BYU softball finished its participation in the Judi Garman Classic with a split doubleheader at Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, California. The Cougars lost to No. 8/9 UCLA before securing a win against LMU on Saturday.
In the first game, BYU started strong with a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Lily Owens walked and Hailey Shuler laid down a sacrifice bunt, setting up Ilove’a Brittingham’s home run to left field. Rita Tavita then walked and Danica Acosta doubled to right, scoring Tavita after a replay review.
UCLA responded in their half of the first inning by taking the lead with two singles up the middle, two walks, and a double off the right field wall, making it 4-3. The Bruins continued to add runs over the next few innings through singles, home runs, and triples. By the end of four innings, UCLA led 12-3.
Brittingham hit her second home run of the game in the fifth inning for BYU, narrowing UCLA’s lead to 12-6. However, UCLA extended its advantage again in the sixth inning. BYU scored twice more in the seventh on singles from Bre Townsend and Tristen Turlington but ultimately fell short as UCLA won 13-8.
Brittingham went 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs for BYU. Acosta also had three hits and an RBI while Owens contributed two hits, two runs scored, and a double.
In their second game against LMU, BYU overcame an early deficit. LMU took an initial lead with one run in the first inning and added two more in the fourth to go ahead 3-0. In response during their half of the fourth inning, BYU scored when Acosta reached on a bunt single and Maddie Udall-Woolley singled through the right side; Acosta later crossed home plate on a wild pitch.
The Cougars took control during a four-run fifth inning that saw eight batters come up to hit. Owens began with a solo home run off the scoreboard in left center. After several players reached base—including Tavita, Hailey Morrow, Acosta, and Udall-Woolley—Acosta scored on a double steal attempt that put BYU ahead 5-3.
LMU managed another run in the sixth but could not regain control as Shuler pitched a complete game for BYU with seven strikeouts across seven innings while allowing three earned runs.
Key performances included Udall-Woolley going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and Owens adding another multi-hit game along with her home run.
BYU will start Big 12 conference play next week by visiting No. 14 Arizona for a three-game series starting Thursday, March 5 at 6 p.m. MST.
