BYU completes sweep of San Diego for 16th consecutive win

PROVO, Utah – BYU softball completed the series sweep of San Diego at Gail Miller Field after defeating the Toreros 3-0 on Saturday. The Cougars have won 16 consecutive games and haven’t lost since March 26.

“Today was a game we had to grind out,” said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin. “Three-game series are hard to sweep and the sign of a champion is when you can grind them out and come away with a sweep."

Game Highlights:

• With a double and a walk, Violet Zavodnik has reached base in 16 straight games, extending her career-high and team-high this season
• Martha Epenesa is on a six-game hit streak and has reached base in 10 straight games
• HannahJo Peterson hit a two RBI double in the sixth, scoring Rylee Jensen and Autumn Moffat-Korth to put the Cougars up 3-0

Player Highlights:

• Autumn Moffat-Korth: 7.0 IP, 4H, 0ER, 7K, 0BB, 0-1, 1BB, 1R
• Martha Epenesa: 2-2, 1BB, 2H, 1RBI
• HannahJo Peterson: 1-4, 2B, 2RBI

After the Cougars retired the first three Torero batters in the top of the first, Rylee Jensen got the BYU offense going with a rocket hit to the second baseman. Violet Zavodnik got on base for the 16th straight game with a walk, extending her career-high and team-high for the season.

With two down in the bottom of the first, Martha Epenesa hit a line drive that came just a couple feet short of clearing the fence in right to give stretch her hitting streak to six games. Epenesa’s hit earned her a stand up double and scored Jensen from second to put BYU up, 1-0.

After generating some offense early on, the game became a pitching battle. Autumn Moffat-Korth allowed just three singles through the second, third and fourth innings, but no damage was done. San Diego’s Madison Earnshaw threw a six-pitch bottom half of the second and sandwiched a two-out double by Zavodnik with a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to the shortstop in the third.

Epenesa drew a full-count walk to lead off the fourth and Marissa Chavez attempted to move her over to second with a sacrifice bunt, but her bunt turned into a fielder’s choice as Epenesa was thrown out at second. Alyssa Podhurcak doubled down the line in left, moving Chavez to third with just one down. Arissa Paulson hit a slow dribbler to third that was gathered in time to keep Chavez from collecting the Cougars’ second run. Moffat-Korth loaded the bases for Jensen, but Earnshaw was able to get out of the jam with Jensen grounding out to second.

Huntyr Ava hit a comeback to the pitcher that deflected off her glove to the shortstop. Ava was able to beat the throw to first, and Erin Miklus came in to pinch run for her. Epenesa logged her second base hit of the day with a single into left, but more runners were left on base with Chavez grounding out to close out the fifth inning.

The Cougars’ lead grew to three at 3-0 with a two RBI double by HannahJo Peterson. After Jensen and Moffat-Korth had made it home, Peterson tried to advance to third on the throw but was called out in a close play.

Moffat-Korth threw just five pitches in the seventh, sealing the victory for BYU, 3-0.

The Cougars will travel up the road to face Utah Valley in the UCCU Crosstown Clash at Wolverine Field on Tuesday, April 27, at 5 p.m. MDT.