TUCSON, Ariz. — BYU softball dropped game two of its three-game series at No. 13/14 Arizona, 8-0 in five innings at Hillenbrand Stadium on Friday afternoon.
The Cougars (5-16, 0-2 Big 12) put the leadoff runner on in four of the game’s five innings, but left seven runners on base, unable to score a run.
Player Highlights
- Lily Owens: 2-3
- Danica Acosta: 1-1, BB
Lily Owens singled into center on the second pitch of the game, and stole second during the next at-bat, but struck out twice and grounded out to end the opening inning.
Arizona plated one in the bottom of the first on an infield single and double in the left center gap to lead 1-0 after one.
BYU put two in scoring position in the second on a Hailey Morrow single and a Danica Acosta walk with a 10-pitch at bat before a Maddie Udall-Woolley sacrifice bunt. Two groundouts squandered the opportunity, however, leaving the game at 1-0, Wildcats.
Owens singled again in the third, and the Cougars had runners on the corners after a Rita Tavita single off the left center wall, but BYU grounded out again.
Arizona took advantage of BYU’s missed opportunities, batting around the order in the home half of the third. The Wildcats would go ahead 7-0, scoring six runs on five hits and two walks.
The Cougars again put two on in the top of the fourth on a Danica Acosta single and Udall-Woolley walk, but a strikeout and a pair of fly outs left them stranded.
U of A plated another in the home half of the frame on a walk, stolen base and single, putting it in run-rule position up 8-0.
BYU went down in order for the first time in the contest on five pitches, dropping the game and series to the Wildcats.
On Deck
The Cougars will look to salvage the series in Saturday afternoon’s finale on Mar. 6 at noon MT on ESPN+.