By Angela Halafuka
The BYU Women”s Softball Team got back to its winning ways at the New Mexico State Invitational this past weekend where they posted a perfect 3-0 record.
BYU picked up wins against Marist, Drake and UTEP to improve their season record to 10-6 overall. The tournament was scheduled for five games, but the games against St. Peters and New Mexico State were cancelled because of rain.
Against Marist, there was a rain delay, but the game proceeded in the afternoon. Marist began the second inning with a one-run lead, but in the bottom of the second, BYU came out strong with two runs and led 2-1.
In the top of the third inning, Marist didn”t answer with any runs, but in the bottom of the third, junior Lauren Watson hit her first home run of the year with a shot to center field to give the Cougars a 3-1 cushion.
The BYU defense recorded no errors in the game and allowed Marist no more runs through the remainder of the game that went only six innings due to weather.
The Cougars continued their streak of runs in the sixth inning, led by senior Kate Walker”s single to centerfield. Junior Debbie Dodds hit a huge three-run home run to score Gerhauser and Norton.
The Cougars won the game 9-1.
“We played well,” said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin. “Things started coming together and it was nice to play again.”
In the second game against Drake University BYU jumped out to a comfortable 6-0 lead in the game when freshman Krystle Chamberlain started the first inning off with a triple to centerfield and Belinda Osborn was then walked. Paige Paramore brought Chamberlain and Osborn home off her homer to left field.
Lauren Watson continued with a hit to centerfield. Kate Walker then hit the second home run of the inning to bring home Le`i and Watson.
“I lead by example. I was tough in this game and that made the team play better,” Walker said. “The team knows that I can get it done and that they can rely and trust in me.”
Drake”s only run of the game came in the bottom of the third inning to put the score at 7-1, in favor of the Cougars.
BYU ended up winning the game 12-1 over the Bulldogs.
In the final scheduled game against UTEP, the Cougars had a solid offensive game with an explosive first inning of five runs. Chamberlain led off the inning with a bunt and was later brought home off a single from Watson. Later, Crystal Young hit her first home run of the season over left field to score Ashlyn Russell and Lauren Watson.
The UTEP offense tried to rally but was not able to score enough runs as BYU and the Cougars finished the tournament with a 6-4 win.
The Cougars won”t have much time to prepare for the next softball tournament. Up next for the Cougars is the San Diego Tournament March 18-20, 2004.
