April 9, 2016 Box Score
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PROVO, Utah - A huge four-run seventh inning snapped a 1-1 tie and propelled the LMU softball team to a 5-1 victory over preseason West Coast Conference favorite BYU in the series rubber match Saturday afternoon at Gail Miller Field.
The win clinched the series for the Lions (24-17, 2-1 WCC) as they also won Friday's nightcap, 9-4. The Cougars drop to 22-17 overall and 1-2 in WCC play.
With the score knotted at 1-1 and the top of the order up to bat in the top of the seventh, Meghan von Behren led off with a single up the middle. Stephanie Maciel then beat out an intended sacrifice bunt to put runners on first and second.
Stephanie Crist would reach on a fielder's choice as the BYU defense got von Behren out at third. Then came the big hits. Alicia Brown smacked her third double of the day to the right field fence, sending Maciel across home plate for the go ahead run.
Amanda Dirks then followed with a three-run home run - her third of the series - to give the Lions a four-run cushion.
BYU's McKenna Bull was able to stop the bleeding after than, getting back-to-back outs to end the inning.
The Cougars looked for one more rally in the bottom of the seventh, but, despite loading the bases on a single and pair of walks, LMU pitcher Hannah Bandimere (12-9) was able to work out of the jam, getting Thompson to fly out to center field to end the inning and secure the win.
Brown finished a perfect 4-for-4 with three doubles, one run scored and one RBI to lead LMU at the plate. von Behren had two hits and Dirks added the three-run home run, bringing her series RBI total to eight.
von Behren led off the game with a solo home run, giving the Lions the early 1-0 advantage.
LMU starting pitcher Rachael Farrington was near perfect through five innings, allowing just two base runners (on two walks) through the first four innings. She did not surrender a hit to the Cougars until the fifth inning.
Caitlyn Larsen reached on a one-out bunt single and two batters later McKenzie St. Clair gave BYU runners on first and second with a single to left field. But Farrington got Gordy Bravo to fly out to center to end the inning.
The Cougars would finally get on the board in the sixth, knotting the game at 1-1. With Bandimere entering in relief for LMU, Lauren Bell led off with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Madison Merrell single up the middle.
Bull (15-11) took the loss in the circle for BYU. The junior, who leads the WCC in strikeouts, managed just one on the seven-inning game, while also walking five and surrendering nine hits for five earned runs.
The Lions are back on the road again next week for another WCC series, heading to San Diego for a three-game set beginning Saturday, Apr. 16. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for noon.
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