By Dolly Chang
The BYU softball team swept away Utah Valley State College on Tuesday night, 12-3, giving the Cougars their 14th straight win and a 34-16 season record.
“We did great today, and right now we are playing very well,” said senior Jodi Norton, who was named MWC Player of the Week on Tuesday. “Our hits were great and we played well offensively.”
Due to the NCAA softball mercy rule, which stops the game after a team leads by more than eight runs, Norton”s 21st home run for the season in the bottom of the sixth ended the game early. Her hit tied the Cougars” all-time single-season home run record.
Monica Gonzales, a sophomore who is a solid outfielder and speedy left-handed slapper, loaded up the bases with a slap to third. Jennifer Whiteley brought in Gonzales for the 5-1 lead on a solid hit down the middle. Then Whiteley got sent to third due to Utah Valley catcher Jamie Tonis” failed pick-off attempt at first base. The error also brought Cortney Nix-Clark across home plate.
Even though the Wolverines scored two runs in the third, the Cougars weren”t affected. They continued executing their game plan; a run by Quiocho in the fifth inning and Norton”s home run in the sixth wrapped up the game for the Cougars.
The Cougar team is now 10-2 in the Mountain West Conference and heading to New Mexico on May 3 looking forward to take on the Lobos.
“We are at the first place in conference right now and we are playing very well,” Norton said. “I think we are ready to take them down.”
