Third-seeded BYU will compete in the MWC softball championships this week, starting with a 9 a.m. game today against No. 6 seed New Mexico.
BYU enters tournament play with a 34-17 record, 11-8 in the MWC. The winner of the Cougar-Lobo opener advances to meet second-seeded San Diego State at 2 p.m.
The Cougars concluded the regular season with a 3-1 effort on the road, splitting with UNLV before sweeping two from then-MWC leader SDSU, dropping the Aztecs from the conference lead into the No. 2 spot in the final standings.
As a team, BYU is batting .307 — good for No. 15 in the nation — and is No. 11 in scoring, averaging 5.45 runs a game. Paige Paramore is the Cougars' hitting leader with a .361 average, with teammates Debbie Dodds, Jodi Norton and Kate Walker also above .300.
BYU has hit 54 home runs in 51 games, led by Ashlyn Russell's team-best 11.
The team has set a school record with 18 double plays on the season.
On the mound, Brooke Boyce (13-8) leads the team in ERA at 1.74, in appearances with 30, and in complete games with 15. Niki Andersen boasts team-bests in victories with an 18-6 record and in strikeouts with 116.