CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – BYU softball split the first two games at the Marry Nutter Classic on Thursday afternoon at the Big League Dreams Complex.

"At this high level of competition we need to figure out how to close games out," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Once again, we had a 4 to 1 lead after five innings and didn’t finish. However, we were able to bounce back after that tough loss to beat a solid Missouri team."

In the first two games of the tournament, BYU (5-5, 0-0 WCC) took an extra-inning loss 5-4 to Nebraska (8-2, 0-0 Big Ten) followed by 7-3 win over Missouri (8-3, 0-0 SEC).

Game One

The Cougars tallied eight hits but were unable to keep their lead. Senior Libby Sugg and Arissa Paulson both hit doubles in the game while Rylee Jensen hit her fourth homer of the season and went 2 for 4 at the plate with two RBI.

BYU vs. Nebraska Box Score

After three scoreless innings, the Cougars put a run on the board in the top of the fourth. A single to third base from Lexi Tarrow got BYU started. Sugg followed, hitting a double to center field driving in Tarrow for the first run of the game. In the top of the fifth frame, with Brooke Vander Heide on first base, Jensen sent a ball over the fence to make the score 3-0.

However, Nebraksa answered back in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Huskers loaded the bases and a sacrifice fly to right field sent in a runner to cut the lead to 3-1. The next batter walked to again load the bases but a fielder’s choice to Marissa Chavez helped BYU escape the inning with no more damage.

BYU scored one more in the top of the sixth as Sanchez singled followed by Arissa Paulson who doubled to right field. Allie Hancock and Aubrielle Paulson subbed in as pinch runners for Sanchez and Arissa Paulson, respectively. Hancock made it home as Chavez singled to make the score 4-1.

The Huskers built on their momentum from the fifth inning driving three runners home to tie the game at 4-4. No runs were scored in the seventh inning, sending the game into extra innings. The Cougars were unable to get a runner home in the top of the eighth and Nebraska came up to bat.

With a runner on second, due to international tiebreaker rules, the Huskers bunted to advance the runner to third. Nebraska again bunted and BYU tried to get the runner at the plate but it was too late and the Huskers took the win 5-4.

Game 2

Ashley Godfrey went 3 for 4 at the plate with one run and one RBI while Taylei Williams hit her first BYU homer tallying three RBI. Kerisa Viramontes got her first win of the season, pitching all seven innings, striking out four batters.  

BYU vs. Missouri Box Score

To start the game, Vander Heide reached on a fielder’s choice and then stole second to put her in scoring position. Bridget Fleener drew a walk before Sanchez singled to right field scoring Vander Heide and advancing Fleener to third. Godfrey also singled driving in Fleener and gave BYU the lead 2-0 in the first inning.

Mizzou got on the board with a homer in its first at bat of the second inning to close BYU’s the lead to 2-1.

With her second at bat of the day, Fleener hit her first dinger of the season in the top of third to make the Cougars’ score 3-1. The Tigers answered back scoring a run of their own in the bottom of the third, making it a one-run game again. 

With bases loaded and only one out, Sugg came in to pinch hit, hitting a sacrifice fly to left field sending in Tarrow to make the score 4-2. Williams followed driving her first BYU homer over the center field fence for a three-run jack to give BYU a five-run lead at 7-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers threatened to come back, loading the bases and scoring a run. But, a hitter fouled out leaving two runners on base giving BYU the win 7-3.

BYU continues at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Friday, Feb. 22 at 12:30 p.m. PT against Northwestern. The Cougars will then take on No. 4 Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. PT. Both games will be played at the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City. Both games will be streamed live on FloSoftball with live stats available on the BYU schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – The BYU softball team continues its tournament slate in Cathedral City, California at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Feb. 22-24.

BYU Game Notes

The Cougars have traveled to this tournament for the last 11 years to face some of the best teams in the nation. Last season, BYU had wins against CSUN and Fresno State but fell to No. 11 Tennessee, Missouri and No. 4 Oklahoma. 

The tournament begins Thursday, Feb 22 as BYU plays Nebraska followed by Missouri at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. PT, respectively. The Cougars continue on Friday with games against Northwestern at 12:30 p.m. and No. 4 Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. BYU finishes the tournament on Saturday against UCSB at 3:00 p.m.

All the games will be played at the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, California. The games will be broadcast live on FloSoftball with live stats available on the schedule page. 

BYU Storylines

Five-Game Tournament. The Mary Nutter Classic is the second of four straight tournaments where BYU will play five games in a weekend. The other tournaments include the Boyd Gaming Rebel Classic, San Diego Classic and the UCLA/Long Beach State Invitational.  

Power at the Plate. BYU captain Libby Sugg returns for her final season at BYU. The two-time captain has been named to the USA Softball College Softball Player of the Year watch list and was named NFCA All-American Third Team after the 2018 season. 

Top 5 Team. This is the second tournament where BYU will face ranked opponents. They previously played against No. 9 South Carolina and beat No. 18 Baylor. However, the Cougars will face No. 4 Oklahoma, their first top 5 team of the season on Thursday, in Cathedral City. 

California Connections.  The Cougars have made the trip to Cathedral City every season since 2008. One of the top tournaments in the nation the tournament draws in the biggest talent in college softball. BYU will make six trips to California this season with the conference schedule, in addition to the two tournaments following the Mary Nutter Classic.  

Sweep WCC Awards. Rylee Jensen and sophomore pitcher Autumn Moffat were named West Coast Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, following their performance in Las Vegas. Jensen hit three homers and batted .800 in two games. Moffat allowed no earned runs, totaling 14 strikeouts.

Opponents Outlook 

Nebraska | Thursday, Feb. 21 | 10:30 a.m. PT 

• The Huskers finished the 2018 season with a 31-23 overall record finishing in the Big Ten 9-13.

• Nebraksa is coming off a 4-0 weekend at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with two wins each against NC State and Pitt.

•This is the 12th meeting between the two teams with Nebraska having the advantage 8-4. The two teams met last year in Tempe, Arizona.

•Head Coach Rhonda Revelle enters into her 27th season compiling a 968-537 record.

Missouri | Thursday, Feb. 12 | 1 p.m. PT 

• In 2018, the Tigers had a 30-29 overall record, going 6-17 in the SEC.

• Missouri holds the series with a 1-3 record. The two teams played against each other last year in the same tournament as Mizzou took the win 8-6.

• The Tigers advanced to an NCAA regional in 2018 but were eliminated by Oklahoma.

• Larissa Anderson is in her first season as head coach of the Tigers after coaching at Hofstra.

Northwestern | Friday, Feb. 22 | 12:30 p.m. PT 

• The Wilcats posted a 38-19 overall record during the 2018 season, including going 14-8 in the Big Ten, losing to Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament.

• Northwestern advanced to the 2018 NCAA Athens Regional but lost to No. 7 Georgia.

• Between the two teams, the series is tied 3-3. Last year, BYU took a win 8-0 at the Husky Classic.

• Kate Drohan starts the 18th season with the Wilcats recording a 570-345-1overall record. 

No. 4 Oklahoma | Friday, Feb. 22 | 3:30 p.m. PT 

• In 2018, the Sooners went 57-5 and a 18-0 mark in the Big 12.

• Oklahoma won the Big 12 title in 2018 and advanced all the way to the Women’s College World Series but lost to Washington in the first round. The Sooners have won the WCWS four times (‘00,‘13,’16,’17).

• This will be the sixth meeting between the two teams. They met last year in the Mary Nutter Classic and the Sooners took a 10-0 win.

• Patty Gasso enters her 24th season leading the Sooners compiling an overall record of 1364-386-3.

UCSB | Saturday, Feb. 23 | 3:00 p.m. PT 

• The Gauchos went 20-34 overall during the 2018 season, going 7-14 in the Big West.

• BYU holds the advantage over UCSB 8-2.

• Brie Galicinao enters her 12th season with an overall record of 291-309.