The scattered showers on Friday resulted in game delays and cancellations for multiple softball teams, meaning only one game for BYU softball this weekend — the Cougars versus College of Southern Idaho’s Golden Eagles.
Despite the chilly weather, the Cougars pulled a win over the Golden Eagles, 4-1, including a momentum-gaining home run from outfielder Delaney Willard during the fifth inning.
“Pitching was our strongest point,” head coach Gordon Eakin said. “[Willard’s] home run was our bright spot offensively. We played pretty solid defense, but pitching was definitely our bright spot of the game.”
Players agreed the pitchers were the stars of Friday’s game.
“Our pitchers are on right now,” Willard said. “[They] pitched very well. I think they held down our offense and, with their help, we were able to score a couple more runs.”
According to Eakin, BYU has shown improvement since this past Tuesday’s game against Utah Valley University.
“We played a little cleaner game today than we did Tuesday,” Eakin said. “We still aren’t clicking on all cylinders, which you wish you would, but sometimes — especially this time of year — that’s just the case. We cleaned the game up a little bit. I think [softball’s] a game of throw-the-ball-catch-the-ball, and we did that pretty well.”
Willard echoed Eakin’s thoughts and said the team clicked together more Friday.
Despite the loss, CSI showed heart and committed with a home run and an impressive triple play.
The game against Salt Lake Community College, which was supposed to happen Friday evening, was rescheduled because of weather and will be set for a later period this semester.
Up next for BYU softball will be a Blue/White scrimmage on Monday.
Eakin sees these games as growing opportunities and said he hopes the progress being made will start to gain more steam.
“[Blue/White scrimmages are about] bringing our young players along and seeing if we can’t get a bit more fire and play with a little bit more passion,” Eakin said. “That’s what Blue and Whites are for, to show me what they can do.”
