BYU tops FGCU with two-run triple to split day two in San Diego

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – On the second day of the San Diego Classic, BYU softball split its two games, dropping a 2-1 morning contest to San Jose State 2-1 but bounced back for a 2-0 shutout of Florida Gulf Coast in the afternoon. 

"We got locked in two pitching duels today," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Both Arissa Paulson and Kerisa Viramontes pitched very well today.

Arissa Paulson and Kerisa Viramontes both pitched complete games. Paulson recorded four strikeouts with Viramontes tallying no runs or walks. Emilee Erickson scored the lone run for BYU (7-9, 0-0) against SJSU (10-5, 0-0) while Brooke Vander Heide ripped a two-run triple in the the win against Florida Gulf Coast (7-7, 0-0).

"After dropping the first game, we faced one of the hottest pitchers in the country Riley Randolph from Florida Gulf Coast," Eakin said. "Brooke Vander Heide gave us a huge hit to score two runs. Even though that was our only hit, we squared the ball up very well throughout the game, but just right at them. It was a good win."

Game 1
San Jose State started the game out swinging, hitting a leadoff single to left field. It was followed by a home run to left, making the score 2-0 in the top of the first.

In the bottom of the second frame, the Cougars tallied a run of their own. Erickson walked to get on base. Olivia Sanchez was hit by a pitch, advancing Erickson to second. Paulson singled up the middle and advanced to second while Sanchez made it to third on a throwing error sending Erickson home. The inning ended with BYU trailing 2-1.

Both teams were quiet heading into the Cougars' last at bat. BYU was unable to get a runner on base in the bottom of the seventh as all three Cougars grounded out and BYU fell 2-1.

Game 2
A late triple from Brooke Vander Heide propelled BYU to a 2-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast in the second game of the day.

A battle in the circle between BYU and FCGU led to a scoreless game for six innings. The Eagles got the first hit of the game in the bottom of the third but were unable to score.

In the top of the sixth with her first time at the plate for BYU, Autumn Moffat drew a walk. Erin Miklus came in as a pinch runner and advanced to second when Marissa Chavez reached on a fielding error. A triple, BYU’s first of the season, from Vander Heide scored Miklus and Chavez giving BYU the lead 2-0.

The Cougar defense held down the stretch and secured the win. 

BYU plays its final two games of the tournament on Saturday, March 2 against Illinois Chicago at 9 a.m. and UC Davis at 11 a.m. PT. The two games will be played at the USD Softball Complex with live stats available on the schedule page.