SALT LAKE CITY – After falling 3-2 against No. 16/17 Utah in the first game of the day, No. 21 BYU softball kept its postseason hopes alive with a decisive 12-1 run-rule win against Fordham in the NCAA Salt Lake City Regional on Friday.

“I am proud of the team for being resilient through the tough loss to Utah,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “It’s not easy to do to be able to regain your composure, put it behind you and come out and play a solid game. They did that and I’m proud of that effort. We will get a little bit of rest tonight and come back tomorrow ready to fight as hard as we can.”

The last time BYU (46-12) won at least two games in an NCAA Regional was in 2012 when the Cougars defeated Mississippi State and Portland State. The Cougars will stay alive and face the Utes (35-14) again on Saturday. BYU has also tied the program record for the most wins in a season with 46.

McKenna Bull and Arissa Paulson split the pitching duties today. Bull tossed three strikeouts against Utah without giving up a walk. Paulson had four strikeouts with one walk in the win over Fordham (46-17), eliminating the Rams from the NCAA Regionals.

Game one

Despite having a lead heading into the final inning, BYU had its first loss of the NCAA regionals against in-state rival Utah, falling 3-2 on a walk-off single. The Cougars left 11 stranded throughout the game, falling short on scoring opportunities.

After both teams went three up, three down in the first inning, BYU got on board first in the top of the second. With runners on first and second, Alexa Strid hit a single up the middle, giving Ashley Thompson time to slide home. However, the Utes answered back in the bottom frame, scoring on an RBI double to tie it at 1-1.

In the third inning, strong defense from the two teams ended scoring threats. The Cougars loaded up the bases, but Thompson lined into a double play to end the frame. In the bottom of the third, the Utes got runners on first and second, but Lauren Bell, Strid and Thompson turned a double play of their own to get out of a jam.

Thompson faced loaded bases again in the top of the fifth. This time she hit an RBI single to the gap between third and short, scoring Bell to take the 2-1 lead.

Following a scoreless sixth inning, Utah rallied. An RBI double tied the game, and a blooper to centerfield scored the game-winner in a walk-off. BYU dropped the first game 3-2.

BYU vs. Utah Box Score

Game two

Following Fordham’s win over Mississippi State in the first elimination game, the Rams and Cougars faced off in the second. BYU came out on top 12-1 in five innings. Libby Sugg went 3 for 3 with three runs and four RBI, while Thompson went 3 for 4 with two runs and one RBI.

The Cougars got things rolling right away, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Libby Sugg started it off by hitting a double to bring in Lexi Tarrow. In the next at bat, Thompson hit an RBI single to right field, scoring Sugg. Caitlyn Larsen Alldredge hit a single to left field, giving Thompson time to run safely home for the 3-0 advantage.  

After a scoreless second inning, BYU brought in more runs. Briielle Breland got it started after she was walked with the bases loaded, bringing Sugg safely home. Brooke Vander Heide followed that with a single up the middle that scored two. A double to left field from Bell and a single from Tarrow tallied three more runs, then Sugg blasted a two-run homer over left field to make it 11-0 at the end of the frame.

Fordham avoided the shutout in the bottom of the third after a triple to left center with one out scored its first run. However, Paulson and the defense stayed strong, getting the next two outs to hold the 11-1 lead after three innings.

Sugg added one more run in the top of the fifth. She hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, allowing Rylee Jensen time to tag up and score. The Cougars held their 12-1 lead, getting the Rams to go three up, three down to win the game.

BYU vs. Fordham Box Score

Next up, BYU will play Utah in a win-or-go-home rematch on Saturday at 2 p.m. MDT. It will be live on ESPN3 and WatchESPN, along with radio options on BYU Radio – Sirius XM 143.

PROVO, Utah – After winning the 2017 West Coast Conference title to secure the 2017 NCAA Regionals automatic bid, No. 21 BYU softball will head to the Salt Lake City Regional, starting with a matchup against Mississippi State on Thursday.

“We are excited to be in the NCAA tournament again," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We look forward to playing quality teams in our own backyard."

The Cougars (44-11, 14-1 WCC) are making their 13th-consecutive NCAA Regionals appearance and 14th in program history. They won the WCC championship for the fourth-straight year, the ninth title in a row overall spanning four different conferences.

The Salt Lake City Regional includes host-team No. 16/17 Utah, Fordham and Mississippi State in addition to BYU.

In 2016, BYU traveled to the Missouri Regional where the Cougars picked up a win against Louisville but lost to No. 15 Missouri and Nebraska.

BYU Game Notes

BYU and Mississippi State will play at 4 p.m. MDT. The game will be televised live on ESPN3. The remaining schedule is as follows (all times MDT):

Thursday: 
4:00 p.m. - BYU vs. Mississippi State
6:30 p.m. - Fordham vs. Utah

Friday:
1:00 p.m. - Game 3 (winners from Thursday)
3:30 p.m. - Game 4 (losers from Thursday)
6:00 p.m. - Game 5 (winner from Game 4 vs. loser of Game 3)

Saturday:
2:00 p.m. - Regional Final
4:30 p.m. - Regional Final Game 2 (if necessary)

Fans can buy tickets at this link.

Opponents Outlook

Mississippi State Bulldogs (36-20, 10-14 SEC)

• The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 36-20 record, including a 10-14 record in the SEC. They were a No. 9 seed in the SEC tournament, losing in the opening round to Ole MIss, who went on to win the tournament championship.
• BYU has a 1-2 series record against Mississippi State. The last time these two teams faced was in 2012 in NCAA Regionals, which the Cougars won 4-3 in nine innings.
   

No. 16/17 Utah Utes (33-14, 13-9 Pac-12)

• The Utes finished in fifth in the Pac-12, struggling as of late after getting swept at home against Washington. 
• BYU and Utah faced earlier this season in Provo with the Cougars winning 4-3. Libby Sugg hit a pair of two-run homers to lead the team to an upset win.
• The Cougars lead the all-time series 33-17, including a 13-10 mark on the road. In 2016, BYU played at Utah and won 5-4.
   

Fordham Rams (45-15, 18-5 Atlantic 10)

• The Rams finished the season strong, winning the Atlantic 10 championship after already winning the regular-season title. 
• BYU has played Fordham just once previously, winning 5-2 back in 2014 in the Mary Nutter Classic.