PROVO, Utah – BYU softball fell to No. 25 Arizona State in game one of a three-game series, 9–4 at Gail Miller Field on Thursday night
The Cougars (18-31, 7-5 Big 12) were outhit 13–4, despite claiming the game’s only home run from Hailey Shuler in the bottom of the first.
Both teams committed just one error, and BYU struck out nine times while delivering only two strikeouts of its own.
Player Highlights
- Hailey Shuler: 1–4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
- Bre Townsend: 1–3, 2 RBI, 1 2B
- Tristen Turlington: 1–3
- Maddie Udall-Woolley: 1–3
Arizona State struck first, scoring off an RBI single to right field in the top of the first, taking an early 1–0 lead moving into BYU’s first at-bat.
The Cougars responded quickly, with Shuler hitting a two-run shot in the back half of the inning and giving BYU its first lead at 2–1.
The Sun Devils tied things back up in the top of the second, scoring off a single to center field.
After both teams went scoreless in the third, Arizona State tacked on another run off an RBI single in the top of the fourth, leaving the Cougars down 3–2 moving into the bottom of the fourth.
BYU erased the deficit shortly after Bre Townsend hit an RBI double to left field, bringing in Hailey Morrow from first and moving the score to 3–3.
In the fifth, the Sun Devils reclaimed the lead with a two-run double. Another double and subsequent singles in the top of the sixth then increased the Arizona State advantage to 9–3.
The Cougars added a run in the bottom of the sixth, with Ilove'a Brittingham coming home on a ground out. Neither team scored for the remainder of the game, cementing BYU’s 9–4 defeat.
On Deck
The Cougars return to Gail Miller Field for the second of three games against the Sun Devils on Friday, May 1, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. MDT on ESPN+.