The BYU softball team combined for 25 runs en route to a 2-1 record this weekend at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif.
The Cougars beat Purdue and UC Davis, while also losing a close game to No. 5-ranked Arizona State. BYU was also scheduled to play No. 13 Arizona and Penn State on Saturday but were sent home early because of rain.
The Cougars came out strong in the first game against Purdue, pulling away to win the game 14-1 in five innings. Sophomore pitcher Tori Almond improved her record on the season to 3-2 while also earning a career-high 10 strikeouts in the game.
The bats also came alive for BYU, as the Cougars scored in every inning of the game with nine hits. Senior infielder Stacey Toney went 2-for-3 while senior outfielder Delaney Willard hit her second grand slam of the season and eighth home run to help BYU to a seven run third inning. Freshman catcher Anna Hudson also had her first career hit at BYU with a home run in the fourth inning to seal the deal for the Cougars.
Tough pitching by BYU continued to affect Arizona State in the second game of the day, but the Cougar batters couldn’t put any runs on the board to beat the top-ranked team. Freshman pitcher Caroline Umphlett put in three innings of work, giving up only three runs on two hits. Junior Hannah Howell came into the game in relief, holding ASU to no runs to tie their lowest run output of the season.
BYU couldn’t produce with runners in scoring position, leaving six on base with only five hits on the game.
On Friday, the final game of the weekend, the Cougar offense and defense came out strong to beat UC Davis 9-0 in six innings.
Howell and Almond combined for the shutout, only giving up four hits and two walks to the Aggies.
Sophomore outfielder Carly Duckworth went 3-for-4 in the game with one double and three RBIs. Multiple other Cougars produced offensively, with junior JC Clayton, senior Jessica Dugas and Willard all finishing the day with two hits apiece.
The Cougars improved their record to 15-8 on the season and look forward to their home debut on Tuesday against Idaho State.
The game will start at 6 p.m. MT and will also be broadcast on BYUtv.