FULLERTON, Calif. — BYU softball dropped a 3-2 contest at Cal State Fullerton before beating Cal 7-6 in a Judi Garman Classic opening doubleheader at Anderson Family Field on Thursday.
GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE
Game 1: Cal State Fullerton 3 | BYU 2
The Cougars (3-12 0-0 Big 12) made it a one-run game in the fourth, but left four runners on base after that, unable to plate another run.
Player Highlights
- Maddie Udall-Woolley: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI
- Ilove'a Brittingham: 1-1, R, 2 BB
Cal State Fullerton opened the game with a walk, stolen base and homer to left center, taking a 2-0 lead through one.
BYU led off the second with an Ilove’a Brittingham single and Hailey Shuler hit-by-pitch, but grounded into a double play and struck out to end the inning.
The Titans added another run in the bottom of the second on a walk, groundout, stolen base and infield single, making it 3-0 after two.
After a leadoff Lexie Bennett walk was erased by a double play in the top of the fourth, the Cougars put two on with two outs in a Brittingham walk and Shuler single through the left side. Maddie Udall-Woolley then double the pair home, lacing a ball to right to cut into the Fullerton lead at 3-2.
Looking to do damage in the sixth, BYU put two in scoring position with walks drawn by Hailey Morrow and Brittingham and a Shuler sacrifice bunt, but a strikeout and groundout left the Cougars stranded.
After turning two in the bottom of the sixth to keep the Titan advantage at one, BYU was down to its final three outs in the seventh. Lily Owens drew a two-out walk, but the Cougars flew out to end the contest.
Game 2: BYU 7 | Cal 6
The Cougars (4-12, 0-0 Big 12) saw their 6-1 lead trimmed to a 7-6 advantage late, but held on for the victory.
Player Highlights
- Hailey Morrow: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI
- Rita Tavita: 3-4
- Danica Acosta: 1-1, RBI
- Lexie Bennett: 1-4, RBI
- Hailey Shuler (W, 1-2): 3.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
- Gianna Mares: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB
- Jada Villegas (S, 2): 0.2 IP, 0 H 0 R, BB, K
Cal plated one in the top of the first on a single, stolen base, fly out, walk and double steal.
BYU answered back in the home half of the inning as Owens was hit by a pitch and Morrow crushed a home run down the left field line.
The Cougars added to their lead after a Bear pitching change in the second, stringing together a Rita Tavita single, Udall-Woolley fielder’s choice, Bre Townsend sacrifice bunt, Danica Acosta safety squeeze, Owens single, Bennett single and Morrow ground out to score four and go in front, 6-1.
Both teams scored in the fourth, with Cal adding two on a walk, double and single and BYU picking up a Shuler sacrifice fly to make it 7-3.
After fairly quiet fifth and sixth frames, Cal threatened in the top of the seventh with two singles, a pair of walks, catcher’s interference and fielder’s choice that had the Cougar cushion down to one, at 7-6, but BYU induced a first pitch groundout to pick up the win.
On Deck
The Cougars will have just one game at the Judi Garman Classic on Friday, Feb. 27, facing Seattle at 9:30 a.m. PT.