LOS ANGELES – BYU softball was unable to hold off No. 2 UCLA after tying the game in the fifth inning, losing 8-2 Saturday afternoon during the final game of the UCLA/Long Beach Invitational.
"We played a very good game for six innings," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We let the game get away from us in the sixth inning with most of UCLA's runs coming with two outs. Autumn Moffat pitched very well and if we had cleaned things up, we had a chance to win."
The Cougars (10-11, 0-0) kept up with the No. 2 Bruins (19-1, 0-0) taking a 1-0 lead after the second inning. Libby Sugg nailed her second homer of the season while Rylee Jensen went 2 for 4 at the plate with one run.
BYU went up first as Sugg sent a ball out of the park against the Bruins giving the Cougars the edge 1-0. In the bottom of the inning, with the bases loaded and only one out, UCLA hit a ball to Allie Hancock at first base. Hancock threw home to get the runner out at home. The Bruins grounded out for the final out and the Cougars escaped the early jam unscathed still ahead 1-0.
In the third, a Bruins homer tied the game at 1-1. A walk followed by a double to right center put the Bruins up 2-1.
BYU stayed in the game in the top of the fifth when Jensen reached first base on an error by the pitcher and then stole second. With two outs and Brooke Vander Heide at the plate, a hard-hit ball deflected off the third baseman’s glove and went into left field. As UCLA scrambled to get the ball back to the infield, Jensen had enough time to make it home before the tag to tie the game at 2-2.
The bottom of the fifth inning wasn't so promising for the Cougars as the Bruins scored six runs, including a two-run homer, putting the game out of a reach with UCLA up 8-2. The team tried to rally in the seventh with a couple of runners on but it wouldn't be enough.
BYU travels to its final tournament of the season for the Tennessee Invite in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Cougars will play two games against Tennessee and Texas in the tournament with all four games being played at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. The games will be broadcast on the SEC Network and live stats will be available on the schedule page.