinging (2-2). 0 runs, 2

PROVO -- For the second-straight week weather has forced adjustments to the BYU softball schedule, as the Cougars will now host Southern Utah for a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

The game was originally schedule for later Tuesday, but weather forecasts sparked the preemptive move in an effort to play both games.

The meeting will mark a family reunion for BYU catcher Jessica Purcell and outfielder Angeline Quiocho, who are cousins, as Purcell’s sister Jenavieve plays outfield for the Thunderbirds.

Following the doubleheader BYU returns to Mountain West Conference play on Thursday when it hosts San Diego State at 7 p.m.

BYU and SDSU were selected to contend for the conference title in a pre-season coaches’ poll. The Cougars currently sit atop the MWC standings at 5-0, while the Aztecs trail one game back, at 4-1.

The Cougars will also face UNLV on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.

Both Thursday’s game and Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on BYUTV.