SACRAMENTO, Calif. — BYU softball scored early and often en route to a 9-4 win against Sacramento State at Shea Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The Cougars (10-4, 0-0 Big 12) outhit the Hornets, 12 to six, also benefitting from four Sacramento State errors. BYU left nine runners on base to the Hornets’ two.
Starting righty Kaysen Korth pitched four shutout innings, surrendering just one hit, a single up the middle, before the Cougars turned to Alyssa Aguilar and Kate Dahle in relief down the stretch.
Player Highlights
- Lindy Milkowski: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI
- Hailey Morrow: 2-3, RBI
- Tristen Turlington: 2-4, RBI
- Lily Owens: 1-2, RBI
- Kaysen Korth (W, 7-0): 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
The Cougars loaded the bases four times in the game, including in each of the first three innings. A line out double play and fly out left BYU stranded on the base paths in the first frame before it proceeded to score in four-straight innings.
In the second inning, Hailey Morrow, Tristen Turlington and Lauren Flanders each reached safely, with Morrow scoring as Aleia Agbayani was hit by a full count pitch for a 1-0 lead.
The Cougars plated three in the third on four singles from Brittingham, Lindy Milkowski, Morrow and Turlington, a walk and Hornet throwing error, making it 4-0, BYU.
Adding three more in the fourth inning, the Cougars reached twice on Sacramento State errors before a Jaelynn Lambert sacrifice bunt and two-run Lindy Milkowski homer to left, giving BYU a 7-0 advantage.
Loading the bases again in the fifth frame, a Lily Owens single and Lambert groundout plated two more and put BYU in front 9-0.
With the run-rule in effect, the Cougars had the Hornets down to their final out after two quick outs on four pitches before Sacramento State strung together consecutive doubles and a homer, cutting into the BYU lead at 9-4.
Erasing a walk in the sixth inning, the Cougars got a line out double play, also closing out the seventh by catching a Hornet runner stealing to finish off the 9-4 victory.
On Deck
BYU will continue its Northern California slate in Pacific’s Libby Matson Tournament on Friday, Feb. 28, facing UC Davis and San Jose State beginning at 10 a.m. PT.