Another Sweep
A big fifth inning in game one and a big first inning in game two by Brigham Young University propelled the Cougars to a season sweep of the Utah State women’s softball team on Wednesday afternoon at Johnson Field.
BYU 8, USU 0
What was a pitcher’s duel between Aggie Xochitl Ramirez and Maryon DeWitt-Wallentine turned ugly for the Aggies in the fifth inning as the Cougars scored seven runs on five hits en route to an 8-0 victory in five innings.
“[Ramirez] was pitching well, but Xochitl has had a tendency to get tired in the fifth inning,” said USU head coach Pam McCreesh.
BYU lead off the top of the fifth with three straight base knockers, including a solo homer to right center by shortstop Becca Erickson to start the inning.
With two runners on and zero outs, Ramirez fanned Liz Smith, but hit the next batter, loading the bases. Following an RBI sacrifice fly by Brooke Cadiente and an intentional walk to Oli Keohohou, Mindy Hanson singled, giving the Cougars a 4-0 lead.
Second baseman Jackie Ellis further put a damper on thoughts of an Aggie comeback, hitting a three-run triple down the right field line. By the time the smoke cleared, BYU was half an inning away from ending the game with the eight-run mercy rule.
The Cougars did just that, retiring the side in the bottom of the fifth for their 23rd victory of the season. DeWitt Wallentine improved to 12-12 on the season, holding the Aggies to a Heather Curtis single in the third inning and a Breanne Nickle single in the fourth.
“We need to have more people put the ball in play,” Nickle said.
For the Cougars, Lindsay Hodgen-Kelly, Hanson and Smith finished with two hits apiece. Hodgen-Kelly scored BYU’s other run in the first inning after leading off the inning with a single.
BYU 4, USU 1
After being held to three hits in its first three games against BYU, USU collected eight hits in game two of Wednesday’s doubleheader, but came away empty handed with runners in scoring position in a 4-1 loss.
“I thought we did well offensively,” said USU head coach Pam McCreesh. “We just didn’t capitalize when we had runners in scoring position.”
What might have been even more costly to the Aggies were the three first-inning runs the Cougars pushed across, despite picking up zero hits.
BYU lead off the inning with consecutive walks, compliments of two illegal pitch calls on Aggie pitcher Kristin Hommel. Every time an illegal pitch call takes place, runners are allowed to advance to the next base. McCreesh said the pitches were ruled illegal because Hommel’s foot was not touching the rubber as she released the ball.
Following an illegal pitch call to freshman sensation Keohohou, Brooke Cadiente walked with the bases loaded, giving BYU a 1-0 lead and prompting the Aggies to replace Hommel with Lisa Spencer.
Two batters later, Cougar first baseman Mindy Hanson hit a ground ball that took a funny hop on second baseman Danielle Rodriguez. Rodriguez bobbled the ball and fired to first base, but Hanson was ruled safe on a close call at first. Cadiente and Keohohou both scored, giving the Cougars a 3-0 lead.
The Aggies had a chance to cut into the lead in the third inning when Casey Smith hit a two-out single, followed by a double to left field by Rodriguez. However, the Cougars would end the threat when Cougar shortstop Becca Erickson corralled a sharp grounder by Shannon Acevedo and gunned her out at first.
Down 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth, USU got on the scoreboard when catcher Breanne Nickle unloaded on an Ariel Capra pitch for a solo shot to dead center. It was Nickle’s third round tripper of the season.
“I thought we hit a lot more consistent than they did,” Spencer said.
Consecutive singles in the bottom of the seventh inning by Jenn Hopkins and Kara Tarbet and a one-out walk by Heather Curtis loaded the bases up.
Unfortunately for the Aggies, BYU was able to escape danger again and end the game on a Smith groundout and a Rodriguez fly ball to deep center.
After replacing Hommel, Spencer held the Cougars to three hits and one run in six and two-thirds innings.
“It’s been a while since I’ve shown what I can do,” Spencer said.
USU will be in California this weekend to play a three-game series against the Cal Poly Mustangs. The two teams will play twice Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.