SANTA CLARA, Calif. – BYU softball completed the series sweep of Santa Clara in a 6-1 win in game three at Fowler Park on Saturday afternoon. The series win clinched BYU’s 12th consecutive conference championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. 

Game Highlights:

• Rylee Jensen singled in the top of the fifth to move to No. 2 all-time in career hits at BYU
• Two innings later, Jensen doubled to move to No. 1 all-time in career doubles
• Martha Epenesa hit a solo homer in the second inning and has now reached base in 18 straight games
• Arissa Paulson tacked on an insurance run in the sixth with a single up the middle to score Epenesa

Player Highlights:

• Autumn Moffat-Korth: 6.0 IP, 4H, 1R, 5K, 0BB
• Martha Epenesa: 2-4, 1RBI, 2R, HR
• Rylee Jensen: 2-4, 1RBI, 1R, 2B

Leading off the top of the second, Martha Epenesa put the Cougars on the board with a blast into center field.

The Broncos evened things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third as a passed ball allowed the runner on third to score. Broncos’ shortstop Allyson Ferreiera, who had singled at the previous at-bat, attempted to advance an additional base but was thrown out by Moffat-Korth at third to end the inning.  

In the top of the fifth, Rylee Jensen singled into right field. The hit put her at No. 2 all-time in career hits at BYU. It also scored Ally Oyanguren from third to give the Cougars a 2-1 advantage heading into the bottom half of the inning.   

Arissa Paulson gave BYU a two-run lead in the sixth with a single up the middle that brought in Epenesa.

Jensen broke another BYU record in the top of the seventh with a double that went down the first base line. With the lined shot, Jensen is now No. 1 all-time in career doubles at BYU.

Jensen later scored on a single by Violet Zavodnik to make the score 4-1, BYU. Huntyr Ava added two more runs with a single into right that was able to score Zavodnik and HannahJo Peterson to give the Cougars a commanding 6-1 lead that would end up being the final score.

BYU will put on a pair of Senior Days at Gail Miller Field next week, with the first taking place on Monday, May 10, in a doubleheader against Dixie State. Game one will start at 2 p.m. MDT and game two at approximately 4 p.m. MDT. Seniors Rylee Jensen, Arissa Paulson, Emilee Erickson, Erin Miklus, Morgan Bevell and Marissa Chavez will be recognized at the conclusion of the doubleheader. 

The second Senior Day will be a Blue-White scrimmage held at Gail Miller Field on Friday, May 14, at 5 p.m. MDT.

PROVO, Utah — Coming off a series win at Loyola Marymount, BYU softball will visit Southern Utah for a non-conference matchup on Tuesday before heading back to California to take on Santa Clara for another three-game series Friday and Saturday. The Cougars currently sit atop the West Coast Conference, leading by three games. 

Schedule & Information

Southern Utah – Tuesday, May 4

The Thunderbirds are 16-26 and 8-7 in the Big Sky. SUU is on a four-game losing streak, most recently getting swept at Northern Colorado in a three-game series last Friday and Saturday. BYU leads the all-time series 59-7 and has claimed the last 10 matchups. The two schools have faced off twice this season, with BYU winning both games at home, 8-0, the first in six innings and the other in five. 

• Time: 3 p.m. MDT
• Location: Cedar City, Utah
• Stadium: Kathryn Berg Field
• Stream: Pluto TV
• Stats: StatBroadcast

Santa Clara – Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8

The Broncos are 8-17 (5-7 WCC) and just took two of three at San Diego. Santa Clara returns home to host BYU after spending the last two weekends on the road, going 3-3 at Saint Mary's and San Diego. The Broncos are just 3-6 at home, including 2-4 in WCC play. BYU leads the all-time series 24-3. The Cougars have won 15 of the last 16 meetings between the two teams.

• Game 1: Friday, 4 p.m. PDT
• Location: Santa Clara, California
• Stadium: SCU Softball Field
• Stats: StatBroadcast

• Game 2: Friday, 6:30 p.m. PDT
• Location: Santa Clara, California
• Stadium: SCU Softball Field
• Stats: StatBroadcast

• Game 3: Saturday, 1 p.m. PDT
• Location: Santa Clara, California
• Stadium: SCU Softball Field
• Stats: StatBroadcast