By Evelyn Burns
Senior Brooke Cadiente was the hot topic of the BYU softball team this weekend, going a perfect 7-7 at the plate while leading her team to a three-game sweep over the Utah State Aggies that improved the team”s record to 15-7.
In her seven hits, Cadiente had nine RBIs, two triples, two doubles, and a home run. She also scored six runs.
“I had a lot of fun this weekend with my parents in town to see me play,” Cadiente said. “The lineup is really coming through.”
All-American Oli Keohohou was not far behind Cadiente, belting her seventh home run of the season
“Our hitters are hitting really well right now,” coach Gordon Eakin said. “Our goal is to get ahead in every game.”
In the first game of the double header against the Aggies, the Cougars got off to a quick 3-0 start. To start the rally, freshman Ashlyn Russell reached first on a fielder”s choice. Utah State intentionally walked Keohohou, adding a second player to the bases. Cadiente then hit a triple to score both Russell and Keohohou. Freshman Neta Lei then drove in Cadiente with a single.
Sophomore Lauren Watson hit her first home run of the season to score again in the second inning, bringing the score to 4-0. The Aggies responded to the Cougars” attempt to pull ahead in the top of the fifth inning as junior Haven Vance scored off a single to left center from senior Aimee Johnson to bring the Aggies within three runs, 4-1.
Cadiente responded in the bottom the fifth inning with a two-run blast over the left field fence, her sixth of the season. The Cougars won 6-1.
In the second game on Friday, Cadiente again went for stardom at Miller Park, producing a two-run double in her first at-bat to begin a five-run first inning. Russell brought Cadiente home with a double, and then Lei scored Russell and herself with a two-run blast.
Solid batting in the second inning allowed the Cougars to extend the lead to 8-0.
The Aggies tried to scratch their way back in, scoring in the top of the fourth to make the score 9-1. Sophomore Katy Barnes hit her first career home run to bring the final score to 10-1. The Cougars sealed the victory in just five innings.
Game three against Utah State on Saturday started off a little rocky. The Aggies scored first, taking a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The Cougars rebounded with three runs in the bottom of the second inning with the bases loaded. Two errors by the Aggies allowed Russell, Lei and Osborn to score and give the Cougars a 3-1 lead.
Utah State again bounded back with three runs of their own in the top of the third inning. Sophomore pitcher Niki Andersen committed an error and a wild pitch that allowed Utah State”s Neff to score for the second time of the game.
Freshman Brooke Boyce stepped in for Andersen, bringing the team out of a sticky situation and eventually carrying the Cougars to victory.
The Cougars would not lose in their home stadium. Cadiente got the team started in the right direction with a double, eventually leading them to a five-hit, five-run inning and bringing the score to 8-4.
The Cougars again scored two more runs in the fourth inning from Lei, who hit a single to score Watson. Cadiente scored off a wild pitch to take a 10-4 lead. Keohohou and Osborn continued the run in the fifth inning, when Keohohou hit a solo home run and Osborn hit her first career triple to score. The Cougars won 12-4 in the sixth inning.
“I am very please with the outcome of the game,” Eakin said. “I am unhappy with the lack of focus that happened mid-game.”
