EUGENE, Ore. – On the second day of the Eugene NCAA Regional, BYU softball’s 2018 season came to an end after a 16-0 win over University of Albany 16-0 and a 3-0 loss to Drake Friday night at Jane Sanders Stadium.

“We gave a good, solid effort in the first game against UAlbany and Drake was just a better team in the second, so it was bittersweet,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “I’m proud of my team for the fight they had this year. They showed a lot of character and we have nothing to hang our heads about.”

The Cougars (36-22, 13-1, West Coast Conference) outhit the Great Danes (32-16, 13-3 America East) 13 to four in five innings, due to the NCAA eight-run rule. 

In a rematch of yesterday’s one-run loss, BYU fell again to Drake (45-11, 24-1 Missouri Valley Conference) after recording just three hits to the Bulldogs’ six in the nightcap.

Game one

Caitlyn Alldredge and Briielle Breland both smashed home runs, going 2 for 2 at the plate with two and three RBI, respectively. Alldredge hit her 10th home run of the season and 23rd all-time. Breland hit her eighth of the season and 13th of her career. Lexi Tarrow also had two hits while Alexa Strid also recorded three RBI.

Autumn Moffat and Arianna Paulson shared pitching duties. Moffat improved to 9-7 with the win and Paulson tallied three strikeouts in two innings pitched.

The Cougars scored early and often in the bottom of the first inning with six runs on six hits. Jensen and Breland singled through the left side and up the middle, respectively, to put runners on first and second. Lexi Tarrow then bunted to third base as an UAlbany throwing error allowed the runners to advance two bases with Jensen coming home for a 1-0 lead.

Libby Sugg then singled up the middle to bring Breland and Tarrow in and make it 3-0. Alexa Strid reached on a fielder’s choice as Sugg got out at second. Strid stole second before Madison Merrell walked. Alldredge then smashed a three-run homer to left field for a score of 6-0.

BYU added another run in the second. Breland was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a passed ball. She moved to third as the Great Dane pitcher made a fielding error and came across while Fleener grounded out to second to go up 7-0.

Merrell led off in the third frame with a double to left center. Alldredge singled to third base before both runners stole a base. Brooke Vander Heide delivered on a sacrifice fly and scored Merrell. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Breland crushed a two-run dinger over the left-center fence with two outs to make it 10-0.

In the fourth, Merrell and Alldredge walked before Olivia Sanchez sent a double to left center, scoring Merrell. Pinch hitter Allie Hancock was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Erin Miklus walked to send Alldredge in before Ashley Godfrey singled down the right-field line to move the runners up and score Sanchez for a 13-0 advantage.

Strid continued the scoring with a three-RBI double to right center as Godfrey, Miklus and Hancock brought in BYU’s final runs.

BYU vs. UAlbany Box Score

Game two

Fleener went 2 for 3 at the plate with one double and one single. Vander Heide added the Cougars’ other hit on a well-placed bunt.

Moffat, Kerisa Viramontes and Paulson all saw time in the circle. Moffat and Viramontes recorded two strikeouts apiece while Paulson totaled three.

Drake scored two runs in the top of the first on two hits. A walk put Kennedy Frank on base before she moved to third as Macy Johnson doubled to right field. Taryn Pena reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second as Johnson got caught in a rundown at third. Kailee Smith singled to center field as two runners came across for a 2-0 lead.

With one out in the third, Vander Heide laid down a bunt, Jensen walked and Breland was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The runners were stranded as Bulldog pitcher Nicole Timmons struck out the next two batters to end the inning.  

The Bulldogs added another run in the top of the sixth. Two walks and a double to left center from Smith loaded the bases. Nicole Newman then walked to bring a runner home and make it 3-0.

BYU vs. Drake Box Score

PROVO, Utah – After winning the 2018 West Coast Conference title on Saturday to secure the 2018 NCAA Regionals automatic bid, BYU softball will head to the Eugene Regional, starting with a matchup against Drake on Thursday.

"We are excited to be playing in the NCAA tournament again this season," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Oregon has passionate fans and one of the best softball venues in the country. It’s a strong regional and will be a great test. We are ready."

The Cougars (35-20, 13-1 WCC) are making their 14th-consecutive NCAA Regionals appearance and 15th in program history. They won the WCC championship for the fifth-straight year and the 10th title in a row overall, spanning four different conferences.

The Eugene Regional will take place Thursday through Saturday and includes host-team No. 1 Oregon (47-7, 21-3), Albany (30-14, 13-4) and Drake (43-10, 24-1) in addition to BYU. A four-team, double-elimination tournament will take place at each of the 16 regional sites, with each winning team advancing to the Super Regionals.

In 2017, the Cougars played in the Salt Lake City Regional where they picked up wins over Mississippi State and Fordham but fell twice to No. 16/17 Utah.

BYU Game Notes

BYU and Drake will play at 3:00 p.m. PDT. The game will be streamed on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app. The remaining schedule is as follows (all times PDT):

Thursday, May 17:
3:00 p.m. – BYU vs. Drake
5:30 p.m. – Oregon vs. Albany

Friday, May 18:
3:00 p.m. – Game 3 (winners from Thursday)
5:30 p.m. – Game 4 (losers from Thursday)
8:00 p.m. – Game 5 (Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 loser)

Saturday, May 20:
4:00 p.m. – Regional Final
6:30 p.m. – Regional Final Game 2 (if necessary)

LINKS OF NOTE

• Regional Tournament website
• Tickets
• WatchESPN.com
• NCAA Division I Softball Championship Bracket

OPPONENTS OUTLOOK
Drake Bulldogs (43-10, 24-1 Missouri Valley Conference)

• The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 43-10 record, including a 24-1 record and conference title in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• BYU has a 2-0 series record against Drake, having beat the Bulldogs 2-1 in 2008 and 12-1 in 2004.

No. 1 Oregon Ducks (47-7, 21-3 Pac-12)

• The Ducks finished first in the Pac-12 with a 21-3 conference record and a 47-7 overall record.
• BYU has a 4-10 all-time series record against Oregon. The two teams last faced each other in the 2015 Eugene Regional as the Ducks won 8-0.

Albany Great Danes (30-14, 13-4 America East)

• The Great Danes finished the regular season with a 30-14 record, including a 14-3 record and first-place finish in the America East.
• BYU has never faced Albany.