MORAGA, Calif. – Sophomore pitcher Arissa Paulson led BYU to a 7-0 shutout of Saint Mary’s on Friday afternoon at Cottrell Field.

“It was a good win today,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “Arissa Paulson pitched a great game today and also set the tone offensively with a two-run shot in the first inning. Tomorrow we just need to execute better with runners in scoring position.”

Game Highlights:

• The Cougars (25-21, 9-1 WCC) held the Gaels (11-35, 4-6 WCC) scoreless in the first game of the series. It was the sixth shutout game this season for BYU.
• Arissa Paulson tallied her 13th win this season with a complete game and her third shutout in the last two weeks while also hitting a home run during the game.
• Rylee Jensen, Arissa Paulson and Olivia Sanchez all drove in runners during the game.

Player Highlights:

• Arissa Paulson: W (13-9), 7.0 IP, 8 H, 0R, 2 K
• Olivia Sanchez: 3-4, 2 RBI, 2B
• Arissa Paulson: 1-2, 2R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
• Lexi Tarrow: 3-4, 1 SB

The Cougars got on the board in the top of the first inning. Williams singled to left field and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. An Arissa Paulson homer just inside the left foul pole gave BYU a 2-0 lead to start the game.

In the top of the third, Libby Sugg singled up the middle and Brooke Hill subbed in as a pinch runner. Paulson and Erickson both reached to load the bases before Olivia Sanchez lined a ball to center field to clear the bases for a 5-0 lead.

BYU tacked on two more runs in the top seventh inning. Allie Hancock, as a pinch runner, and Marissa Chavez made it home as Jensen reached on an infield single. The Cougars held the Gaels scoreless in the bottom of the seventh and BYU took the win 7-0.

BYU finishes up the series against Saint Mary’s with a doubleheader Saturday, May 4. The first game starts at 12 p.m. followed by the second game at 2 p.m. PT. Live stats will be on the schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – Coming off a 4-0 week, the BYU softball team will host the annual Deseret First Duel against Utah on Wednesday before heading to Saint Mary’s for a conference series in Moraga, California. 

BYU concludes its 10-game homestand with a game against Utah. The last time the Utes traveled to Provo, the Cougars won 4-3. The game will begin at 6 p.m. MT and a live stream on BYUtv Digital. 

The Cougars will travel to Moraga, California, to play West Coast Conference foe, Saint Mary’s. The Gaels are coming off a sweep at Loyola Marymount. BYU will play on Friday, May 3 at 3 p.m. PT followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, Mary 4 at 12 and 2 p.m. PT. 

Opponent Outlook

Utah | Wednesday, May 1 | 6 p.m. MDT | BYUtv Digital

• The Utes hold a 15-32 record with a 4-14 record in the Pac-12 Conference. 

• Last season in the annual Deseret First Duel, BYU beat Utah in Salt Lake City 5-2. 

• This will be the 54th meeting between the two teams with the Cougars tallying 34 wins to Utah’s 19.

•Head Coach Amy Hogue begins her 12th season as the Utes head coach with a 331-309-1 overall record.

Saint Mary’s | Friday, May 3 at 3 p.m.; Saturday, May 4 at 12 & 2 p.m. 

• The Toreros currently have a 15-34 record and are 3-12 in conference after falling to LMU last weekend, including a 15 inning contest.

• This will be the 24th meeting between the two teams with the Cougars holding the advantage at 22-1 after sweeping the Gaels last season. BYU’s only loss came in 2017 at Saint Mary’s with a 1-0 score.

• Sonja Garnett enters her 1st season as the Gaels head coach after four seasons at the Academy of Art.

BYU Storylines

DESERET FIRST DUEL. The Cougars are set to host Utah in the annual Deseret First Duel on Wednesday, May 1 at 6 p.m. MT.  This is the 12th year of the Deseret First Duel series with Utah already clinching the overall trophy for this year.

CLOSING IN ON BYU RECORDS. While many BYU players are making their way up the BYU record books, senior Libby Sugg is closing in on BYU’s all-time records. Currently No. 2 in both doubles with 46 and RBI at 206. Sugg is six doubles away from holding the BYU record. She is also No. 5 in homers (48) and total bases (401). Redshirt sophomore Arissa Paulson has also made a dent in the charts, currently holding the No. 8 spot in complete games (28) and shutouts (8).

RYLEE JENSEN. Rylee Jensen has proved to be invaluable asset for the Cougars this season. The junior is currently ranked No. 26 nationally in batting average (.426), No. 52 in slugging percentage (.757), No. 67 in total bases (103) and is No. 1 in the WCC in seven different categories. She currently leads the team in batting average, runs scored (37), hits (58), RBI (28), home runs (10), slugging percentage (.757), on base percentage (.480), total bases (103), walks (15) and stolen bases (5).

THRID WCC AWARD SWEEP.  Rylee Jensen and Arissa Paulson earned the West Coast Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week awards, respectively. This is the third time that BYU was swept the weekly awards. Jensen and Autumn Moffat received the award in week two while Libby Sugg and Paulson earned the award in week eight. BYU has now been awarded eleven times this season by the WCC.