By Lisa Dernick
The BYU softball team (33-23) advanced to the second round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament after junior Liz Smith bunted home freshman Oli Keohohou from third base to score in the bottom of the seventh inning and win 4-3.
“Our kids played great,” said BYU coach Mary Kay Amicone . “They played excellent defense and executed superbly.”
In the first inning, Keohohou scored the first run off Sophomore Brooke Cadiente”s hit to right center.
Senior Becca Erickson put the Cougars up 2-0 with a home run, her seventh of the season, in the second inning.
BYU moved the score up to 3-0 with junior Kari Pringle”s sacrifice fly ball bringing Cadiente home. In the fifth inning, New Mexico closed the score to 3-2 with an RBI double.
A Lobo steal to home escaping senior Angie Christiansen”s tag tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the seventh.
The Cougars finished off the Lobos in the bottom of the seventh after Keohohou scored from first base off of Smith”s bunt to win 4-3.
BYU will face the winner of the Colorado State and Utah game in game two at 4:30 p.m. on Friday,May 18.
Freshman Oli Keohohou was awarded the honor of Freshman of the Year for the 2001 season at the conference banquet Wednesday, May 16.
Keohohou joined senior Lindsey Hodgen-Kelly and Elizabeth Pierce-Boydston in being named part of the All-Tournament Team among other team picks in the Mountain West conference.
