Cougars drop Trailblazer Tournament opener to Beavers

BYU softball meets at the mound during 7-4 loss to Oregon State in the Trailblazer Tournament at Utah Tech on Thursday, March 2, 2023

ST. GEORGE, Utah — BYU softball dropped its Trailblazer Tournament opener on Thursday afternoon, falling to Oregon state, 7-4 at Karl Brooks Field.

BOX SCORE

Despite the loss, freshman catcher Hailey Morrow homered for the second time of her young career. Freshman Delaney Baker also pitched for the first time this season, posting two strikeouts in one inning pitched.

Player Highlights

Chloe Temples: 4.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 1 K
Martha Epenesa: 1-3, 2 R
Hailey Morrow: 1-3, R, 2 RBI
Maddie Bejarano: 2-4, RBI

After a scoreless first two innings, BYU plated one run in the bottom of the third. Alexis Gilio slapped an infield single, making it all the way to third on an OSU throwing error. Maddie Bejarano then singled down the left field line, scoring Gilio and putting the Cougars in front 1-0.

Oregon State answered in the top of the fourth, putting up three runs on three hits and one BYU error to go ahead 3-1.

The Cougars got one run back in their half of the fourth inning as Martha Epenesa reached on a Beaver error, advancing to second. A few batters later, Mallory Barber roped a triple into right center to score Epenesa, making it 3-2, OSU.

In an identical inning from its previous one, Oregon State added to its lead in the top of the fifth, again on three hits and one BYU error.

Epenesa singled to open the bottom of the sixth for the Cougars, coming around to score as Morrow sent out her second home run of the season, this one to center field, drawing BYU closer at 6-4, OSU.

The Beavers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, scoring on two singles and a passed ball to lead 7-4 heading into the bottom of the final frame.

Bejarano singled to center with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, but a flyout and a groundout would end the game for the Cougars.

BYU will continue its Trailblazer Tournament slate on Friday, March 3 with a doubleheader against UNLV and Portland State. First pitches are scheduled for 3 p.m and 5:30 p.m. MST, and both games will be streamed on WAC International.