Cougars tally 24 hits in doubleheader sweep of Broncos

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — BYU softball swept Santa Clara in a doubleheader at SCU Softball Field on Friday, winning game one 9-0 and game two 15-2, both by the mercy rule. With the wins, the Cougars improved to 32-15 and 10-1 in West Coast Conference play. 

"The team was well-prepared and focused today," said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin. "It was a great team effort ."

Game One vs. Santa Clara | BYU: 9, SCU: 0

Game Highlights:

• Between the second and third innings, three Cougars reached base on bunts
• HannahJo Peterson homered twice, once in the fifth inning and again in the sixth
• Peterson and Violet Zavodnik hit back-to-back solo homers in the sixth inning, capping off a mercy-rule victory

Player Highlights:

• Rylee Jensen: 2-3, 1 R, 1 RBI
• HannahJo Peterson: 2-3, 3 R, 3 RBI
• Violet Zavodnik: 2-4, 1 R, 2 RBI
• Autumn Moffat-Korth: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 8 K

After a scoreless first inning, the Cougars plated one in the second. Huntyr Ava led off with a walk and Ally Oyanguren came in to pinch run. Three straight bunts, two of which allowed the batter to reached base, allowed Oyanguren to come around and score.

BYU added another run in the second after HannahJo Peterson walked and advanced to second on a passed ball before scoring on a Violet Zavodnik single to make it 2-0.

The Cougars took a 4-0 lead in the fifth after Rylee Jensen singled and Peterson homered down the right field line. 

A five-run sixth inning then blew it open for BYU. Singles by Paulson and Autumn Moffat-Korth, two Santa Clara errors and back-to-back homers by Peterson and Zavodnik gave the Cougars a 9-0 advantage. 

Moffat-Korth retired the Bronco side in bottom of the sixth on a ground out, strikeout looking and pop-up to end the game via the mercy rule. The right-handed pitcher went six innings, only giving up one hit while walking two and striking out eight batters.

Game Two vs. Santa Clara | BYU: 15, SCU: 2

Game Highlights:

• The Cougars batted through the order in the first inning, opening up a commanding 9-0 lead
• BYU batted through the lineup again in the fourth, taking a 15-2 lead
• Brooke Hill-Barrington was a perfect 4-4 from the plate, delivering 4 RBI

Player Highlights:

• Rylee Jensen: 2-3, 3 R, 1 RBI
• Violet Zavodnik: 2-3, R, 3 RBI
• Marissa Chavez: 2-2, 2 R, RBI
• Kaylee Erickson: 2-3, 2 R, RBI
• Brooke Hill-Barrington: 4-4, 2 R, 4 RBI

The Cougar bats continued their momentum into the second game, erupting for nine runs in a first inning that featured eight hits, one Santa Clara error and BYU batting around its entire lineup, forcing a pitching change. 

In the top of the second, Marissa Chavez singled and advanced to third after back-to-back fielder's choices by Alyssa Podhurcak and Kaylee Erickson. Brooke Hill-Barrington then doubled to left center to score Chavez and gave BYU a 10-0 lead. 

Santa Clara scored twice in the third after loading the bases on a catcher’s interference and two walks, followed by back-to-back singles to make it 10-2, BYU.

Hits by Erickson, Hill-Barrington, Rylee Jensen, Taryn Lennon and Morgan Bevell highlighted a five-run fourth inning that put the Cougars in front 15-2. 

Reggie Kanagawa came in for Arissa Paulson in the fourth inning and shut out the Broncos in the fourth and fifth innings to close out the game by the NCAA’s 8-run mercy rule.

The Cougars will face Santa Clara in the third and final game of the series at SCU Softball Field on Saturday, May 8, at 1 p.m. PDT. Links to a live stream and live stats will be provided.