Softball to close out regular season in Deseret First Duel
PROVO, Utah--The BYU softball team will close out its regular season on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MDT at Gail Miller Field in the Deseret First Duel against in-state rival Utah.
BYU QUICK FACTS
- BYU has won the last 15 of its 16 games to close out the season, clinching the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Championship and earning a bid to its ninth-straight NCAA Regional.
- Junior Katie Manuma earned her first PCSC Player of the Week nod for hitting a .643 clip alongside five runs scored and six RBI last week against Southern Utah and Saint Mary's.
- Pitcher Tori Almond grabbed her second PCSC Pitcher of the Week honor for her 3-0 record and 0.39 ERA. She also pitched the first no-hitter of her career against Saint Mary’s in game two on Saturday.
- BYU awaits to hear where it will travel for the NCAA Regional. Selection Sunday will take place on May 12 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The Cougars could travel to any of the top-16 ranked teams, who will each host three teams from May 15-18.
OPPONENT NOTES
The Utes have had a tough schedule in the Pac-12 this season and have an overall record of 24-29-1 and 7-17 in conference play. Utah has had quality wins at home against Arizona and won its series against top-ranked UCLA and Arizona State. Six of Utah’s batters are hitting over .300 with Jackie Sweet and Kate Dickman leading the way at .363 and .327. Five of these six batters have also combined for 24 of the teams’ 35 home runs on the season. Sweet leads the Utes in hits, runs scored and home runs, while Dickman has picked up the slack in doubles and total bases. Each one of the three Ute pitchers has an ERA of over 4.00 on the season and each have at least seven wins apiece. Naomi Amu and Mariah Ramirez have made the most appearances at 34 on the season. Amu has held her opponents to just nine home runs, alongside 41 strikeouts. Ramirez has the only team save and leads the pitching staff in strikeouts with 52.