TEMPE, Ariz. – Five Cougars hit home runs against Oregon State, but it wasn’t enough as No. 19 BYU softball fell 14-9 in a slugfest on the team’s final day at the Kajikawa Classic.
“After a late night playing Georgia yesterday, I want our team to know I am proud of how hard they fought against Oregon State this morning,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “If we keep fighting like we did today and never look for excuses as individuals or as a team, we will be fine. This team needs to fight.”
Two of the Cougars’ (1-4, 0-0 West Coast Conference) five dingers brought in multiple runs as Ashley Godfrey and Caitlyn Alldredge drove in three- and two-run homers, respectively. Madi Merrell, Libby Sugg and Bridget Fleener also crushed round-trippers over the fence.
BYU vs. Oregon State Box Score
Oregon State (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12) entered the game undefeated at the tournament with wins over No. 21/24 Oklahoma State and Indiana.
BYU and OSU both scored one run apiece in the first inning. A single from Sugg to left field brought Lexi Tarrow home for the Cougars first run.
In the top of the second, the Beavers scored two runs to take a 3-1 lead.
Freshman pitcher Autumn Moffat relieved Arissa Paulson as Oregon State’s bats remained alive in the third. The Beavers scored five runs on five hits to go up 8-1.
The Cougars responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Alldredge sent a homer down the left field line with Briielle Breland on base to make it 8-3.
In the top of the fourth inning, Alysha Everett homered down the right field line for a 9-3 advantage. Kayleen Shafer doubled down the left field line for an RBI to go up 10-3. BYU's Kerisa Viramontes came in to pitch to get out of the inning.
On a full count at the plate, Madison Merrell smashed one over the centerfield fence to trail 10-4 in the bottom of the fourth. Ashley Godfrey hit a three-run homer with Tarrow and pinch runner Erin Miklus on, closing the gap, 10-7.
The Beavers scored three runs in the fifth inning on one home run and an error.
Sugg immediately answered with a solo shot to right center as the first batter in the bottom of the fifth to keep the Beavers' lead to 13-8.
After walking two OSU batters in the sixth, Viramontes sparked a double play, fielding a ground ball and throwing it to Alldredge at third, who then sent it to Sugg at first. The Beavers squeaked out another run on a single through the left side to finish the inning ahead, 14-8.
Fleener smashed a fifth bomb for BYU on a full count in the Cougars' last ups but it wasn't enough in the 14-9 loss.
The Cougars will play five games next week at the Marucci Deseret Classic in Las Vegas from February 15-17.