BYU falls at Arizona State, 10-6

BYU softball dropped at 10-6 contest at Arizona State that featured four total home runs on Thursday night.

Violet Zavodnik hits an RBI single at Arizona State in the Littlewood Classic on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024Violet Zavodnik hits an RBI single at Arizona State in the Littlewood Classic on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024

TEMPE, Ariz. — BYU softball dropped at 10-6 contest at Arizona State that featured four total home runs in the Littlewood Classic opener at Farrington Softball Stadium on Thursday night.

BOX SCORE

The Cougars (5-1, 0-0 Big 12) and Sun Devils hit two home runs each. Center fielder Violet Zavodnik had a two-run homer for BYU and designated player Hailey Morrow delivered a solo shot. One of ASU’s two home runs was a grand slam that ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.

Player Highlights

BYU plated two runs in the top of the first, starting with a leadoff hit-by-pitch from Ailana Agbyani and a Maddie Bejarano sacrifice bunt that moved Agbayani to second. She scored as Violet Zavodnik singled through the left side and Zavodnik came home on a Huntyr Ava single after stealing second and moving to third on an ASU throwing error.

ASU struck back in its half of the first, loading the bases on a double and two walks before a grand slam that put the Sun Devils up 4-2.

The Cougars responded in the top of the second inning as Bejarano was hit by pitch and Zavodnik launched an 0-1 pitch deep over the wall in right center to tie the game at 4-all.

ASU retook the lead in the bottom of the second on a leadoff walk, sacrifice bunt, and back-to-back singles, going ahead 6-4 through three innings.

Hailey Morrow helped BYU inch back, leading off with a solo shot to left center that drew the Cougars within one, at 6-5.

The Sun Devils tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the third on a walk, wild pitch and infield single, adding another in the fourth with two singles and a BYU errors to put ASU in front, 8-5.

With Keila Kamoku, Maddie Udall and Tristen Turlington each singling to lead off the top of the sixth, BYU got a run back on a bases loaded infield groundout by Macy Simmons, making it 8-6, Arizona State.

ASU earned a two-out single that led two a two-run homer in the home half of the sixth inning to extend the lead to four runs, 10-6.

The Cougars will continue Littlewood Classic play with a doubleheader against No. 21/17 Virginia Tech and Illinois State on Friday, Feb. 16. First pitches are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. MST, with live stats available on Stat Broadcast.