The BYU softball team is still undefeated at home, scoring 24 runs to win a pair of games against UKMC Tuesday night, 8-2 and 16-1.
In Game 1 BYU struck early, with a lead-off hit by senior Jessica Dugas in the bottom of the first. With that hit, Dugas brought her hitting streak to 10 games.
Senior Tiffany Messerschmidt moved Dugas to third on a bunt single, stealing second on the next pitch. Junior JC Clayton then took a pitch to left field, bringing in Dugas for the first run of the game.
With runners on second and third, senior Stacie Toney hit a pitch to right center, bringing in both runners to extend the lead to three. The Cougars scored five in the first.
The score remained 5-0 until the bottom of the third, when Toney took a pitch deep to right field for a solo home run to bring the score to 6-0.
Sophomore Tori Almond had a no-hitter going into the top of the fourth until a Kangaroo batter bounced a double to left-center. UMKC would scored one run on two hits in the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Cougars needed three runs to end the game early. With Clayton on and two outs, sophomore Katie Manuma came up big, hitting a line-drive bomb to left field for a two-run home run.
The Cougars had a chance to end the game in the sixth, but left the bases loaded to end the inning.
BYU’s defense held in the seventh to earn the win 8-2, with Almond picking up her sixth win of the season.
Junior Hannah Howell got the ball for the second game of the night, looking for her 10th win of the season.
The first inning proved to be successful once again for the Cougars, as they scored three runs right off the bat. Sophomore Ashlee Brawley came up big in the inning with her first double of the season to clear the bases and bring the score to 6-0.
Willard added to her home run tally in the bottom of the second, going yard to give the Cougars one more run.
The Kangaroos scored their first run in the third but no more after Willard and Toney ran a perfect relay to tag out the runner attempting to reach third.
The Cougars scored four more runs in the bottom of the fourth before freshman Megan Arnold came in to slug a pinch-hit grand slam. Toney hit 4-for-5 on the day with two doubles and a home run, bringing in another run for the Cougars in the inning.
The Cougars play next in their first away WAC game against Fresno State on Friday and Saturday.
