LOS ANGELES – Despite outhitting Loyola Marymount 4 to 3, the BYU softball team dropped its first conference game 2-0 on Friday afternoon at Smith Field.

"It was a tough loss," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We will look to bounce back tomorrow."

Game Highlights

• The Cougars (14-19, 0-1 WCC) outhit the Lions 4 to 3 but were unable to tally a run in the game
• Arissa Paulson pitched a complete game tallying the loss while only recording two earned runs

Player Highlights

• Emilee Erickson: 2-3
• Libby Sugg: 1-2, 2B
• Arissa Paulson: L (6-7), 6.0 IP, 3H, 2R

BYU vs. LMU Game 1 Box

LMU (24-14, 1-0 WCC) scored the only runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Lions drew a walk before their cleanup batter sent a ball over the left field wall for a two-run home run and a 2-0 lead. With no outs, BYU pitcher Arissa Paulson managed a double play, diving to catch a bunt and then threw the ball to first base to Erin Miklus who tagged out the runner.

In the top of the sixth, Erickson singled as the ball bounced over the pitcher's head. Sugg drew a walk to get BYU into scoring position. But, both runners were left stranded as the Cougars ended the inning with a strikeout.

The Cougars were unable to overcome the Lions' two run lead in the top of the seventh, losing their first conference game of the season 2-0.

BYU finishes out conference opening weekend with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 6. Both games will be played at Smith Field in Los Angeles with the first game beginning at 12 p.m. and the second at 2:30 p.m. PT. A live stream and live stats will be available on the schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – The BYU softball team travels south to Cedar City to play Southern Utah on Tuesday, followed by the first series in West Coast Conference play at Loyola Marymount this weekend. 

BYU Game Notes Week 8

In their first game of the week, the Cougars (13-18, 0-0) will travel to Cedar City, Utah to play SUU at 3 p.m. MT at Kathryn Berg Field. The reigning five-time WCC champions will then look to defend their title against Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles at Smith Field on Friday, April 5 at 2 p.m. PT with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 6 at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. PT.

The game against the Thunderbirds will be broadcast on PlutoTv while the games against the Lions will be available on a YouTube live stream. 

BYU Storylines

CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS. The Cougars open up West Coast Conference play this weekend against LMU. In 2017, BYU swept the Lions during opening weekend and last year the Cougars also swept Santa Clara. BYU was picked to win the WCC Conference title for a fifth year in a row with Cougars earning every vote from the conference head coaches except for two (head coaches can’t vote for their own team) which went to LMU.

HOME RUN HEAT. Nine different Cougars have hit homers this season to give BYU a total of 26. Junior Rylee Jensen leads the team with six followed by Libby Sugg, Emilee Erickson and Ashley Godfrey with four apiece

CHASING THE CHARTS. A handful of BYU softball players are moving up in the BYU all-time record books. Senior Libby Sugg finished the 2018 season ranked No. 2 and No. 3 at BYU in career on-base percentage (.455) and slugging percentage (.700), respectively. She continues to move up in other categories including No. 4 in RBI (199) and No. 5 in homers (46). After this weekend, Arissa Paulson moved into the No. 9 spot for career shutouts (6) and No. 10 in career strikeouts with 210. 

SWEEP WEEKLY AWARDS. Senior catcher Libby Sugg and sophomore pitcher Arissa Paulson swept the West Coast Conference weekly awards. Sugg led BYU to two wins against Utah Valley early in the week, batting .691 between the two games with three runs, four RBI, a home run and a double in both games. Paulson recorded two wins during the week, including a 6-0 shutout against UTSA. This is both of their first honors this season and BYU’s seventh award.

Opponent Outlook

Southern Utah University | Tuesday, April 2  | 3 p.m. MT | PlutoTV

• The Thunderbirds currently have a 3-20 record with a 1-2 record in the Big Sky Conference. 

•This will be the 62nd meeting between the two teams as the Cougars hold the series at 54-7 after overpowering SUU last year 18-4.

•Head Coach Kortny Hall begins her first season as the Thunderbirds head coach after five seasons as the head coach at Southern Virginia University. 

LMU | Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 | 2 p.m. & 12/2:30 PT | Youtube Stream

• LMU is 23-14 on the season and will also open up WCC play this weekend with the series against BYU. 

•Last season, the Lions won the postseason NISC Championship beating UC Riverside 5-0 in the final game.  

• BYU leads the series 21-8 most recently beating LMU to claim its 10th-straight conference title.