Libby Sugg smiles as she rounds the bases after hitting one of her two home runs against No. 11 Utah. (BYU Photo)
The BYU softball team defeated in-state rival No. 11 Utah in the Deseret First Duel behind two home-runs from Libby Sugg.
'This is Libby's third home run against Utah in two games, so it seems that she rises up against them,' BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. 'She is a very potent hitter anyways, but she seems to have good nights against Utah.'
Sugg is hitting .361 on the season with seven homers and 29 runs batted in.
This is the Cougars' third win of the year over a ranked opponent, first taking down then-No. 13 Washington and then-No. 11 Georgia. BYU tallied nine hits and only one error in its game against the Utes.
McKenna Bull recorded five strikeouts in the game against the Utes, improving her record to 14-2. With this victory, Bull tied Paige Affleck in career wins with 91.
The game went scoreless in the first inning and the action continued in the second inning with Bull striking out the first batter. However, the Utes persisted and got a runner past home plate. The Utes had a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the second inning, but the Cougars were able to answer back.
The game was decided in the fifth inning when Sugg hit her second home run of the game. Sugg's homer brought both Lauren Bell and herself across home plate and BYU claimed the victory over the Utes, 4-3.
'Both teams want to win this game; it is an intense rivalry in all sports, and it is an important game to us, to them and to the fans in Utah,' Eakin said. 'It doesn't matter if they are No. 11 in the country or No. 111 in the country. The rivalry game is the rivalry game, so it is a huge win. I have immense respect for Utah and their softball program.'
The Cougars now travel to Los Angeles to take on Dartmouth and UCLA in back-to-back doubleheaders this coming weekend.