LOS ANGELES – A BYU softball comeback for a 3-2 win against Ohio followed by a one-run loss after going down 7-0 early against Boston University split BYU's second day at the UCLA/Long Beach State Invitational on Friday.
“We played two hard-fought games today,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “We made a nice comeback in game one but falling behind by seven runs in game two proved to be too much. We almost overcame the seven-run deficit but fell inches short.”
In the first game of the day, BYU (10-10, 0-0) managed a late comeback after going down 2-0 early against Ohio (11-8, 0-0). Two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning boosted the Cougars to a 3-2 win against the Bobcats. To start the second game, Boston University (10-5, 0-0) tallied seven runs in the first two innings, but the Cougars fought back, scoring six runs in two innings but ultimately lost 7-6.
Emilee Erickson, Arissa Paulson and Taylei Williams all recorded two runs between the two games. Erickson and Paulson both hit home runs and recorded multiple RBI. Autumn Moffat pitched in both games tallying the win against Ohio and struck out nine batters across both games.
Game 1
Going into the sixth inning, BYU was down 2-1. A single from Ashley Godfrey loaded the bases with Rylee Jensen on third and Taylei Williams on second with no outs. Arissa Paulson singled through the left side driving Jensen home to tie the game at 2-2. Emilee Erickson hit a sacrifice fly out in foul territory bringing Williams home giving the Cougars the edge 3-2.
Ohio scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning with a homer to left making the score 1-0. They tacked on another run in the top of the third increasing their lead 2-0.
The Cougars scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth as Erickson hit her fifth homer of the season to left field decreasing the Bobcats lead 2-1.
Two runs in the bottom of the sixth frame gave BYU the win 3-2 as the Cougars were able to hold off Ohio in the top of the seventh.
Game 2
The Terriers put up three runs in the top of the second inning taking an early lead 3-0. The scoring continued for Boston University in the top of the fourth as they scored four more runs, giving them a 7-0 lead.
BYU vs. Boston University Box Score
There was still a lot of game left to play as BYU started to chip away at BU's lead. The Cougars came alive in the bottom of the third inning scoring five runs. A two-run double from Williams and RBI singles from Erickson, Libby Sugg and Podhurcak put BYU back into the game making the score 7-5.
Arissa Paulson brought the game within one run in the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to center, making the score 7-6.
In the bottom of the seventh, Brooke Vander Heide singled to the catcher and advanced to third on the next two plays. But, she was left stranded as a groundout ended the game and the Terriers took the win 7-6.
BYU plays its final game of the invitational Saturday, March 9, against No. 2 UCLA. The game is slated for 3 p.m. PT at Easton Stadium in Los Angeles. Live stats and a live audio broadcast are available on the schedule page.