TAMPA, Fla.—A three-run bottom of the fourth allowed the BYU softball team to defeat Maine, 6-4, in the first game of its doubleheader on Thursday and Bravo's one-out double scored the winning run to give BYU the 3-2 victory in game two at the USF Softball Stadium.

"It’s a step in the right direction," head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We didn’t have Tori (Almond) or Caroline (Umphlett) available to pitch today and Hannah's (Howell) been sick, so it was nice to see the fight we had in the game and the willingness for Katie (Manuma) and Carly (Duckworth) to step up and do a quality job from the mound. I thought both Katie and Carly stepped up offensively and on the mound so I was proud of both of them today. ”

Game 1

Maine (1-12) outhit BYU (8-13) 10-7 in the first game of the day, but BYU was able to smack three extra-base hits to push in six runs in the game.

Marissa Bravo and Katie Manuma each led with two hits apiece, including two RBI from Bravo and a run scored from Manuma. Jenna Goar also hit her first long ball of the year, with a solo shot in the bottom of the second to put BYU up 2-0.

Hannah Howell earned the win after giving up four runs on seven hits. Manuma grabbed the save after relieving Howell in the top of the fourth and holding the Black Bears to no runs on three hits.

The Cougars broke the scoreboard in the bottom of the first after Carly Duckworth tripled to center field in the two spot. Bravo followed with a single up the middle to bring in the first run. Goar’s shot in the bottom of the second extended BYU’s lead to 2-0.

The Black Bear’s took back one run in the top of the third following two lead-off singles.

BYU was quiet in the bottom of the frame, but dealt a three-run blow to Maine in the bottom of the fourth. Manuma singled to lead off the inning and scored following a sacrifice bunt from Alexandra Hudson Shamo and a Maine error. With two runners on, Ashlee Brawley Robinson singled, but was called out trying to stretch the hit into a double. The hit did score both runs, though unearned.

A two-run fifth from Maine cut the BYU lead to one run at 5-4. The Bear’s lead-off hitter smacked a double to left field and scored as Maine’s second baseman blasted a dinger over the left field fence.

BYU brought in a security run in the bottom of the frame as Duckworth circled the bases after reaching on an error. A stolen base and an illegal pitch put her into scoring position as Bravo was able to bring her in on a bunt single to put the Cougars up 6-4.

BYU held the lead to take the 6-4 victory. 

Game 2

A one-out double down the left-field line from Bravo scored JC Clayton for the go-ahead run and ultimately the winning run as the Cougars held the Black Bears in the bottom of the seventh inning to take the 3-2 victory.  The win helps BYU improve to 9-13 on the season, while Maine falls to 1-13.

"That was a very timely hit," Eakin said in response to Bravo's double. "When it was time to step up, she stepped up and that was a big RBI." 

Clayton bounced back from her no-hit game in the first matchup against Maine with two hits, two runs scored and one RBI. Duckworth and Bailie Hicken also had two-hit games for the Cougars.

Manuma took the mound at the start of game two and shut down the Black Bears through five innings. In the bottom of the sixth, she surrendered two runs to Maine off a two-run homer and was relieved by Duckworth. Duckworth pitched out of the jam and sealed the bottom of the seventh to earn her first win as a Cougar pitcher.

The game was quiet until the top of the third when BYU pushed in two runs on four hits. Hicken singled to start the inning and scored off a double from Clayton. Manuma and Duckworth each added a single, scoring Clayton to put BYU up 2-0.

BYU looked like it had the game won heading into the bottom of the sixth, but Maine took advantage of Manuma’s tiring arm with a two-run blast to tie up the game. However, BYU answered in the top of the seventh as Clayton hit a chopper off the plate and sped down the first-base line to lead off. Lacey Millett followed with a sacrifice bunt, which placed Clayton in scoring position. Bravo took advantage, blistering a double down the line to score Clayton and give BYU the 3-2 victory.

BYU will take a break on Friday before heading to Clearwater, Fla., to take on LIU Brooklyn at 11:45 a.m. EST and Providence College at 2:30 p.m. EST on Saturday.

PROVO, Utah—The BYU softball team travels to Florida this weekend to play Maine in a double header on Thursday and LIU Brooklyn and Providence College on Saturday in its final preseason tournament at the USF Under Armour Showcase.

USF UNDER ARMOUR SHOWCASE

March 7-9, 2013

Tampa, Fla. & Clearwater, Fla.

USF Softball Stadium/Eddie C. Moore Complex

Maine

Thurs., March 7

1 p.m. EST & 3 p.m. EST

USF Softball Stadium

LIU Brooklyn

Sat., March 9

11:45 a.m. EST

Eddie C. Moore Complex, Field 1

Providence

Sat., March 9

2:30 p.m. EST

Eddie C. Moore Complex, Field 1

BYU Quick Hits

• BYU played in its last USF Under Armour Showcase in 2009 where it defeated Indiana 6-0 and Ball State 5-4 and lost to Hofstra 4-0 and No. 23 Florida Gulf Coast 5-4.
• This will be BYU’s last preseason tournament before returning to Provo for its home opener on March 19 against Marist College.
• Junior pitcher Tori Almond went 2-0 in the San Diego Classic, pitching 9.2 innings and giving up only five hits and two earned runs. She also struck out 10 and held opponents to a .152 average. Almond was named PCSC Pitcher of the Week.
• Senior shortstop JC Clayton continued her hitting streak throughout the San Diego Classic and still has a hit in every game of the season but one. She is currently sitting at a 19-game hitting streak. Clayton was also named PCSC Player of the Week for the second-straight week.

Pitching Rotation

Due to injuries within the BYU pitching staff, former high school pitchers Katie Manuma and Carly Duckworth will each see some time on the mound this season. Both pitchers made their first appearances of the season in the San Diego Classic. Manuma pitched 3.2 innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits. Duckworth pitched one inning and held opponents to zero earned runs on two hits. 

Grand Ole’ Slam

Junior infielder Katie Manuma hit her first career grand slam against UC Santa Barbara at the Mary Nutter Classic. Down 10-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Cougars rallied to score three runs and bring up Manuma with the bases loaded. Manuma took advantage with a bomb that tied up the game at 10-10 and sent the game into extra-innings. BYU wasn’t able to keep the momentum in the eighth and surrendered two runs to the Gauchos for the 12-10 loss. This was BYU’s first grand slam of the season and Manuma’s third home run.

Manuma is currently hitting .311 with 11 runs scored, 20 RBI and 32 total bases. Manuma has hit a home run in every tournament of the season so far, leading the team and conference with four.

Streaking Clayton

JC Clayton is currently tied for the third longest hitting-streak in BYU history. She is only two games away from tying the record set by former BYU player and current assistant coach, Ianeta Le’i. Clayton is also tied for the second longest hitting-streak in the Pacific Coast Conference and is two games away from tying the record.

All-time List

Ianeta Le’i-21 (2006)

Oli Keohohou-20 (2003)

Oli Keohohou-19 (2001)

JC Clayton-19 (2013)

JC Clayton-16 (2012)

Amanda Vance-Kellum-16 (2008)

JC Clayton-15 (2010)

Ianeta Le’i-14 (2003)

Delaney Willard-13 (2012)

Jodi Norton-13 (2007)

Kristin Delahoussaye-12 (2010)

Paige Paramore-12 (2010)

Opponent Notes

Maine

After kicking the season off with a 9-1 victory, the Black Bears have lost nine-straight and are currently 1-9 on the season. The team scored less than two runs in six of its 10 games. Maine returns 12 letterwinners from last year’s 17-30 squad and welcomes five newcomers to their roster. Sophomore infielder Kristen Ksolosky heads up the Bear’s offense, hitting .355 with three runs scored. Junior catcher Jean Stevens brings power to the lineup with two doubles, two home runs and a team-leading nine RBI. Maine has four pitchers on its roster, but is led by senior Beth Spoehr who is 1-3 on the season. She also has an ERA of 2.26 alongside 21.2 innings pitched and only seven earned runs given up. The Black Bears have only played the Cougars once and lost the matchup 9-1 in 2010.

LIU Brooklyn

The Blackbirds head to their fifth preseason tournament in the USF Under Armour Showcase and will face two PCSC teams in BYU and Loyola Marymount. BYU has an all-time record of 2-0 against LIU and defeated them last year 11-4 in the Cathedral City Classic. LIU sits at 2-17 this season. One of its two wins came against No. 14 Michigan, defeating them 2-1 in the FAU Kickoff Classic. Since that win the Blackbirds have lost 10-straight and have been outscored by their opponents 122-28. The team has three players who are hitting over .300 in Lauren Morizi, Emily Kakuska and Whitney West. Morizi, who hits .385, has six runs scored, six RBI and a team-high five doubles. Righthander Cassie Vondrak has both wins for the Blackhawks and has pitched 72.2 innings of the total 112.2 on the season. She has given up 60 earned runs while striking out 29.

Providence College

This will be the Friar’s third tournament of the season. They started their 2013 campaign with a big 13-7 win against Northern Illinois and won close games against Connecticut and Quinnipiac to grab a 3-7 record. Stephanie Kiesel and Sarah Kitterman both lead the team with a .379 average. Kitterman has three doubles, one triple, two home runs and eight RBI for the Friars. Kiarra Baldassari has provided speed for the team with six of the team’s seven stolen bases and 10 of the team’s 35 runs scored. Corinne Clauss, Kiara Amos and Emily O’Keefe have split time on the mound this season, but Amos has pitched a majority of the innings. She has given up 22 earned runs on 48 hits and also leads the pitching staff with 17 strikeouts. BYU hasn’t played Providence since 2009 where they defeated them 5-2.

Check for updates throughout the tournament on the BYU softball facebook page.