SANTEE, Calif. -- Senior Lacey Hofstedt's 3-for-3 day at the plate wasn't enough as BYU softball fell 4-1 to No. 15 Baylor in the second day of the San Diego Classic II Friday.
"We need to play a little cleaner mentally," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "If we do, we'll give ourselves a chance to win those kinds of games."
Although both teams kept the scoring down, the Bears (15-6) were able to capitalize on the bases, scoring four runs on 11 hits while the Cougars (15-7) managed one run on nine team hits.
Hofstedt recorded the first game of her career with perfect hitting to go along with a stolen base and the lone run scored for BYU. Catcher Sydney Broderick drove in the RBI while recording two hits in three at-bats in the game.
"McKenna Bull did a nice job keeping us in the game," Eakin said. "They're ranked 15th for a reason, but we were right in the game. We have to do a better job as we mature as a young team."
Sophomore pitcher McKenna Bull (15-4) recorded only her fourth loss of the season, givingin up 11 hits and four earned runs.
Baylor struck first in the top of the second inning when an RBI single by Jordan Strickland pushed the first score across the plate and a second run came home as BYU threw Strickland out trying to advance to second base.
The next two frames were scoreless for BYU as the Cougars left three runners on base to end the second and were retired in order in the third.
The Bears struck again in the top of the fifth with an RBI-single to center and another when a baserunner was caught stealing.
With the score 4-0, Hofstedt singled to short to lead off the bottom half of the fifth inning. Lauren Bell and Ashley Thompson singled in the inning to juice the bases for Broderick, setting up her single to center for the RBI and the 4-1 tally. BYU then struck out to leave three runners on base again.
The Cougars threatened again in the sixth as Hofstedt reached second with a single followed by her 13th stolen base, but she was stranded to end the frame.
BYU plays against Western Carolina University and UConn in its final day of the San Diego Classic II Saturday. A link to live stats for the WCU game is available on the BYU softball schedule page.