PROVO -- In a doubleheader against the North Dakota Fighting Sioux on Saturday, the BYU softball's Christie Zinanti pitched a no-hitter in game one, winning 7-0, and the Cougars also took game two, 10-4.

With the wins, the Cougars improve to 23-14 on the season while North Dakota falls to 4-24.

“We played well but we still have some work to do,” said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin. “Our total game isn’t there yet, but we do have some bright spots.”

A bright spot was found in the first game by Zinanti, leading her team with 11 strikeouts, tying her career high. The game marked the first collegiate no-hitter for the junior from Pueblo, Colo.

She fell just shy of a perfect game with one player reaching base for the Fighting Sioux. She hit the first batter she faced.

“She is throwing the ball well,” said Eakin. “She did a great job today and had great command of her pitches.”

The Cougars began their scoring in the bottom of the first inning with Angeline Quiocho smacking a two-run home run over centerfield. Quiocho brought in teammate Tiffany Messerschmidt on the homer.

The fifth inning saw solid play from the Cougars, scoring five runs on four hits. Messerschmidt hit a perfect bunt right in front of the batter’s box to be the third Cougar on base in the inning. With bases loaded, Quiocho hit a line drive to third which was fumbled to earn the third run of the game. Jessica Purcell followed with a hit to left field, bringing in two runners.

Messerschmidt and Quiocho each had two runs in the first game of the doubleheader.

The second game against the Fighting Sioux proved to be a little more difficult with North Dakota smacking a three-run home run in the fifth inning, causing the game to go to seven innings. Runs for BYU came in the first inning with Quiocho getting on base on a bunt, stealing second and being batted in by Andrea Ramirez. Coreen Lopez followed with a drive left of center field, bringing Ramirez home, putting the Cougars up 2-0.

In the top of the third the Fighting Sioux scored their first run of the day after Kim Bushaw hit a double right of center field. Nicole Puerling followed with a double, bringing Bushaw home and giving North Dakota its first run of the day. In the bottom of the third Quiocho struck a single to the shortstop. She then stole to second on the next batter. She scored from second base on a sacrifice fly from Lopez.

Ramirez hit a three-run home run in the fourth, along with two other runs batted in, bringing the score to 9-1. The Cougars would score one more run in the bottom of the sixth – another home run from Quiocho, driving the ball to right field and hitting the scoreboard.

After three outs in the top of the seventh the game was over, with the Cougars taking game two 10-4.

Quiocho tallied four runs in game two while Ramirez and Cydney Allen chalked up two apiece. Pitcher Paige Affleck had three strikeouts.

The Cougar sluggers will next travel to Colorado State on Thursday April 2 at 3 p.m. MT in Fort Collins, Colo.

Box Score
                            The Automated ScoreBook
                  North Dakota at Brigham Young Univ. (Game 1)
                   Mar 28, 2009 at PROVO, Utah (Miller Park)
North Dakota 0 (4-22)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Abby Rehberger ss........  2  0  0  0   0  0  4  1   0
Kim Bushaw rf............  3  0  0  0   0  2  3  0   0
Nicole Puerling cf.......  3  0  0  0   0  1  2  0   0
Hannah-Rose Peters 3b....  3  0  0  0   0  2  2  2   1
Kindra Bennett c.........  2  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Kristi Alcorn 2b.........  2  0  0  0   0  2  1  1   0
Maggie O'Neal lf.........  2  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
Angie Delgado dp.........  2  0  0  0   0  2  0  0   0
Erica Younan 1b..........  2  0  0  0   0  2  5  0   0
Shelly Wolf p............  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   0
Totals................... 21  0  0  0   0 11 18  5   1
Brigham Young Univ. 7 (22-14)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
DELAHOUSSAYE, Kristi 2b..  2  1  0  0   1  0  0  1   2
 DUGAS, Jessica ph/dp....  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
MESSERSCHMIDT, Tiffa lf/d  3  2  2  0   0  0  1  0   0
 NIX-THOMAS, Whitney ph/2  1  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
QUIOCHO, Angeline cf/3b..  3  2  1  3   0  0  0  0   0
PURCELL, Jessica c.......  3  1  2  2   0  0  9  0   0
 ALLEN, Cydney c.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  2  0   0
VANCE, Amanda 1b.........  3  0  0  0   0  0  7  0   1
LOPEZ, Coreen 3b.........  2  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
 DAVIS, Caschjen ph/lf...  1  0  1  2   0  0  0  0   0
HOPKINS, Stephanie rf....  3  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
HICKS, Krista ss.........  3  0  0  0   0  0  0  4   1
GONZALES, Monica dp/cf...  2  1  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
ZINANTI, Christie p......  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  1   0
Totals................... 27  7  8  7   1  0 21  6   4
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
North Dakota........ 000 000 0 -  0  0  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 200 050 X -  7  8  0
-----------------------------------------
E - H.R. Peters(6). LOB - UND 1; Cougars 4. 2B - LOPEZ(9); DAVIS(5). HR -
QUIOCHO(4). HBP - A. Rehberger. SH - GONZALES(1). SB - A. Rehberger(1);
MESSERSCHMID(7); PURCELL(5).
North Dakota           IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Shelly Wolf.........  6.0  8  7  6  1  0 27 29
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
ZINANTI, Christie...  7.0  0  0  0  0 11 21 22
Win - ZINANTI (11-6).  Loss - S. Wolf (1-3).  Save - None.
WP - S. Wolf(3). HBP - by ZINANTI (A. Rehberger).
Umpires - HP: Brett Higgins  1B: Claire McBride  3B: Tom Topping
Start: Noon   Time: 1:28   Attendance:
Weather: Sunny, 39 degrees
Game: UND1
Play-by-Play
                            The Automated ScoreBook
          North Dakota at Brigham Young Univ. (Game 1) - Play-by-Play
                   Mar 28, 2009 at PROVO, Utah (Miller Park)
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
North Dakota........ 000 000 0 -  0  0  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 200 050 X -  7  8  0
-----------------------------------------
North Dakota starters: 7/ss A. Rehberger; 2/rf K. Bushaw; 22/cf N. Puerling;
5/3b H.R. Peters; 48/c K. Bennett; 19/2b K. Alcorn; 18/lf M. ONeal; 44/dp A.
Delgado; 3/1b E. Younan; 1/p S. Wolf;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 20/lf MESSERSCHMID; 33/cf
QUIOCHO; 10/c PURCELL; 6/1b VANCE; 7/3b LOPEZ; 5/rf HOPKINS; 22/ss HICKS; 24/dp
GONZALES; 14/p ZINANTI;
North Dakota 1st - A. Rehberger hit by pitch. K. Bushaw struck out
swinging. N. Puerling struck out looking. A. Rehberger stole second. H.R.
Peters struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - DELAHOUSSAYE flied out to rf. MESSERSCHMID
singled to left field. MESSERSCHMID stole second. MESSERSCHMID advanced to
third on a wild pitch. QUIOCHO homered to center field, 2 RBI; MESSERSCHMID
scored. PURCELL flied out to rf. VANCE popped up to ss. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
North Dakota 2nd - K. Bennett grounded out to ss. K. Alcorn struck out
looking. M. ONeal grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - LOPEZ doubled to left center. HOPKINS reached
on a fielder's choice to third base. HICKS fouled out to 3b. GONZALES grounded
out to 3b, SAC; HOPKINS advanced to second; LOPEZ advanced to third.
DELAHOUSSAYE flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
North Dakota 3rd - A. Delgado struck out looking. E. Younan struck out
looking. A. Rehberger grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - MESSERSCHMID grounded out to ss. QUIOCHO
popped up to 2b. PURCELL singled up the middle. PURCELL stole second. VANCE
flied out to lf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
North Dakota 4th - K. Bushaw struck out looking. N. Puerling grounded
out to 1b unassisted. H.R. Peters struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - LOPEZ popped up to ss. HOPKINS flied out to
cf. HICKS fouled out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
North Dakota 5th - K. Bennett flied out to lf. K. Alcorn struck out
looking. M. ONeal grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - GONZALES singled, bunt. DELAHOUSSAYE walked;
GONZALES advanced to second. MESSERSCHMID singled, bunt; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced
to second; GONZALES advanced to third. QUIOCHO reached on an error by 3b, RBI;
MESSERSCHMID advanced to second; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to third; GONZALES
scored. PURCELL singled down the lf line, advanced to second on the throw, 2
RBI; QUIOCHO advanced to third; MESSERSCHMID scored; DELAHOUSSAYE scored. VANCE
popped up to ss. DAVIS pinch hit for LOPEZ. DAVIS doubled to left center, 2
RBI; PURCELL scored; QUIOCHO scored, unearned. HOPKINS reached on a fielder's
choice; DAVIS interference, out at second ss unassisted. HICKS flied out to cf.
5 runs, 4 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
North Dakota 6th - MESSERSCHMID to dp. QUIOCHO to 3b. ALLEN to c for
PURCELL. DAVIS to lf. GONZALES to cf. A. Delgado struck out swinging. E. Younan
struck out swinging. A. Rehberger grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - GONZALES grounded out to 3b. DUGAS pinch hit
for DELAHOUSSAYE. DUGAS grounded out to 2b. NIX-THOMAS pinch hit for
MESSERSCHMID. NIX-THOMAS grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
North Dakota 7th - DUGAS to dp. NIX-THOMAS to 2b. K. Bushaw grounded out
to ss. N. Puerling popped up to 2b. H.R. Peters popped up to p. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
============================================================================
Box Score
                            The Automated ScoreBook
                  North Dakota at Brigham Young Univ. (Game 2)
                   Mar 28, 2009 at PROVO, Utah (Miller Park)
North Dakota 4 (4-23)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Abby Rehberger ss........  3  1  2  0   1  0  0  2   0
Kim Bushaw rf............  3  1  0  1   1  1  1  0   0
Nicole Puerling 3b/1b....  3  1  1  3   1  0  1  2   1
Hannah-Rose Peters p/3b..  4  0  0  0   0  0  0  1   2
Kindra Bennett c.........  3  0  0  0   0  0  2  0   0
Kristi Alcorn 2b.........  2  0  1  0   1  0  3  1   0
Maggie O'Neal cf.........  3  0  1  0   0  0  4  0   2
Angie Delgado lf.........  3  0  0  0   0  1  2  0   1
Erica Younan 1b/p........  3  1  2  0   0  1  5  0   0
Totals................... 27  4  7  4   4  3 18  6   6
Brigham Young Univ. 10 (23-14)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
MESSERSCHMIDT, Tiffa lf..  3  1  2  2   1  0  0  0   0
DAVIS, Caschjen rf.......  4  1  1  1   0  0  1  0   3
QUIOCHO, Angeline cf.....  4  4  4  1   0  0  3  0   0
RAMIREZ, Andrea dp.......  4  2  2  4   0  1  0  0   0
LOPEZ, Coreen 3b.........  1  0  1  2   0  0  0  0   0
 HOLT, Amy ph/3b.........  2  0  1  0   0  1  0  0   0
VANCE, Amanda 1b.........  3  0  1  0   0  0  7  1   1
 JENKINS, Shaylyn ph.....  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   1
ALLEN, Cydney c..........  3  2  2  0   1  0  3  0   0
HICKS, Krista ss.........  4  0  0  0   0  0  2  4   2
WILLARD, Delaney 2b......  2  0  0  0   1  0  5  3   0
AFFLECK, Paige p.........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 31 10 14 10   3  2 21  8   7
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
North Dakota........ 001 030 0 -  4  7  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 211 501 X - 10 14  0
-----------------------------------------
E - K. Bennett. DP - Cougars 1. LOB - UND 6; Cougars 7. 2B - A. Rehberger;
K. Alcorn; MESSERSCHMID(2); LOPEZ(10); ALLEN 2(2). HR - N. Puerling;
QUIOCHO(5); RAMIREZ(6). SF - LOPEZ(2). SB - QUIOCHO 2(6); WILLARD(3).
North Dakota           IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Hannah-Rose Peters..  3.2  8  6  6  0  0 18 19
Erica Younan........  2.1  6  4  4  3  2 13 16
Brigham Young Univ.    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
AFFLECK, Paige......  7.0  7  4  4  4  3 27 31
Win - AFFLECK (12-7).  Loss - H.R. Peters (2-8).  Save - None.
WP - E. Younan.
Umpires - HP: Claire Mc Bride  1B: Tom Toppping  3B: Brett Higgins
Start: 2:01   Time: 2:03   Attendance: 320
Weather: Sunny, 48 degrees
Game: UND2
Play-by-Play
                            The Automated ScoreBook
          North Dakota at Brigham Young Univ. (Game 2) - Play-by-Play
                   Mar 28, 2009 at PROVO, Utah (Miller Park)
Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
North Dakota........ 001 030 0 -  4  7  1
Brigham Young Univ.. 211 501 X - 10 14  0
-----------------------------------------
North Dakota starters: 7/ss A. Rehberger; 2/rf K. Bushaw; 22/3b N. Puerling;
5/p H.R. Peters; 48/c K. Bennett; 19/2b K. Alcorn; 18/cf M. ONeal; 44/lf A.
Delgado; 3/1b E. Younan;
Brigham Young Univ. starters: 20/lf MESSERSCHMID; 9/rf DAVIS; 33/cf QUIOCHO;
31/dp RAMIREZ; 7/3b LOPEZ; 6/1b VANCE; 23/c ALLEN; 22/ss HICKS; 11/2b WILLARD;
12/p AFFLECK;
North Dakota 1st - A. Rehberger popped up to 2b. K. Bushaw grounded out
to ss. N. Puerling grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 1st - MESSERSCHMID grounded out to p. DAVIS grounded
out to 2b. QUIOCHO singled, bunt. QUIOCHO stole second, advanced to third on a
throwing error by c. RAMIREZ singled to right field, RBI; QUIOCHO scored. LOPEZ
doubled to left center, RBI; RAMIREZ scored. VANCE flied out to lf. 2 runs,
3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
North Dakota 2nd - H.R. Peters grounded out to ss. K. Bennett flied out
to cf. K. Alcorn doubled to left center. M. ONeal fouled out to 1b. 0 runs,
1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 2nd - ALLEN doubled to right center. HICKS grounded
out to 3b. WILLARD grounded out to 1b unassisted; ALLEN advanced to third.
MESSERSCHMID doubled to left center, RBI; ALLEN scored. DAVIS flied out to lf.
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
North Dakota 3rd - A. Delgado struck out looking. E. Younan singled to
right center. A. Rehberger doubled to right field; E. Younan advanced to third.
K. Bushaw grounded out to 2b, RBI; A. Rehberger advanced to third; E. Younan
scored. N. Puerling popped up to ss. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 3rd - QUIOCHO singled to shortstop. QUIOCHO stole
second. RAMIREZ flied out to cf. LOPEZ flied out to cf, SF, RBI; QUIOCHO
scored. VANCE grounded out to 3b. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
North Dakota 4th - H.R. Peters flied out to rf. K. Bennett flied out to
cf. K. Alcorn walked. M. ONeal reached on a fielder's choice; K. Alcorn
interference, out at second 2b unassisted. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 4th - ALLEN doubled to left center. HICKS flied out
to cf. WILLARD flied out to cf; ALLEN advanced to third. MESSERSCHMID singled
to left field, RBI; ALLEN scored. N. Puerling to 1b. H.R. Peters to 3b. E.
Younan to p. MESSERSCHMID advanced to second on a wild pitch. DAVIS singled up
the middle, RBI; MESSERSCHMID scored. QUIOCHO singled to left field; DAVIS
advanced to second. RAMIREZ homered to center field, 3 RBI; QUIOCHO scored;
DAVIS scored. HOLT pinch hit for LOPEZ. HOLT singled up the middle. JENKINS
pinch hit for VANCE. JENKINS flied out to rf. 5 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
North Dakota 5th - HOLT to 3b. VANCE to 1b for JENKINS. A. Delgado out
at first 1b to 2b, bunt. E. Younan struck out looking. A. Rehberger singled to
left field. K. Bushaw walked; A. Rehberger advanced to second. N. Puerling
homered to center field, 3 RBI; K. Bushaw scored; A. Rehberger scored. H.R.
Peters flied out to cf. 3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 5th - ALLEN popped up to 2b. HICKS grounded out to
ss. WILLARD walked. WILLARD stole second. MESSERSCHMID walked. DAVIS reached on
a fielder's choice; MESSERSCHMID out at second 2b unassisted. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
North Dakota 6th - K. Bennett grounded out to ss. K. Alcorn popped up to
ss. M. ONeal singled up the middle. A. Delgado reached on a fielder's choice;
M. ONeal out at second 2b unassisted. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Brigham Young Univ. 6th - QUIOCHO homered to right field, RBI. RAMIREZ
struck out swinging. HOLT struck out looking. VANCE singled up the middle.
ALLEN walked; VANCE advanced to second. HICKS reached on a fielder's choice;
ALLEN out at second ss to 2b; VANCE advanced to third. 1 run, 2 hits, 0
errors, 2 LOB.
North Dakota 7th - E. Younan singled to right field. A. Rehberger
walked; E. Younan advanced to second. K. Bushaw struck out swinging. N.
Puerling walked; A. Rehberger advanced to second; E. Younan advanced to third.
H.R. Peters grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; N. Puerling out on the
play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

PROVO -- The BYU softball team opens its home season with a four-game homestand beginning Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Boise State at Miller Park.

The 19-14 Cougars concluded a 33-game road trip, where they faced nine top-25 opponents in a competitive non-conference schedule before opening their home schedule. BYU hosts the Broncos who are 16-9 on the season and 5-2 as visitors.

Following the BYU softball game, the Cougar baseball team will face Utah Valley University at 6 p.m. The head-to-head game marks the first of six where both teams will play at the unique Miller Park facilities, which features mirror image baseball and softball diamonds.

Following Tuesday’s game BYU will host Idaho State at 4 p.m. Friday, followed by a doubleheader against North Dakota on Saturday beginning at noon.