ST. GEORGE -- Playing the top-ranked team in the nation, the BYU softball team fell to Washington, 8-2, Friday and then to Tulsa, 5-0, in the first day of the inaugural Red Desert Classic in St. George, Utah.
Against Washington, the Cougars were held scoreless until the fifth inning, when second baseman Jackie Ellis scored on a fielder's choice by Becca Erickson. An error by Husky pitcher Jamie Graves allowed Brooke Cadiente to score, but BYU stranded two additional base runners in the inning and could not recover to narrow the margin and claim a win.
Washington scored in all but two innings, and seven of its nine starters recorded a hit in the victory. Graves allowed just four hits, struck out five and walked none in the complete game, also preserving her unbeaten season record of 9-0. Meghann Pricer took the loss for the Cougars to fall to 3-2 on the season, letting up eight hits for five earned runs in five innings of work.
Facing Tulsa, the Cougars were shut out by Angela Wedlake's complete game, four-hit effort. Third baseman Dawn Reed went 2-for-3 on the offensive end, also knocking in two runs. Outfielder Liz Smith hit a double for theCougars.
Pricer took the loss again against Tulsa, allowing six hits and two earned runs in six innings. BYU's record fell to 4-5 on the season, while Washing