CLEARWATER, Fla. — BYU softball dropped its season opener to No. 4 Tennessee, 10-0 on Thursday night in the first game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic at Eddie C. Moore Complex.
In the run-rule contest, the Cougars (0-1, 0-0 Big 12) accumulated just two base runners thanks to a pair of walks, resulting in a no-hitter for the Lady Vols.
After starting pitcher Jada Villegas struck out the leadoff Volunteer hitter, Tennessee got on the board before the Cougars got up to bat. The Lady Vols slapped an RBI-double down the left-field line and followed that up with a two-run homer to center to go up 3-0.
Lily Owens began the second frame with a leadoff walk, but it was to no avail. Tennessee forced a 4-6-3 double play and a strikeout swinging to end the inning.
Neither team put up runs in the third, with Tennessee leaving two runners on and BYU going down in order.
With one out, the Lady Vols drew three consecutive walks in the fourth to load the bases. Tennessee plated four runs on a passed ball and a three-run homer over the left-center field wall to make the deficit 7-0 for BYU.
Tennessee extended its lead to 10 in the fifth. A leadoff walk, a double to left to score the runner from first, an RBI-single to right, and a bases-loaded walk contributed to Lady Vols’ three-run frame.
BYU struck out looking, grounded out, and fouled out to end the bottom of the fifth and give Tennessee the 10-0 win.
On Deck
The Cougars will continue the NFCA Leadoff Classic against Michigan State and Notre Dame in a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 6th, beginning at 5 p.m. EST.