BYU drops doubleheader at No. 3 Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — BYU softball’s rally at No. 3 Texas came up short in game one of a doubleheader before falling in five innings in game two at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Friday afternoon.

GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE

The Cougars (16-9, 1-5 Big 12) came back from a 2-0 hole to take a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning of game one, but were unable to score from there, dropping their second-straight Big 12 series to start conference play.

BYU recorded just one hit in game two, a Keila Kamoku single to left center in the second inning. The Cougar pitching staff gave up eight hits and six walks, a difference maker in the run-rule loss.

Game 1: Texas 7 | BYU 3

• Lily Owens: 1-3, 2 RBI
• Maddie Bejarano: 1-4, RBI

The Longhorns got on the board in the first inning, plating two on a single, walk, sacrifice bunt and single that ricocheted off the glove of a diving Ailana Agbayani at shortstop into left field.

After a scoreless second, the Cougars responded in the top of the third inning to even the score at 2-2. Jaelynn Lambert reached on an infield error before Ailana Agbayani singled off the right center wall, moving Lambert to third. Lily Owens then singled into left center, scoring the pair.

In the fifth inning, Aleia Agbayani singled into left, with Lambert singling on an infield bunt. Ailana Agbayani was hit by a pitch to load the bases and a Maddie Bejarano single to left scored Lexie Bennett, pinch running for Aleia Agbayani, to give BYU a 3-2 lead, its first and only of the series.

Texas got the run back in the home half of the fifth on a leadoff hit by pitch, walk and single to left field. The Longhorns added one more run on a bases-loaded walk, but flew out to leave them loaded.

Expanding its lead, Texas scored another pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, stringing together a double, sacrifice bunt, walk, intentional walk, sacrifice fly and single to right field to go in front, 7-3.

Ailana Agbayani earned a two-out walk in the seventh, but the Cougars went down on a fielder’s choice, halting the late rally opportunity and closing out game one of the doubleheader.

Game 2: Texas 10 | BYU 0 (5)
Texas started where it left off, leading off with a double and stolen base, before scoring on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead through one.

The Longhorns added to their lead in the bottom of the second, drawing a pair of two-out walks before a double that rolled to the wall in left center, scoring two more for a 3-0 advantage.

A trio of walks loaded the bases for Texas in the bottom of the third, and a bases-clearing triple down the right field line doubled the Longhorn lead at 6-0. With an infield single, Texas scored one more, going in front 7-0 after three.

The Longhorns tacked on three more in the fourth with a single, double and homer to left center, making it 10-0, Texas.

Retired in order in the top of the fifth inning, BYU went down with a swinging strikeout and two groundouts, finishing off the run-rule loss.

Up Next
Returning to the state of Utah, the Cougars will head to Salt Lake City for a single game at Utah on Monday, Mar. 18 at 5 p.m. MDT before hosting No. 4/7 Oklahoma State in a three-game Big 12 series at Gail Miller Field.