PROVO — Getting a pair of complete-game performances from pitchers Summer Tobias and Daniella Urincho and jumping back into the thick of the Mountain West Conference softball race, BYU swept Utah 3-1 and 4-2 in Saturday's doubleheader at Gail Miller Field.
"We threw great games today," said BYU coach Gordon Eakin, having previously bemoaned pitching woes over the past week. "And against a Ute team that's been on fire lately."
BYU improves to 23-13 overall and 4-2 in MWC play. With its six-win streak snapped, Utah drops to 21-12 and 2-2.
Saturday's Cougars showed different than last weekend's MWC openers, when San Diego State blitzed BYU 8-1 and 10-0. "That's a big turnaround since San Diego State," Eakin said.
Tobias' three-hitter in Saturday's opener was supported by the Cougar long ball, as Jodi Norton smacked a two-run homer in the second and Andrea Ramirez added a solo shot in the fifth.
Striking out four, Tobias (10-7) lost her shutout bid in the top of the fourth when Utah's Devina Quintero clubbed a solo homer, her third four-bagger of the year.
Utah pitcher Meghan Dyer (10-4) gave up seven hits and three runs in her five innings.
In the second game, BYU jumped out 3-0 in the bottom of the first, as Krystle Chamberlain walked and Jennifer Whiteley followed by reaching on a Ute fielding error as she tried to bunt Chamberlain to third.
A successful sacrifice by Ramirez moved the two to second and third, with Ianeta Le'i bringing home Chamberlain with an infield single and Whiteley scoring on Paige Paramore's bases-loaded single.
Pinch-runner Jana Anderson added the third run on a Utah passed ball.
Utah scored its first run in the top of the fourth on Ivette Hernandez's two-out RBI double, while BYU answered in the bottom of the inning as Tracee Hoch led off with a double and later scored on pinch-hitter Emi Snow's successful squeeze bunt.
The Utes added a run in the sixth on Diana Phillips' lead-off triple and Jessica Shiery's sacrifice fly.
BYU plays host to Southern Utah for a 3 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday before resuming Mountain West action on the road later in the week — a Thursday twinbill at New Mexico and a Saturday doubleheader at Colorado State.
Utah entertains Utah State for a Tuesday doubleheader at 3 p.m. and then plays the opposite road schedule of the Cougars — a pair Thursday at CSU and a Saturday doubleheader at New Mexico.
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