BYU Softball Wins Rivalry Game Against Utah On Walk-Off Home Run

PROVO, Utah – Martha Epenesa hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift BYU softball over the Utah Utes for a rivalry game victory.

The Cougars hosted the Utes at Gail Miller Field on Wednesday, April 21.

Walk-Off Home Run

With the game tied 6-6, Epenesa hit a solo homer off of Utah’s Sydney Sandez to give the Cougars a 7-6 win.

It was the second of back-to-back home runs by BYU.

WALK OFF ALERT! 🚨BYU ends the game with a walk off homer to extend their win streak to 13.#BYUSoftball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/k8Y201HvmX

— BYUtv Sports (@byutvsports) April 22, 2021

Prior to the walk-off hit, the Cougars found themselves fighting an uphill battle at the end of the game.

Earlier in the contest, BYU had a 5-0 lead.

In the top of the seventh inning and the Utes down 5-2, Ellessa Bonstrom connected on a pitch and gave Utah a one-run lead on a grand slam home run.

It was Bonstrom’s 12th home run this season.

Team-leading 12th HR for @ellessabonstrom, a grand slam, turns a 5-2 deficit into a 6-5 lead in the 7th!! pic.twitter.com/abhe8vJKSE

— Utah Softball 😷 (@Utah_Softball) April 22, 2021

In the bottom of the inning and the Cougars down one, Huntyr Ava hit one out of the park to tie the contest.

It was Ava’s ninth homer of the season.

On deck was Epenesa, who hit a 2-0 pitch out of the park to win the game.

🚨DOULBE HOMER!🚨@huntyrava and @aye_mafa send out back to back homeruns, bringing the Cougs another WIN🔥

— BYU Softball (@byusoftball) April 22, 2021

Epenesa’s walk-off was her first home run of the season.

Up Next for BYU

With the 7-6 result, BYU improved to a 24-13 record.

It was the Cougars’ 13th straight victory and avenged a 1-0 loss to Utah in February.

COUGARS TAKE DOWN THE UTES💥#BYUSoftball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/MdeGfghCb7

— BYU Softball (@byusoftball) April 22, 2021

BYU’s next game is against San Diego on Friday, April 23 at 5 p.m. (MDT).

Up Next for Utah

With the loss, the Utes fell to 17-19 this season.

Stunning turn of events, as the home squad hits back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the 7th to end the game. pic.twitter.com/D2GbsTJXgH

— Utah Softball 😷 (@Utah_Softball) April 22, 2021

Utah’s next game is against Arizona on Friday, April 23 at 7 p.m. (MDT).