2015 BYU Cougars softball team


The 2015 BYU Cougars softball team represented Brigham Young University in the 2015 NCAA Division I softball season. Gordon Eakin entered the year as head coach of the Cougars for a 13th consecutive season. 2015 was the second season for the Cougars as members of the WCC in softball.[2] The Cougars entered 2015 having won their last 6 conference championships and as the favorites in the WCC.[3] After sweeping a double header from Santa Clara on May 1, BYU won the 2015 WCC regular season title and became the first team to clinch a spot in the 2015 NCAA Division I softball tournament.[4] The berth would be BYU's eleventh consecutive berth in the NCAA tournament.

2015 BYU Cougars softball
2015 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge Champions
2015 WCC Champions
ConferenceWest Coast Conference
Record40–14 (13–2 WCC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Pete Meredith (2nd season)
  • Kristin Delahoussaye (2nd season)
Home stadiumGail Miller Field
Seasons
← 2014
2016 →
2015 West Coast Conference softball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
BYU ‍‍‍y 13 2   .867 39 12   .765
San Diego  ‍‍‍ 8 7   .533 29 23   .558
Loyola Marymount  ‍‍‍ 8 7   .533 26 28   .481
Pacific  ‍‍‍ 7 8   .467 19 36   .345
Saint Mary's  ‍‍‍ 5 10   .333 21 32   .396
Santa Clara  ‍‍‍ 4 11   .267 15 35   .300
† – Conference champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of May 10, 2015[1]
Rankings from USA Today/NFCA Coaches

BYU played in the Eugene, Oregon softball region where they went 1–2, losing to North Dakota State in the second elimination game. The Cougars finished the season 40–14, 13–2 in conference play. During the process McKenna Bull set a record for number of wins within a season at BYU with 34.

2015 roster

edit
2015 BYU Cougars Roster[5]
 

Pitchers

  • 3 Ashley Thompson – sophomore
  • 5 McKenna Bull – sophomore
  • 7 Arianna Paulson – freshman
  • 22 Madison Merrell – freshman

Catchers

  • 0 Mercedes O'Connor – sophomore
  • 4 Sydney Broderick – sophomore
  • 12 Megan Arnold – senior
 

Infielders

  • 3 Ashley Thompson – sophomore
  • 6 Ashley Godfrey – freshman
  • 7 Arianna Paulson – freshman
  • 9 Lauren Bell – sophomore
  • 10 Karli Lehr – freshman
  • 12 Megan Arnold – senior
  • 13 McKenzie St. Clair – sophomore
  • 16 Alexa Strid – freshman
  • 18 Caitlyn Larsen – freshman
  • 22 Madison Merrell – freshman
  • 25 Coco Tauali'i – junior
 

Outfielders

  • 0 Mercedes O'Connor – sophomore
  • 1 Lacey Hofstedt – senior
  • 2 Gordy Bravo – junior
  • 4 Sydney Broderick – sophomore
  • 13 McKenzie St. Clair – sophomore
  • 27 Brittany Call – sophomore
  • 32 Greta Bodine – freshman
 

Schedule

edit
Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance Winning Pitcher Losing Pitcher
Kajikawa Classic
February 5* 4:30 PM Virginia Cavaliers Tempe Sports Complex • Tempe, AZ W 5–4 115 McKenna Bull (1-0) Alex Formby (0-1)
February 5* 7:00 PM San Jose State Spartans Tempe Sports Complex • Tempe, AZ L 8–9 N/A Madison Fish (1-0) Arianna Paulson (0-1)
February 6* 11:30 AM New Mexico Lobos Tempe Sports Complex • Tempe, AZ W 2–0 150 McKenna Bull (2-0) Tess McPherson (0-1)
February 6* 1:55 PM Cal Golden Bears Tempe Sports Complex • Tempe, AZ L 4–125 156 Nisa Ontiveros (1-0) Ashley Thompson (0-1)
February 7* 9:15 AM Cal Poly Mustangs Tempe Sports Complex • Tempe, AZ L 1–3 N/A Sierra Hyland (2-0) McKenna Bull (2-1)
Wilson/DeMari Desert Classic
February 12* 4:30 PM Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Eller Media Stadium • Las Vegas, NV W 5-4 246 McKenna Bull (3-1) Kanani Aina Cabrales (2-1)
February 13* 12:10 PM Northwestern Wildcats Eller Media Stadium • Las Vegas, NV W 5-1 N/A McKenna Bull (4-1) Kristen Wood (1-2)
February 13* 5:15 PM UNLV Rebels Eller Media Stadium • Las Vegas, NV W 6–5 416 McKenna Bull (5-1) Kwyn Cooper (2-2)
February 14* 9:00 AM UTEP Miners Eller Media Stadium • Las Vegas, NV W 9–05 N/A McKenna Bull (6-1) Taylor Grohmann (0-2)
February 14* 11:15 AM #25 Cal State Fullerton Titans Eller Media Stadium • Las Vegas, NV L 0–115 125 Christina Washington (3-0) Arianna Paulson (0-2)
Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
February 19* 1:27 PM UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Big League Dreams Complex • Cathedral City, CA W 16–4 146 McKenna Bull (7-1) Ashley Ludlow (1-6)
February 19* 7:00 PM Maryland Terrapins Big League Dreams Complex • Cathedral City, CA L 1–29 102 Kaitlyn Schmeiser (5-4) McKenna Bull (7-2)
February 20* 10:00 AM Texas A&M Aggies Big League Dreams Complex • Cathedral City, CA L 5–8 N/A Rachel Fox (5-3) McKenna Bull (7-3)
February 21* 10:00 AM Indiana Hoosiers Big League Dreams Complex • Cathedral City, CA W 5–3 103 McKenna Bull (8-3) Lora Olson (1-6)
February 21* 2:45 PM Oregon State Beavers Big League Dreams Complex • Cathedral City, CA W 14–5 230 McKenna Bull (9-3) Melanie Dembinski (4-1)
Puerto Vallarta College Challenge
February 26* 2:00 PM Nevada Wolfpack City Stadium • Puerto Vallarta W 7–5 156 McKenna Bull (10-3) Megan Dortch (1-4)
February 27* 9:00 AM Northern Colorado Bears City Stadium • Puerto Vallarta W 5–4 102 McKenna Bull (11-3) Kelli Kleis (1-2)
February 27* 2:00 PM Southern Illinois Salukis City Stadium • Puerto Vallarta W 8–0 117 McKenna Bull (12-3) Savanna Dover (1-2)
February 28* 10:00 AM Southern Illinois Salukis City Stadium • Puerto Vallarta W 8–1 163 McKenna Bull (13-3) Shaye Harre (1-2)
University of Tennessee Tournament
March 5* 12:00 PM North Dakota State Bison Lee Softball Stadium • Knoxville, TN Canceled      
March 6* 9:00 AM Northern Iowa Panthers Lee Softball Stadium • Knoxville, TN Canceled      
March 6* 2:00 PM Indiana State Sycamores Lee Softball Stadium • Knoxville, TN Canceled      
March 7* 2:00 PM Tennessee Lady Volunteers Lee Softball Stadium • Knoxville, TN Canceled      
March 7* 4:30 PM Purdue Boilermakers Lee Softball Stadium • Knoxville, TN Canceled      
San Diego Classic II
March 12* 5:00 PM Long Beach State 49ers SDSU Softball Stadium • San Diego, CA W 2–1 101 McKenna Bull (14-3) Christina Clermont (4-6)
March 12* 4:45 PM San Diego State Aztecs SDSU Softball Stadium • San Diego, CA W 3–1 232 McKenna Bull (15-3) Erica Romero (13-6)
March 13* 4:30 PM #15 Baylor Lady Bears Sportsplex USA Santee • San Diego, CA L 1–4 225 Heather Stearns (6-5) McKenna Bull (15-4)
March 14* 9:00 AM Western Carolina Catamounts Sportsplex USA Santee • San Diego, CA W 3–1 N/A McKenna Bull (16-4) Jordan Garrett (5-7)
March 14* 11:28 AM Connecticut Huskies Sportsplex USA Santee • San Diego, CA W 4–1 233 McKenna Bull (17-4) Chelsea Eckert (0-4)
Regular season
March 20* 4:05 PM Oklahoma State Cowgirls Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT W 2–1[6] 590 McKenna Bull (18-4) Brandi Needham (9-5)
March 20* 6:20 PM Oklahoma State Cowgirls Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT W 10–25[6] 590 Ashley Thompson (1-1) Jessi Haffner (4-1)
March 21* 1:05 PM Oklahoma State Cowgirls Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT W 10–26[7] 563 Arianna Paulson (1-2) Brandi Needham (9-6)
March 21* 3:55 PM Utah Valley Wolverines Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT L 0–135[7] 563 Bailey Moore (8-11) McKenna Bull (18-5)
March 24* 3:00 PM Weber State Wildcats Wildcat Softball Field • Ogden, UT W 8–05[8] 375 McKenna Bull (19-5) Bailey Seek (7-3)
March 31* 4:00 PM Utah State Aggies Johnson Softball Field • Logan, UT W 13–25[9] 547 McKenna Bull (20-5) Brina Buttacavoli (1-10)
April 3 3:00 PM Saint Mary's Gaels Cottrell Field • Moraga, CA W 7–310[10] 101 McKenna Bull (21-5) Katlyn Whitt (2-4)
April 4 12:00 PM Saint Mary's Gaels Cottrell Field • Moraga, CA W 3–2[11] 121 McKenna Bull (22-5) Lujane Mussadi (5-14)
April 4 2:15 PM Saint Mary's Gaels Cottrell Field • Moraga, CA W 8–5[11] 151 Ashley Thompson (2-1) Katlyn Whitt (2-5)
April 7* 2:53 PM Utah Valley Wolverines UVU Wolverine Softball Field • Orem, UT W 9–2[12] 255 Ashley Thompson (3-1) Bailey Moore (9-15)
April 10 5:00 PM Pacific Tigers Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT W 7–0[13] 681 McKenna Bull (23-5) Dani Bonnet (5-15)
April 10 7:40 PM Pacific Tigers Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT W 16–9[13] 681 McKenna Bull (24-5) Cassidy Gustafson (2-8)
April 11 1:00 PM Pacific Tigers Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT W 8–05[14] N/A McKenna Bull (25-5) Dani Bonnet (5-16)
April 16* 4:00 PM Southern Utah Thunderbirds Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT W 5–1[15] 469 McKenna Bull (26-5) Katie Greenberg (8-12)
April 16* 6:42 PM Southern Utah Thunderbirds Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT L 8–11[15] 469 Ashley Ostler (3-7) McKenna Bull (26-6)
April 22* 5:00 PM Utah State Aggies Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT W 8–1[16] 444 McKenna Bull (27-6) Alleyah Armendariz (1-15)
April 24 5:35 PM San Diego Toreros Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT W 8–05[17] 200 McKenna Bull (28-6) Paige von Sprecken (21-9)
April 24/25 9:20 PM/11:00 AM San Diego Toreros Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT W 9–3[17][18] 200 McKenna Bull (29-6) Paige von Sprecken (21-10)
April 25 1:00 PM San Diego Toreros Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT W 6–2[18] 200 McKenna Bull (30-6) Grace Hernandez (6-7)
April 28* 5:30 PM Weber State Wildcats Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT L 2–9[19] 413 Sierra Whitmer (7-2) McKenna Bull (30-7)
May 1 5:00 PM Santa Clara Broncos SCU Softball Field • Santa Clara, CA W 4–0[20] N/A McKenna Bull (31-7) Ciara Gonzales (12-15)
May 1 7:00 PM Santa Clara Broncos SCU Softball Field • Santa Clara, CA W 5–0[20] N/A Ashley Thompson (4-1) Micaela Vierra (0-3)
May 2 1:00 PM Santa Clara Broncos SCU Softball Field • Santa Clara, CA W 8–55 N/A McKenna Bull (32-7) Briana Rios (1-11)
May 5* 5:00 PM Utah Valley Wolverines Gail Miller Field • Provo, UT W 8–05 556 McKenna Bull (33-7) Kailey Christensen (1-10)
May 8 1:00 PM Loyola Marymount Lions Smith Field • Los Angeles, CA L 5–6 133 Rachel Farrington (20-13) Ashley Thompson (4-2)
May 8 3:00 PM Loyola Marymount Lions Smith Field • Los Angeles, CA L 4–8 142 Stephanie Crist (5-10) Arianna Paulson (1-3)
May 9 3:00 PM Loyola Marymount Lions Smith Field • Los Angeles, CA W 10–26 147 McKenna Bull (34-7) Rachel Farrington (20-14)
2015 NCAA Regionals
May 14* 6:00 PM #2 Oregon Ducks Howe Field • Eugene, OR L 0–86 1,592 Cheridan Hawkins (28-3) McKenna Bull (34-8)
May 15* 3:00 PM Fresno State Bulldogs Howe Field • Eugene, OR W 8–7 1,532 Arianna Paulson (2-3) Taylor Langdon (1-1)
May 15* 6:00 PM North Dakota State Bison Howe Field • Eugene, OR L 0–7 1,532 Krista Menke (34-5) McKenna Bull (34-9)
*Non-Conference Game. All times are in Mountain Time Zone.

TV, radio, and streaming information

edit

During the 2015 season BYUtv broadcast 13 home games: Mar. 20 (DH) & 21 vs. Oklahoma State, Mar. 21 vs. Utah Valley, Apr. 10 (DH) & 11 vs. Pacific, Apr. 16 (DH) vs. Southern Utah, Apr. 22 vs. Utah State, Apr. 25 vs. San Diego, Apr. 28 vs. Weber State, and May 5 vs. Utah Valley. Spencer Linton acted as the play-by-play man for these games while former Cougar softball coach Vaughn Alvey and former football and baseball player Gary Sheide provided the analysis.

TheW.tv streamed 2 home games: Apr. 24 (DH) vs. San Diego. Robbie Bullough provided play-by-play and Bailey Higgins provided analysis. The second game would be suspended, and TheW.tv was not able to pick up the remainder of the second game on Apr. 25.

BYU Radio would provide a game broadcast for two road games during the season. The Mar. 31 game at Utah State and the Apr. 7 game at Utah Valley would have a radio only broadcast with Robbie Bullough providing the call. BYU Radio would also simulcast 7 BYUtv games.

Road games at UNLV (MW Network[permanent dead link]), at Weber State (Watch Big Sky), at Utah State (MW Network), at Utah Valley (YouTube), and the first game at Loyola Marymount (The W.tv) would have Internet TV broadcasts available.

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Softball". West Coast Conference. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  2. ^ "WCC Softball Begins Competition in 2014" (Press release). West Coast Conference. September 13, 2012. Archived from the original on June 4, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  3. ^ "BYU Picked to Win 2015 WCC Softball Championship" (Press release). wccsports.com. February 4, 2015. Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  4. ^ "BYU crowned WCC softball champions". wccsports.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  5. ^ "2015 Softball Roster | The Official Site of BYU Athletics". Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Cougars win both ends of home-opening doubleheader against Oklahoma State". Deseret News. March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Cougars sweep Oklahoma State, fall to UVU". Deseret News. March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  8. ^ "Broderick and Bull tame Wildcats". Deseret News. March 24, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  9. ^ "Hofstedt's five RBIs leads Cougars over Aggies". Deseret News. March 31, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  10. ^ "Cougars take game one in extras against Saint Mary's". Deseret News. April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Broderick's two homers and six RBIs lead to sweep of Saint Mary's". Deseret News. April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  12. ^ "Thompson, double plays help BYU to sixth win in a row". Deseret News. April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Thompson leads Cougars to doubleheader sweep over Pacific". Deseret News. April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  14. ^ "Tauali'i's two home runs complete sweep over Pacific". Deseret News. April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  15. ^ a b "Cougars split doubleheader with SUU". Deseret News. April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  16. ^ "Bull fans 10 as Cougars top Aggies, 8-1". Deseret News. April 22, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  17. ^ a b "Cougars cruise past Toreros, 8-0". Deseret News. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Bull, consistent play fuel sweep of San Diego". Deseret News. April 25, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  19. ^ "Cougars fall to Weber State, 9-2". Deseret News. April 28, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  20. ^ a b "Dominant pitching by Bull and Thompson fuel BYU's sweep, clinch WCC title outright". Deseret News. Retrieved May 1, 2015.