CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — BYU softball fell to Long Beach State, 6-4 at Pawtucket Field in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Friday night.
The Cougars (10-3, 0-0 Big 12) led on three different occasions in the game, receiving a 2-run home run from Maddie Udall and turning a pair of double plays, but were unable to score after the third inning, leaving 11 total runners stranded on base.
Player Highlights
- Lily Owens: 4-4, R
- Ailana Agbayani: 2-4, R
- Maddie Udall: 1-4, HR, 3 RBI
In a game that begin over 90 minutes after its scheduled start time, BYU opened the top of the first inning with an Ailana Agbayani single through the right side. Moving around on a Maddie Bejarano sacrifice bunt and Violet Zavodnik sacrifice fly, Agbayani came in to score on a Huntyr Ava single that took the glove off of LBSU’s third baseman.
Long Beach State answered in the bottom of the first, scoring two off a pair of singles, double down the right field line and sacrifice fly. Zavodnik threw out a runner at third on the fly out, keeping the Beach’s lead at 2-1.
Keila Kamoku singled through the infield in the top of the second, and Maddie Udall sent a 2-run shot out to left center, helping the Cougars re-take the lead, at 3-2.
LBSU tied things back up a 3-3 in the bottom of the second, picking up a single, walk and sacrifice bunt before a BYU error led to a run. Zavodnik again threw out a runner, this time at home on an inning-ending double play.
With Lily Owens and Hailey Morrow in scoring position in the top of the third inning, the Cougars scored their final run of the game on a Udall groundout, going back in front 4-3.
The Beach responded again in their half of the third, getting two walks and a wild pitch. Pitcher Kate Dahle, third baseman Owens and first baseman Huntyr Ava combined for a double play in the frame, but another Cougar error the next batter scored a run and Long Beach State tied the game once more at 4-apiece.
After a scoreless fourth, LBSU plated two more to go ahead for good. The Beach, with their leadoff runner aboard on a five-pitch walk, earned a two-out base runner on BYU’s third error of the game before doubling home a pair for a 6-4 lead.
The Cougars had their chances in the sixth, leaving two runners stranded in scoring position, but went down in order in the seventh to close out the game.
Up Next
BYU will conclude Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic play with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 24 against Cal Poly and Rutgers. First pitches are scheduled for 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. PST, with both games streamed on FloSoftball.