BYU falls to California Baptist 6-3

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — BYU softball fell to California Baptist University 6-3, on day two of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Friday morning.

In the top of the third, CBU scored first off a squeeze play, giving sophomore Kenzie Yamakoshi the opportunity to score. BYU’s second baseman Taylei Williams and first baseman Brooke Hill-Barrington capped the Lancers’ scoring with a double play, with Hill-Barrington stretched out to make the play at first, ending the third inning at 1-0. 

The Cougars were able to load the bases in the bottom of the fourth, with hits by Martha Epenesa and Huntyr Ava and a walk for Macy Simmons, but BYU couldn’t even the score until the next inning. Violet Zavodnik sent a ball deep into left-center for a double, allowing pinch runner Lauren Flanders to score BYU’s first run.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Lancers scored five more times, with runs from sophomore Raegan Cheyne and Yamakoshi and a game-changing three-run home run by senior Amanda Argomaniz to widen the lead at 6-1. With two outs, BYU pitcher Chloe Temples came in the circle to replace Autumn Moffat-Korth, and closed the inning with a strikeout.

The Cougars scored twice in the bottom of the sixth, with a run by pinch runner Alyssa Podhurcak and Williams, both unearned. BYU ended the sixth at 6-3.

CBU had no runs in the top of the sixth inning, putting pressure on the Cougars to rally in the bottom of the seventh. Simmons was walked, and then Mallory Barber singled to right-center which enabled Simmons to advance to third. With two outs, Williams was up to bat, but was unable to get on base.

BYU will face Long Beach State tomorrow at 10 a.m. PST for its final game at the Marry Nutter Collegiate Classic. The game will be streamed live on FloSoftball.