Cougars split first day at Wildcat Invitational

TUCSON, Ariz. – On the first day of the Wildcat Invitational, the BYU softball team split its games taking a win against Seattle before being overpowered by No. 3 Arizona.

Game One vs. Seattle

Game Highlights:

• Autumn Moffat-Korth again tied her career-high nine strikeouts for the third game in a row while also throwing a complete game and tallying her second shutout of the season.

Player Highlights:

• Autumn Moffat-Korth: (W, 4-2), 7.0 IP, 4H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 9K
• Rylee Jensen-McFarland: 3-4, 1RBI, 2 SB
• Martha Epenesa: 2-4, 2RBI, 2B

In the top of the third frame, a single from HannahJo Peterson got the Cougars on base. Huntyr Ava was hit by a pitch before Epenesa doubled to bring both runners making the score 2-0.

A Jensen-McFarland single brought in Taylei Williams in the fifth to increase BYU’s lead to 3-0. BYU added one more in the top of the fifth as Kaylie Erickson hit a sacrifice fly to left field bringing home Emilee Erickson capping BYU’s score to 4-0.

Moffat-Korth finished the game striking out two batters in the bottom of the inning to bring her strikeout total to nine for the day as BYU secured the 4-0 win.

Game Two vs. No. 3 Arizona

Peterson gave the Cougars their first hit of the game in the first inning as she singled to right field. However, it was not enough as the Cougars surrendered multiple runs in the bottom of the inning.

In the bottom of the third inning, Carley Brown recorded her first strikeout of the game as the Wildcats went three up, three down. Brown maintained her composure through the end of the game, hold the Wildcats scoreless for the final four innings. However, BYU could not overcome Arizona’s early 12-0 lead and ultimately took the loss in the fifth due to the NCAA eight-run rule. 

BYU returns to the Wildcat Classic on Friday, Feb. 26 to take on Oregon State at 12 p.m. at Hillenbrand field.