LAS VEGAS -- The hitting game came out in full force for the BYU softball team, giving the Cougars an undefeated start to Mountain West Conference play in a 14-0 win over UNLV on Thursday at Eller Media Stadium.

Senior pitcher Paige Affleck shut out the Rebels, collecting five strikeouts and allowing three hits and three walks for her 14th win of the season.

Junior Jessica Dugas set career highs with four hits and three RBI in addition to two stolen bases and a run scored to lead BYU. Junior Stacie Graham had three runs, three RBI and two hits while senior Caschjen Atagi hit a solo home run.

After taking a 5-0 lead through three innings, the Cougars blew the game open with a nine-run fifth, going once through the lineup and then some. Highlights included a two-RBI double deep down the right field line by senior Kristin Delahoussaye and another double with the bases loaded by Graham that brought in all three BYU runners.

Early in the game, BYU (23-14, 1-0) turned UNLV (20-15, 2-2) around in circles in a three-run second inning with a collection of infield hits. Graham and freshman Carly Duckworth hit back-to-back singles before Dugas' chopper to the shortstop scored Graham.

With the bases loaded later in the inning, junior Tiffany Messerschmidt singled for another RBI. A ground out by sophomore JC Clayton scored Dugas for the final run of the inning.

Atagi's homer to lead off the third inning was the senior's third straight in Las Vegas after hitting two in the Cougars' previous two games at Eller Media Field in a pre-conference tournament. Atagi was 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI and a walk on the day.

BYU immediately boarded the bus after the game to travel to San Diego where the Cougars will face San Diego State on Friday, Apr. 15, at 6 p.m. PT. The two teams will face off for a second time on Apr. 16 at 1 p.m. PT.

BYU at UNLV
04-14-11 at Las Vegas, Nev. (Eller Media Stadium)
BYU 14 (23-14,1-0 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
DELAHOUSSAYE, Kristi 2b..  2  1  1  2   3  0  4  2   1
MESSERSCHMIDT, Tiffa dh..  4  1  2  1   1  1  0  0   2
CLAYTON, JC ss...........  3  1  0  1   1  1  0  3   0
 HICKS, Krista ss........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
FITU,Jessica c...........  2  0  0  0   0  0  2  0   2
 ROBB, Madisen 2b........  1  1  0  1   0  1  0  1   0
ATAGI,Caschjen 3b........  3  2  2  2   1  0  1  1   2
WILLARD, Delaney rf......  2  1  0  1   0  0  0  0   2
 HUDSON,Alexandra rf.....  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
DUCKWORTH,Carly lf.......  2  3  2  0   1  0  1  0   0
GRAHAM, Stacie 1b........  3  3  2  3   0  1  6  1   0
DUGAS,Jessica cf.........  4  1  4  3   0  0  0  0   0
AFFLECK,Paige p..........  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  0   0
Totals................... 26 14 13 14   7  4 15  8   9
UNLV 0 (20-15,2-2 MWC)
Player                    AB  R  H RBI BB SO PO  A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
HOLLAND, Ashli 2b........  2  0  0  0   1  1  2  3   0
EMERSON, Paige cf........  2  0  1  0   0  0  2  0   0
 PETERSEN, Amber ph......  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
ALEMAN, Tayler ss........  1  0  0  0   1  0  1  1   0
VAN ACKER, Tayler 1b.....  2  0  0  0   0  0  4  1   3
WAGNER, Kylie dh.........  2  0  1  0   0  0  0  2   0
MONREAL, Pauline lf......  2  0  0  0   0  1  1  0   0
BALILEA, Jaexie 3b.......  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
 BRADSHAW, Rayna ph......  0  0  0  0   1  0  0  0   0
HARRISON, Heather c......  1  0  0  0   0  0  5  0   1
 CUICO, Korin ph.........  1  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   1
VALENTINO, Stefany rf....  1  0  1  0   0  0  0  0   0
 WOODALL, Tara ph........  1  0  0  0   0  1  0  0   0
OLIVETO, Amanda p........  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  2   0
 O'CONNOR, Jessica p.....  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  0   0
Totals................... 17  0  3  0   3  5 15  9   5
Score by Innings               R  H  E
--------------------------------------
BYU................. 032 09 - 14 13  0
UNLV................ 000 00 -  0  3  0
--------------------------------------
DP - BYU 1. LOB - BYU 9; UNLV 5. 2B - DELAHOUSSAYE; GRAHAM. HR - ATAGI. HBP
- ROBB; WILLARD; GRAHAM. SH - DUCKWORTH. SF - WILLARD. SB - CLAYTON; FITU;
DUGAS 2.
BYU                    IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
AFFLECK,Paige.......  5.0  3  0  0  3  5 17 20
UNLV                   IP  H  R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
OLIVETO, Amanda.....  2.2  7  5  4  2  2 14 18
WAGNER, Kylie.......  1.2  4  7  7  3  1  9 14
O'CONNOR, Jessica...  0.2  2  2  2  2  1  3  6
Win - AFFLECK (14-9).  Loss - OLIVETO, A. (17-7).  Save - None.
WP - AFFLECK. HBP - by OLIVETO, A. (WILLARD); by WAGNER, K. (GRAHAM); by WAGNER,
K. (ROBB). PB - HARRISON, H. 2.
Umpires - HP: Tom Topping  1B: Chris Drumm  3B: Dan Ringsby
Start: 6:00 pm   Time: 1:47   Attendance: 216
Weather: 72*, sunny, NNW wind at 15mph
BYU starters: 4/2b DELAHOUSSAYE; 20/dh MESSERSCHMID; 16/ss CLAYTON; 10/c FITU;
9/3b ATAGI; 28/rf WILLARD; 3/lf DUCKWORTH; 21/1b GRAHAM; 19/cf DUGAS; 12/p
AFFLECK;
UNLV starters: 7/2b HOLLAND, A.; 21/cf EMERSON, P.; 6/ss ALEMAN, T.; 14/1b VAN
ACKER, T; 24/dh WAGNER, K.; 10/lf MONREAL, P.; 8/3b BALILEA, J.; 25/c HARRISON,
H.; 32/rf VALENTINO, S; 31/p OLIVETO, A.;
BYU 1st - DELAHOUSSAYE walked. MESSERSCHMID singled to third base;
DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to second. CLAYTON struck out swinging. FITU reached on a
fielder's choice to second base; MESSERSCHMID out at second 2b to ss;
DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to third. FITU stole second. ATAGI flied out to cf. 0
runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UNLV 1st - HOLLAND, A. walked. EMERSON, P. popped up to 3b, bunt.
ALEMAN, T. grounded out to 2b; HOLLAND, A. advanced to second. HOLLAND, A.
advanced to third on a wild pitch. VAN ACKER, T grounded out to 3b. 0 runs,
0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 2nd - WILLARD out at first p to 2b to 1b. DUCKWORTH singled to pitcher. GRAHAM singled to center field, advanced to second on the throw; DUCKWORTH advanced to third. DUGAS singled to shortstop, RBI; GRAHAM advanced to third; DUCKWORTH scored. DUGAS stole second. DELAHOUSSAYE walked. MESSERSCHMID singled to shortstop, RBI; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to second; DUGAS advanced to third; GRAHAM scored. CLAYTON grounded out to 2b, RBI; MESSERSCHMID advanced to second; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to third; DUGAS scored. FITU grounded out to ss. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UNLV 2nd - WAGNER, K. singled through the left side. MONREAL, P. struck
out swinging. BALILEA, J. struck out looking. HARRISON, H. out at first 1b to
p. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 3rd - ATAGI homered to left field, RBI. WILLARD hit by pitch.
DUCKWORTH out at first p to 2b, SAC, bunt; WILLARD advanced to second. WILLARD
advanced to third on a passed ball. GRAHAM struck out swinging. DUGAS singled
to second base, RBI; WILLARD scored, unearned. WAGNER, K. to p. OLIVETO, A. to
dh. DUGAS stole second. DELAHOUSSAYE grounded out to p. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
UNLV 3rd - DELAHOUSSAYE to c. ROBB to 2b for FITU. VALENTINO, S singled
to center field. HOLLAND, A. flied out to lf. EMERSON, P. singled through the
left side; VALENTINO, S advanced to second. ALEMAN, T. walked; EMERSON, P.
advanced to second; VALENTINO, S advanced to third. VAN ACKER, T grounded into
double play ss to c to 1b; ALEMAN, T. advanced to second; EMERSON, P. advanced
to third; VALENTINO, S out on the play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
BYU 4th - MESSERSCHMID out at first p to 2b, bunt. CLAYTON walked. ROBB
struck out swinging. CLAYTON stole second. ATAGI walked. WILLARD flied out to
cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UNLV 4th - WAGNER, K. grounded out to 2b. MONREAL, P. grounded out to
ss. BRADSHAW, R. pinch hit for BALILEA, J.. BRADSHAW, R. walked. CUICO, K.
pinch hit for HARRISON, H.. CUICO, K. grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
BYU 5th - BALILEA, J. to 3b for BRADSHAW, R.. HARRISON, H. to c for
CUICO, K.. DUCKWORTH singled to right field. GRAHAM hit by pitch; DUCKWORTH
advanced to second. DUGAS singled to third base; GRAHAM advanced to second;
DUCKWORTH advanced to third. DELAHOUSSAYE doubled down the rf line, 2 RBI;
DUGAS advanced to third; GRAHAM scored; DUCKWORTH scored. MESSERSCHMID walked.
CLAYTON reached on a fielder's choice to first base; MESSERSCHMID advanced to
second; DELAHOUSSAYE advanced to third; DUGAS out at home 1b to c. ROBB hit by
pitch, RBI; CLAYTON advanced to second; MESSERSCHMID advanced to third;
DELAHOUSSAYE scored. ATAGI singled through the left side, RBI; ROBB advanced to
second; CLAYTON advanced to third; MESSERSCHMID scored. WAGNER, K. to dh.
O'CONNOR, J. to p for OLIVETO, A.. WILLARD flied out to lf, SF, RBI; CLAYTON
scored. ATAGI advanced to second on a passed ball; ROBB advanced to third on a
passed ball. DUCKWORTH walked. GRAHAM doubled to center field, 3 RBI; DUCKWORTH
scored; ATAGI scored; ROBB scored. DUGAS singled to left field, advanced to
second on the throw, RBI; GRAHAM scored. DELAHOUSSAYE walked. MESSERSCHMID
struck out swinging. 9 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
UNLV 5th - HICKS to ss for CLAYTON. HUDSON to rf for WILLARD. WOODALL,
T. pinch hit for VALENTINO, S. WOODALL, T. struck out swinging. HOLLAND, A.
struck out swinging. PETERSEN, A. pinch hit for EMERSON, P.. PETERSEN, A.
struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

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BYU softball travels to play UNLV on Thursday, Apr. 14, and San Diego State on Friday and Saturday, Apr. 15-16, to begin Mountain West Conference play.

COUGAR QUICK HITS

— Junior right fielder Delaney Willard has hit five home runs in BYU’s last four games against Seattle, Loyola Marymount and a doubleheader vs. Southern Utah. Willard’s current four-game home run streak is the longest for a BYU player since Stephanie Hopkins hit one out in four straight in April 2008. Her five homers are the most in a four-game span since Angie Quiocho hit six out of the park also in April 2008.

— BYU senior catcher Jessica Fitu enters the weekend broke the BYU and Mountain West Conference record for most RBI in a career, passing current BYU assistant coach and former Cougar player Ianeta Le’i with her 212th RBI against Seattle on Saturday. Fitu’s sac fly scored JC Clayton in the first inning.

— BYU currently leads the MWC in walks, opposing batting average, hits allowed, earned runs allowed and extra-base hits allowed.

OPPONENTS SERIES NOTES

UNLV is 2-1 in conference play with a 20-14 record overall. UNLV boasts a number of power hitters throughout its roster, including six players with four or more home runs. Conversely, the Rebels have allowed 38 stolen bases this season while grabbing just 12 themselves.

Kylie Wagner leads the team with a .485 average and .939 slugging percentage, but it’s Ashli Holland who has ignited UNLV, racking up 73 total bases with 11 doubles and five home runs among 45 total hits. In the circle, Amanda Oliveto has thrown two no-hitters this sea- son and comes in with a 2.19 ERA and 17-6 record.

BYU next heads to San Diego State in a matchup against what has lately been the top two teams in the conference. SDSU has shown few signs of letdown this season, going 3-0 in the opening round of conference play and hosting a 27-14 record overall.

Typically a team with pitching strength, the Aztecs have solid bats this year, including Lorena Klopp’s 14 home runs. Seven SDSU players have more than 30 hits, including Justeen Maeva’s 41 hits and .363 average. Bailey Micetich has a 1.71 ERA and 14-7 record while last year’s MWC Pitcher of the Year, Samantha Beasley, is at a 3.46 ERA and 9-6 record.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK GOES TO HOUSE

Senior Kristin Delahoussaye earned the MWC Player of the Week after helping the Cougars go 4-0 last week. House's biggest game came against Utah State when the senior racked up 11 total bases (two home runs and a triple) on Mar. 29, tying for the fifth-most total bases in a game by a Cougar in program history and equaling the most in a game for BYU since Angie Quiocho had 12 off three home runs against UNLV on May 7, 2010.

ALL-TIME CONFERENCE WINS LEADER

Already the record holder in all BYU career pitching categories, senior Paige Affleck became the winningest pitcher in Mountain West Conference history on Mar. 19, winning the 74th game of her career over No. 9 California in the Hawaii Spring Fling Tournament championship game. Affleck has now won 79 games in her career.

TAKING MORE

BYU has 12 players with at least one stolen base so far this year, led by freshman Lacey Millett’s nine steals. Seven players have four or more. The Cougars have 47 stolen bases overall, already eighth-most in a season by a BYU team, and had a season-high four stolen bases against Florida State and Iona.

GOTTA SCORE

BYU is 15-0 when scoring at least six runs and 18-0 when leading after five innings. In addition, 11 of BYU’s 14 losses have come by three runs or less.