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BYU softball ranked in Top 25 for first time since 2011

By Nathan Cunningham

Jul 29, 2016; Irvine, CA, USA; Iowa Premier Gold helmets lay in front of the dugout before the game against USA Athletics Gold in the 18U Platinum Championship game at Bill Barber Park at Civic Center Plaza. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2016; Irvine, CA, USA; Iowa Premier Gold helmets lay in front of the dugout before the game against USA Athletics Gold in the 18U Platinum Championship game at Bill Barber Park at Civic Center Plaza. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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After a successful weekend in Mexico at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge, the BYU softball team is now ranked No. 25 in the nation.

The BYU softball team took on three ranked opponents last week in the Puerto Vallarta Challenge and the Cougars were rewarded for their solid play.

BYU defeated Nebraska and No. 13 Washington, and lost to No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 Auburn.

Competition is everything.

Now in the Top 25 for the first time since 2011, the No. 25 BYU softball team is preparing for the DeMarini Desert Classic this week.

The Cougars will play five games in the event, and take on Hawaii, San Jose State, Northern Iowa, Texas State and Nevada.

Those schools are a combined 14-6 on the season and combined for 162 wins last year.

BYU softball has an extremely difficult non-conference schedule, but the Cougars have the roster to handle it.

And it all starts with their ace.

McKenna Bull is simply outstanding.

The senior is the back-to-back West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and she’s got a career ERA of 2.63.

She’s already started in two games this year. She’s 2-0 (both complete games), with a 1.75 ERA and 10 strikeouts.

But BYU softball also has plenty of bats to fear.

Lauren Bell, Libby Sugg and Ashley Thompson – the 2016 WCC Player of the Year – will be the offensive leaders in the clubhouse.

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Bell is a career .348 hitter and she’s currently batting .500 on the year. She’s a force at the top of the order for head coach Gordon Eakin.

Sugg is a power bat in the middle of the order. She hit 18 home runs and drove in 58 runs as a freshman last year. She already has a homer and five RBI on the season.

Thompson hit .400 last year and drove in 49 runs. She’s off to a bit of a slow start this year, but the senior first baseman has been a force in each of the last two years.

The Cougars will play Hawaii tonight before playing Texas State and Nevada in a doubleheader on Friday.

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