AMES, Iowa — BYU softball took an early lead before falling in game one to Iowa State, 5-3 at Cyclone Sports Complex on Thursday evening.
The Cougars (21-10, 5-5 Big 12) got off to a quick start with a leadoff Lily Owens home run before quieting over the ensuing innings. BYU made some noise in the sixth, but a four-run deficit proved to be too much to overcome.
Leaving five runners on base to the Cyclones three, the Cougars were also out-hit, seven to six. Both teams recorded a pair of errors in the contest.
Player Highlights
- Lily Owens: 2-4, HR, RBI
- Ilove’a Brittingham: 1-2, RBI
- Keila Kamoku: 1-3, 2B
- Kate Dahle (L, 7-3): 3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 6 K
- Jada Villegas: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K
Owens opened things up with a leadoff home run that went sailing over the left field wall, giving BYU an early 1-0 lead. The Cougars had two on later in the inning, but lined into a double play, halting their potential attack.
Starting pitcher Kate Dahle worked around a leadoff bunt single by Iowa State with a fielder’s choice and a pair of strikeouts.
In the second, BYU got a runner to third after an error, groundout and passed ball, but a sacrifice squeeze attempt came up unsuccessful, and the Cougars remained ahead by just one.
The Cyclones took advantage in their half of the second, drawing a leadoff walk before two more Dahle strikeouts. After a passed ball, however, ISU homered to left center, taking a 2-1 lead.
Iowa State loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth, and Jada Villegas came on to pitch. A sacrifice fly and pair of BYU errors led to three Cyclone runs, putting ISU ahead 5-1.
After seeing their side retired in three-consecutive innings, the Cougars put both Owens and Hailey Morrow in scoring position with no outs in the sixth, forcing a Cyclone pitching change.
Back-to-back sacrifice flies from Ilove’a Brittingham and Lindy Milkowski scored the pair before BYU once again had runners at second and third in a Bre Townsend single and Keila Kamoku double into the gap, bringing a third Iowa State pitcher into the circle. The Cougars struck out to end the inning, however, leaving them both stranded after cutting into the ISU lead at 5-3.
Miranda Mansfield led off the seventh with a bloop single to left, but three-straight fly outs doomed BYU’s attack as it dropped the series opener, 5-3.
On Deck
Game two between the Cougars and Cyclones will be on Friday, April 4 at 4 p.m. MDT on ESPN+.