LOS ANGELES – A BYU softball comeback for a 3-2 win against Ohio followed by a one-run loss after going down 7-0 early against Boston University split BYU's second day at the UCLA/Long Beach State Invitational on Friday.

“We played two hard-fought games today,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “We made a nice comeback in game one but falling behind by seven runs in game two proved to be too much. We almost overcame the seven-run deficit but fell inches short.”

In the first game of the day, BYU (10-10, 0-0) managed a late comeback after going down 2-0 early against Ohio (11-8, 0-0). Two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning boosted the Cougars to a 3-2 win against the Bobcats. To start the second game, Boston University (10-5, 0-0) tallied seven runs in the first two innings, but the Cougars fought back, scoring six runs in two innings but ultimately lost 7-6.  

Emilee Erickson, Arissa Paulson and Taylei Williams all recorded two runs between the two games. Erickson and Paulson both hit home runs and recorded multiple RBI. Autumn Moffat pitched in both games tallying the win against Ohio and struck out nine batters across both games.

Game 1
Going into the sixth inning, BYU was down 2-1. A single from Ashley Godfrey loaded the bases with Rylee Jensen on third and Taylei Williams on second with no outs. Arissa Paulson singled through the left side driving Jensen home to tie the game at 2-2. Emilee Erickson hit a sacrifice fly out in foul territory bringing Williams home giving the Cougars the edge 3-2.

BYU vs. Ohio Box Score

Ohio scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning with a homer to left making the score 1-0. They tacked on another run in the top of the third increasing their lead 2-0.

The Cougars scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth as Erickson hit her fifth homer of the season to left field decreasing the Bobcats lead 2-1.

Two runs in the bottom of the sixth frame gave BYU the win 3-2 as the Cougars were able to hold off Ohio in the top of the seventh.

Game 2
The Terriers put up three runs in the top of the second inning taking an early lead 3-0. The scoring continued for Boston University in the top of the fourth as they scored four more runs, giving them a 7-0 lead.

BYU vs. Boston University Box Score

There was still a lot of game left to play as BYU started to chip away at BU's lead. The Cougars came alive in the bottom of the third inning scoring five runs. A two-run double from Williams and RBI singles from Erickson, Libby Sugg and Podhurcak put BYU back into the game making the score 7-5.

Arissa Paulson brought the game within one run in the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to center, making the score 7-6.

In the bottom of the seventh, Brooke Vander Heide singled to the catcher and advanced to third on the next two plays. But, she was left stranded as a groundout ended the game and the Terriers took the win 7-6.

BYU plays its final game of the invitational Saturday, March 9, against No. 2 UCLA. The game is slated for 3 p.m. PT at Easton Stadium in Los Angeles. Live stats and a live audio broadcast are available on the schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – In its final five-game tournament, BYU softball takes one last trip to California for the UCLA/Long Beach State Invitational.

BYU Game Notes Week 5

BYU came to this tournament in 2017 splitting its games 2-2, beating Dartmouth twice and losing to UCLA twice. 

The Cougars will play five different teams, starting with Robert Morris and Long Beach State on Thursday, March 7 at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. PT, respectively. Both games will be played at LBSU Softball Complex.

The tournament continues on Friday, March 8, with BYU playing against Ohio at 11:30 a.m. and Boston University at 2 p.m. PT, both at UCLA’s Easton Stadium in Los Angeles. The Cougars finish the tournament on UCLA’s home turf taking on the No. 2 team Saturday, March 9 at 3 p.m. PT.

Live stats will be available on the BYU schedule page with a live stream on the Big West Conference Network for the game against Long Beach State and a live audio feed for the game against UCLA. 

BYU Storylines

FIVE-GAME TOURNAMENT. The UCLA/Long Beach State Invitational is the last of four straight five-game tournaments BYU will attend. It is the third and final week that the Cougars will travel to California until conference play begins on April 5 against Loyola Marymount. 

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. 

RANKED OPPONENTS. The Cougars will take on No. 2 UCLA in the tournament. This will be the fourth top-25 ranked team this season (No. 9 South Carolina, No. 18 Baylor, No. 4 Oklahoma. It will be the second top 5 team, after playing No. 4 Oklahoma in Palm Springs. 

WCC WEEKLY AWARDS. Rylee Kerisa Viramontes won her first WCC Pitcher of the Week award after her performance in San Diego. Viramontes pitched a one-hit shutout against Florida Gulf Coast in a complete game where she allowed no walks. This is the fourth total WCC weekly selection for BYU this season. Autumn Moffat and Rylee Jensen have 

Opponent Outlook
Robert Morris | Thursday, March 7 | 9 a.m. PT | 

• The Colonials have compiled a 3-10 record so far this season. They most recently competed at the Liberty Softball Classic.

•This is the second meeting between the two teams as BYU won the last game 7-2 in 2016.

•Interim Head Coach Jexx Varner is in his first season with the Colonials. 

Long Beach State | Thursday, March 7 | 11:30 a.m. PT | 

• In 2019, the 49ers have a 7-10 overall record. They also competed at the San Diego Classic last week going 1-2.

• Last season, the 49ers advanced to the NCAA regional in Tempe and finished the season ranked No. 20.

• Long Beach State leads the series with a 5-3 record, last season they took the win 5-4 in Las Vegas.

• Kim Sowder is in her 13th season as head coach of the Spartans holding a 399-258-1 overall record.

Ohio | Friday, March 8 | 11:30 a.m. PT | 

• The Bobcats currently have a 11-7 overall record during the 2019 season, including going 4-1 last weekend at the Duke/NC State Invitational.

• Last season, Ohio was the Mid-American Conference Champions and advanced to the NCAA Regionals. 

• This will be the first meeting between the two teams.

• Kenzie Roark starts her first season with the Bobcats.

Boston University | Friday, March 8 | 2:00 p.m. PT | 

•During the 2019 season, the Terriers are currently 8-5. Last weekend, BU went 2-2 at the Wooo Pig Classic.

• BU went to the Norman NCAA Regionals last season but lost to No. 2 Oklahoma and Missouri.

• The two teams have met once before as the Cougars took the win 9-0 in 2017.

• Ashley Waters enters her 4th season leading the Terriers compiling an overall record of 92-71.

No. 2 UCLA | Saturday, March 9 | 3:00 p.m. PT | 

• The Bruins are 17-1 in the 2019 season, including going 9-12 in the Big West.

• UCLA recorded its only loss of the season last week against Michigan at the Judi Garman Classic.

• In 2018, the Bruins were defeats by the National Champion’s in the first round of the College World Series.

• Kelly Inouye-Perez starts her 13th season with the Bruins recording a 561-167-1 overall record including leading her team to fourth straight appearances in the College World Series.