SALT LAKE CITY — BYU softball was unable to withstand a late-inning Utah comeback, dropping the series opener, 3-2 at Dumke Stadium on Thursday night.
The Cougars (17-29, 6-13 Big 12) led 2-0 after three on a 2-RBI single by Maddie Udall-Woolley, but the Utes plated one run in each of the final three frames to earn the win.
Player Highlights
Starter Hailey Shuler, who drew a two-out walk in the top of the first, worked through a bases loaded bottom half of the frame, inducing a pair of groundouts to prevent damage.
Ilove’a Brittingham led off the second with a double to left field and BYU put two on as Bre Townsend was hit by a pitch, but the Cougars were unable to bring the pair home.
BYU broke through in the third, loading the bases to start the inning on consecutive singles by Danica Acosta and Lily Owens before another Shuler walk. Udall-Woolley then delivered a 2-RBI single through the left side to put the Cougars up 2-0.
After scoreless third and fourth frames, Acosta opened the fifth with a double to the track in deep right center, but two-straight line outs and a foul out left her stranded.
Utah plated one in the fifth on a double to deep left, fly out and single through the left side, making it 2-1, BYU.
The Utes tied things up in the sixth after loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. The Cougars picked up a force out at home on a fielder’s choice before a swinging strikeout, but a fielding error helped Utah draw even at two.
Acosta landed a two-out single to shallow center in the seventh, but BYU grounded out to end the inning.
Utah put its leadoff runner on in the bottom of the seventh after another Cougar error and obstruction call, and walked it off six pitches later with a single through the left side to earn a 3-2 game one win.
On Deck
Game two between BYU and Utah is set for Friday, Apr. 24 at 5 p.m. MT on ESPN+.