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Gail Miller Field

Gail Miller Field Provo UT 84601

Nate Slack | Posted: 10 May 2021 | Updated: 20 May 2021
Nate Slack

Paulson hits career strikeout No. 400 in doubleheader sweep against DSU

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BYU SFB Senior Day

PROVO, Utah – BYU softball downed Dixie State in a doubleheader at Gail Miller Field on Monday afternoon. Martha Epenesa brought in five runs to power the Cougars to a 7-1 win in game one, while Rylee Jensen hit two home runs in the Cougars' 8-2 victory in game two. 

"It was a great day of softball, not only honoring our seniors but the team played very well in both games," said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin. "We're proud of them and look forward to finishing the year strong, but we're definitely going to miss our seniors."

Game One vs. Dixie State | BYU: 7, DSU: 1

Game Highlights:

  • BYU scored five in the third inning, with Huntyr Ava scoring two on a deep single and Martha Epenesa hitting a three-run home run on the next at-bat.
  • Epenesa notched her fourth and fifth RBI of the game with a double to put BYU up, 7-1, in the fourth inning.
  • Autumn Moffat-Korth tied a career-high striking out nine batters.

Player Highlights:

  • Autumn Moffat-Korth: 6.0 IP, 5H, 1ER, 9K, 0BB
  • Martha Epenesa: 2-2, 5RBI, 1R, HR, BB
  • Huntyr Ava: 2-3, 2RBI, 1R

In the top of the first, the Trailblazers put up the game’s first run, scoring a run on a ball that was hit into center field to claim a 1-0 lead.

After being held scoreless the first two innings, Huntyr Ava put the Cougars on the board in the third with a two-RBI double that made it to the center field wall. Martha Epenesa followed up Ava’s double with a three-run shot to put BYU ahead, 5-1.

With two down in the bottom of the fourth, Epenesa added another two RBI with a lined shot down the first base line that just stayed fair to extend the BYU lead to six at 7-1.

Reggie Kanagawa came in to pitch for Autumn Moffat-Korth in the seventh and retired the batters in order to give the Cougars a 7-1 win in game one of the doubleheader.

Game Two vs. Dixie State | BYU: 8, DSU: 2

Game Highlights:

  • First inning homers by Violet Zavodnik, Emilee Erickson and Brooke Hill-Barrington resulted in a fast 5-0 lead after one.
  • Rylee Jensen homered in the second and sixth innings
  • Arissa Paulson hit career strikeout No. 400 in the second inning

Player Highlights:

  • Arissa Pauslon: 6.1 IP, 4H, 1ER, 10K, 3BB
  • Rylee Jensen: 2-3, 2RBI, 3R, 2HR, BB
  • Brooke Hill-Barrington: 2-3, 2RBI, HR
  • Violet Zavodnik: 1-1, RBI, HR
  • Emilee Erickson: 1-4, RBI, HR

BYU jumped on top early, 1-0, in the bottom of the first as an attempt to throw out a stealing Rylee Jensen at third went long and allowed Jensen to take home base on a throwing error by the Dixie State catcher.

The Cougar lead stretched to two following Violet Zavodnik’s 13th long ball of the season. Emilee Erickson tacked on the second BYU homer of the inning with a shot that cleared the fence in left center to put BYU up 3-0.

Brooke Hill-Barrington hit home run number three of the inning that also scored Marrissa Chavez, who doubled, from second to cap off a five-run first inning.

Jensen picked up where the Cougars left off in the first, hitting a no-doubt jack in right center to extend the lead to 6-0 in the second inning.

After a scoreless third, Dixie State led off the fourth with a solo shot to trim the BYU lead to five runs. It was just Arissa Paulson’s second allowed hit of the game.

Leading off the bottom of the sixth, Jensen broke up a three-inning Cougar scoring drought with her second home run of the day. Erin Miklus followed up the homer with a hard-hit triple that deflected off the first baseman’s glove. Miklus brought in BYU’s eighth run with a sacrifice fly hit by Taylei Williams to center field, sending the Cougars into the top of the seventh inning with a 8-1 lead.

Senior Paulson came out in the top of the seventh to a standing ovation after striking out 10 batters in 6.1 innings and allowing just four hits and one run. Carly Brown came in to close out the 8-2 victory for BYU in game two.

The Cougars will play their final regular season game tomorrow at Utah State. First pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 4 p.m. MDT. Links to a live stream and live stats will be provided.  

 

 
Cameron Muh | Posted: 9 May 2021 | Updated: 19 May 2021
Cameron Muh

Cougars to host Trailblazers, visit Aggies in final week of regular season

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Team gathers at the mound during the San Diego series

PROVO, Utah — After clinching the West Coast Conference regular season title in a three-game sweep at Santa Clara, BYU softball returns to the state of Utah for a doubleheader with Dixie State on Monday and matchup at Utah State on Tuesday to close out the regular season.

The Cougars will then hold a Blue-White scrimmage on Friday. This year's seniors will be honored at both the Dixie State doubleheader and the scrimmage.

Week Eleven BYU Game Notes

Schedule & Information

Dixie State – Monday, May 10

The Trailblazers are 18-27 and 6-11 in the WAC. Dixie State is on a seven-game losing streak, most recently getting swept by Seattle and New Mexico State. The Trailblazers are scheduled to face Utah State, BYU's Tuesday opponent, in a doubleheader on Sunday, May 9. This is the first matchups between the two schools.

Utah State – Tuesday, May 11

The Aggies are 12-26 (3-15 MWC) and take a four-game losing streak into their doubleheader with Dixie State on Sunday, May 9. Utah State is 2-8 at home this season. BYU leads the all-time series 41-3. The Cougars beat the Aggies in the two previous meetings this season, winning 6-3 on Feb. 19 and 4-0 on April 6..

Blue-White Scrimmage – Friday, May 14

To conclude the regular season, the Cougars will host an intersquad scrimmage to honor this year's seniors. The two teams will play from separate dugouts in full uniform. Fans are also invited to attend a live batting practice that begins at 3:30 p.m. MDT.