BYU sports: Y. softball still tops in conference despite split with U.

PROVO — The BYU softball team split a home series against Utah this past weekend, but still remains atop the Mountain West Conference standings as it attempts to defend last year's MWC title.

The Cougars won 8-0 in the first game of the series, but dropped a heartbreaker on Saturday as the Utes came from behind to get the win 6-4.

"It is always nice to beat Utah but I don't care if it's Utah or Utah Valley, we don't like losing," said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin.

The Cougars (31-15, 7-3) have had contribution throughout their lineup, but true freshman Kristin Delahoussaye had an exceptional weekend. Delahoussaye went 4-for-6 combined in the two games against the Utes with a double and a home run.

"Kristin is a solid player," said Eakin. "She is a leader for us and you would never know she is a freshman."

After losing to Utah on Saturday, the Conference race remains tight as BYU, Utah and San Diego State all have legitimate chances at the midpoint of the conference season.

"(The conference race) is tight now," said Eakin. "We could have put a little distance between us and everybody else but now Utah is only one game back."

TRACK AND FIELD: BYU junior Keith Jensen ran the fastest collegiate time at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays on Friday in the 800-meters, finishing in 1 minute 49.75 seconds. Jensen, an 800-meter indoor All-American, qualified for regionals with this sub-1:50 mark.

BYU sophomore Angela Wagner finished third among collegiate runners in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a personal-best and regional qualifying time of 10 minutes 12.06 seconds. Wagner dropped 11.58 seconds off her previous personal best. Carolyn Quebe and Katie Palmer also qualified for regionals in 1500 meters and 800 meters respectively.

RUGBY: The Cougars won their opening round game in the USARFU playoffs against Dartmouth last Friday and they trumped San Diego State 37-14 in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The Cougars will now play Colorado in the collegiate semifinals at the campus of Stanford University.

WOMEN'S GOLF: The BYU women's golf team had a successful second place finish at the MWC Championships last weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Junior Natalia Jimenez led all Cougars and finished tied for second place individually at the tournament. BYU senior Juli Erekson and sophomore Daphne Vines also had strong performances in as they finished tied for eighth place individually.