BYU softball: Purcell earns MVP honors for NCAA-bound Cougars

When BYU coach Gordon Eakin says Jessica Purcell is a game-changer, he's not exaggerating in the least.

The Cougars' sophomore catcher has been tough all season long, winning three conference player of the week honors, tallying a .394 hitting average and a slugging percentage of .824. She doesn't just hit for average either, as Purcell leads the team with 17 home runs and 16 doubles. She's started 54 of the team's 55 games and has racked up a team-high 81 RBIs this season. But she doesn't just excel at the bat.

Purcell took on the catching position half time in her freshman season, splitting time between shortstop and catcher, and Eakin asked her to become the Cougars' full-time catcher this season. She's managed 387 put-outs with only five errors and a .988 fielding percentage from her new position.

Purcell, who was named the Mountain West Conference MVP on Monday, will lead the Cougars into the NCAA tournament against Kentucky on Thursday.

With all of her accolades, Purcell is extremely humble and personable. While acknowledging her many accomplishments, she gives much of the credit to her team.

"Last year, I had a dislocated finger to start the season, and in conference I was up and down, but this year I came in with a better attitude, and the team has helped push me to be the best," said Purcell, whose accomplishments even during her freshman season would please most any player. One of those accomplishments happened to be a home run in her first collegiate at-bat against Southern Utah.

Purcell came out to Provo for a visit as a four-year letter winner from Nogales High School in California, not expecting to want to stick around and play for the Cougars. But everything she saw won her over.

"It wasn't the plan to come here, but I came for a visit and loved everything. As soon as I came here, I knew where I was supposed to be," she said.

But she was a little surprised when Eakin wanted to turn her into a catcher during her freshman season as she'd played mostly shortstop and center fielder during her previous playing career. As time has moved on though, she's decided maybe catching isn't so bad.

"If I had to choose, I'd choose catching. What happens in the game is the job of the catcher. It's my job to pump up the pitcher and get the other players pumped up," said Purcell, though she fully admits the position is not exactly the safest place to stand on the field. She's been nailed in unprotected places several times and says her hand hurts with every pitch, but she loves it anyway.