By Kyle Aldous
The BYU softball team began conference play this past weekend by facing off with SDSU and UNLV.
The Cougars started strong, winning both games against the Aztecs, 4-0 and 4-2 respectively, giving them a 2-0-conference record to start.
The Cougars then dropped their next two games to the Rebels 1-3 and 2-5 in tough losses that brought their conference record to 2-2.
The Aztecs are the defending MWC champions and currently have the best non-conference record in the MWC.
Aztecs coach Gordon Akin said no one expected the Cougars to sweep SDSU.
The Cougars were able to play well on both sides of the ball. In the first game, they held the Aztecs hitless until the fourth, when Monica Alnes hit a single to right field.
The game stayed scoreless for the duration of regular play despite the Cougars having the bases loaded in the seventh.
In the eighth, BYU turned on the pressure and closed out the Aztecs, as Emi Snow hit a home run, plating Monica Gonzales and Tracee Hoch. Jodi Norton hit a home run, to give the Cougars the 4-0 win.
In the second game, the Aztecs got the scoring started in the first, putting a run on the board. The Cougars answered, and the game went into the seventh tied 2-2.
Jennifer Whiteley put down a bunt in the seventh, sending Jana Anderson home. Gonzales then scored, and the Cougars took the 4-2 victory over the reigning MWC champions.
In the first game against UNLV, the Rebels took the early lead when Jaci Hull hit a leadoff home run, giving the Rebels a one-run lead that lasted until the fourth.
Norton hit a solo home run in the fourth to even the score and give Norton her tenth home run of the season. It wasn”t enough to win, as the Cougars dropped the game 3-1.
In the second game, the Cougars committed several errors that led to five unearned Rebel runs, giving UNLV a 5-0 lead after two innings.
The Cougars mounted a comeback with runs by Anderson and Daniela Urincho, but it was not enough, and the Rebels secured a 5-2 victory.
The Cougars next game will be against cross-town rival UVSC Tues. Apr. 10 at 4:00 p.m. at Gail Miller Field.
