Bats quiet in both losses for BYU softball

CLEARWATER, Fla.—BYU softball lost to LIU Brooklyn 3-2 and Providence College 5-1 in its last day of the Under Armour Showcase in Florida on Saturday.

After sweeping Maine in a double header on Thursday, the Cougars were defeated by the Blackbirds (4-18) and the Friars (6-10) falling to 9-15 on the season.  

Game 1

BYU started its first game on a high note by grabbing a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. JC Clayton singled to center field to start the game and led the Cougars with two of the team’s four hits. She advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Carly Duckworth. Two walks and an error brought in both runs to put BYU up and force a quick pitching change for the Blackbirds.

The pitching change worked as LIU was able to hold BYU to just three hits and no runs in the next six innings.

The Blackbirds tied the game up in the bottom of the second. After singling to start the inning, a walk and a wild pitch placed runners on first and second with two outs. LIU’s Nicole Archer jumped on the next pitch and tripled to tie the game up at 2-2.

Katie Manuma highlighted the top of the third with a lead-off double, but with one out and Manuma on third BYU wasn’t able to capitalize.

LIU scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth following a double and single in the inning. The Blackbirds let BYU back into the game in the top of the seventh after loading the bases off walks, but a strikeout sealed the game and the 3-2 victory for LIU. Hannah Howell was given the loss after surrenduring three earned runs on seven hits.

Game 2

The Cougars were held to just seven hits in their second game of the day. Alexandra Hudson Shamo went a perfect 3 for 3 with a double, while Manuma hit the other extra-base hit of the game with a home run in the bottom of the fifth for the only Cougar run. That hit was Manuma's fifth home run of the season and gives her a home run in each of the five preseason tournaments. 

Providence went ahead early, scoring one run in the first and second to take a 2-0 lead over BYU. They added two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to complete the 5-1 defeat of BYU. Duckworth pitched a full game and gave up five earned runs on eleven hits. She also had a career-high seven strikeouts. 

BYU will have a week off before its home opener on Mar. 19 against Marist College at 6 p.m. MDT.