PROVO, Utah — The final series of the 2022 Saint Mary's Softball season began on Friday night in Provo with a doubleheader at BYU. The Gaels made their first trip to the home of the Cougars since the 2018 season, because of the COVID-19 pause in 2020, and the Cougars greeted them with a pair of victories in both ends of the doubleheader, with finals of 15-0 and 6-1. With the losses, Saint Mary's drops to 16-30 (4-10) while BYU improves to 40-10 (12-2).
 
Game 1: BYU 15, Saint Mary's 0 (5 innings)
 
EARLY OPPORTUNITY
It looked like the Gaels would have the first chance to strike in game one against BYU, as Saint Mary's loaded the bases in the very first inning. With one away in the inning, SMC used the power of three-consecutive singles to load up the bases. First, Sasa Koria sent one up the middle to start the rally, while Indya Smith followed with a hit of her own through the left side. Then Angelina Franco loaded up the bases with an infield hit, putting three runners aboard with just one out. Unfortunately for the Gaels, a pop out and a ground out ended the inning without any additional runners reaching, and BYU immediately responded with seven runs in the first inning.
 
GAME FLOW
The BYU offense came to hit in the first game of the doubleheader, scoring 15 runs in just four innings, featuring 11 hits and four extra-base hits. It took three Saint Mary's pitchers to make it out of the first inning, with Sofia Earle, Kayla Scott, and Marissa Woolsey all getting outs in the inning. After the seven runs in the first inning, BYU added three runs in the third and five more in the fifth to close out the game without much drama. Smith was the lone Gael to record multiple hits in game one, going 2-2 overall, while Bry Waters stayed hot and recorded a single in her first at bat of the game, going 1-2 at the plate.
 
Game 2: BYU 6, Saint Mary's 1
 
DIFFERENCE A GAME MAKES
Something about the second game felt better for Sofia Earle in the circle, coming into the game in relief this time around. Already down 4-0 when she entered, Earle was much steadier in game two, going 4.2 innings of relief and allowing just three hits and two runs, while striking out seven. That was a stark contrast from her first outing on the day, where she faced five batters and got just one out. With her seven strikeouts, Earle now has 138 on the season, the fourth most in a single season in Saint Mary's history, and just nine away from third most.
 
BREAKING THROUGH
Despite the outcome, the Gaels were able to generate some momentum off of BYU miscues late in the game. After being shut down for most of the game, the Gaels were able to put together some base runners late, beginning with a Rayna Heredia single in the seventh. It was her second hit of the game, and she moved to second base on a fielding error. That brought up Bry Waters, who then brought her home after a ball was misplayed at shortstop for the Cougars, allowing the first run of the doubleheader to score for SMC. It might seem insignificant in the outcome of Friday's games, but that late run for the Gaels could prove to be large in giving them momentum heading into the final game on Saturday.
 
UP NEXT
The 2022 softball season concludes on Saturday afternoon as Saint Mary's and BYU play the final game of their three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm on BYU TV, and the Cougars will honor their seniors before the ballgame. Saint Mary's is trying to finish off the season with a huge upset win, one that could change the outcome of the West Coast Conference championship.