After a 20-minute lightning delay pushed back the first pitch, Houston hit two home runs in its first three batters to take an early lead.
BYU broke things open in a busy bottom of the second, batting through its lineup. The rally was sparked by Brittingham’s home run — her 10th of the season and third in two games — before the Cougars evened the score on Tristen Turlington’s RBI single down the left field line, scoring Tavita from second.
The Cougars in blue took a 3-2 lead on Lexie Bennett’s RBI groundout, which brought home Bre Townsend, and kept the pressure on with two outs. Danica Acosta added an RBI single to score Turlington, and Hailey Shuler capped the inning with a deep drive off the left field wall for a two-run single, plating Acosta and Lily Owens to extend the lead to 6-2.
After the game’s second lightning delay, Houston was held scoreless before BYU loaded the bases with no outs and added a run on Bennett’s sacrifice fly, allowing Brittingham to score.
In the fourth, with two outs, Houston hit a three-run home run and soon after added another run with the bases loaded, cutting the deficit to 7-6. BYU was unable to build on its lead in the fourth or fifth innings, leaving the bases loaded in fifth.
Houston regained its first lead since the opening inning with three runs on three hits to make it 9-7.
BYU then responded with its first runs since the third inning. With one out, the Cougars loaded the bases, and Tavita delivered a two-run double to right center, scoring Shuler and Miranda Mansfield. Tied at nine, BYU took the lead on a sacrifice fly that brought home Brittingham for her third run of the game.
With runners on first and third and two outs, Houston hit a deep foul ball that was caught by Owens to secure the series sweep for BYU.
On Deck
The Cougars continue their homestand next week, beginning with a Tuesday morning game against Utah Tech on ESPN+.
