The Cougars held the Utes in check for much of the game, letting up two runs in the first but keeping them scoreless in innings two through six. Utah found its rhythm batting at the top of the seventh as it scored six runs and batted around its order, forcing two pitching changes from BYU before the Cougars could secure the third out.
On the other side, BYU got into scoring positions often, loading the bases twice and getting runners to third on two other occassions as well. Despite their chances, the Cougars were kept off the board after the first until the seventh as well.
BYU entered the bottom of the seventh down seven runs after having let up six in the top of the inning. Agbayani led off for the Cougars, singling to begin the inning. BYU then loaded the bases for the third time in the evening behind an Ilove’a Brittingham double and Lindy Milkowski being hit by a pitch.
Kamoku then stepped up to bat and singled to right field, bringing home both runners in scoring position and advancing the pinch runner, Jaelynn Lambert, to third, making the score 8-3. Lambert would then score on a wild pitch from the Utes and Kamoku advanced into scoring position at second, with the score then 8-4.
Following the wild pitch, Utah hit Bre Townsend, putting two Cougar runners on base. Maddie Udall-Woolley then got to the plate and singled, bringing in the fourth run of the inning for BYU and shrinking the lead to just three.
The Utes were forced into their first pitching change of the inning, reinserting their pitcher from the first six innings. Following the switch, Miranda Mansfield was walked, which loaded the bases for the Cougars once again. Lauren Flanders then hit a ground out that advanced all the runners and scored the sixth Cougar run of the night.
Lily Owens singled into center, bringing home the seventh run and putting two BYU runners on once more. After the Utes entered their third pitcher of the contest, Agbayani stepped up to hit for the second time in the frame. On a full count, Agbayani got the pitch she was looking for and smacked a homer to center field to walk it off, winning both the game and the series, 10-8.
The victory marks the biggest BYU comeback of the year and the second night in a row that it has overcome a deficit of four runs or more in the seventh inning.
On Deck
The Cougars and Utes will conclude their series on Saturday, April 19 at 1:30 p.m. MDT on ESPN+.
