Bull pushes No. 25 BYU to 2-1 win at Oregon State

CORVALLIS, Ore. – McKenna Bull notched double-digit strikeouts for the third time this season as No. 25 BYU softball defeated Oregon State 2-1 at the OSU Softball Complex on Saturday afternoon.

“This was a game that was dominated by good pitching on both sides," BYU pitching coach Pete Meredith said. "McKenna stood out and did a remarkable job, especially clutching up in the seventh inning to give us the victory."

The Cougars (23-10, 0-0 West Coast Conference) took the second game of the two-game series against the Beavers (16-15, 1-5 Pac-12). The two teams struggled to get runs home, leaving six on base each.

Bull threw 10 strikeouts in the complete-game win, allowing just one run. Alexa Strid went 2 for 2 from the plate.

BYU at Oregon State Box Score

After a scoreless first inning, BYU got on the board in the top of the second. With the bases loaded, Rylee Jensen was walked, bringing home Caitlyn Larsen Alldredge for the first run of the game. At the end of the second, the Cougars led 1-0.

Following two empty innings for both teams, the Beavers tied the game up in the bottom of the fifth. A single advanced the scoring run to third, and a wild pitch gave the runner enough time to get home, making it 1-1.

BYU responded in the top of the sixth with a run to go up 2-1. Strid got the defense’s attention stealing second, allowing Madison Merrell time to slide into home. Oregon State got runners on in the bottom frame, but Bull threw a strikeout to retire the side.

The Cougars went three up, three down in the top of the seventh. The Beavers got runners on second and third in the bottom half of the inning, but two strikeouts and a pop fly to Jensen in left field sealed the 2-1 win.

Up next for the Cougars is a trip to Logan to take on in-state foe Utah State on Wednesday.