BYU falls at No. 12 LSU, 3-2

Ailana Agbayani throws across the field during game at LSU on March 30, 2023

BATON ROUGE, La. — BYU softball dropped a 3-2 decision to No. 12 LSU in the Purple & Gold Challenge on Thursday night at Tiger Park.

BOX SCORE

A pitcher’s duel through the first four innings, the Cougars took the lead in the top of the fifth before the Tigers scored the final two runs of the game. Each team recorded five hits on the night, with BYU committing two errors to LSU’s three and leaving seven on base to their eight.

Player Highlights

Kasten Korth: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 5 K
Ailana Agbayani: 1-3, R | 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R
Alexis Gilio: 1-3, R

Starting pitcher Kaysen Korth struck out the first four Tiger batters she faced before an LSU walk, single and sacrifice bunt brought home a run to put the Tigers in front 1-0 through the first two innings.

The Cougars threatened in the top of the third with Maddie Bejarano reaching on an error and Huntyr Ava poking a single up the middle, but a strikeout would end the threat.

LSU had two runners on twice in the bottom of the third, but another Korth strikeout, her fifth, got BYU out of the jam.

Ailana Agbayani came in to pitch in the fourth and saw the Tigers load the bases after a hit and two Cougar errors. The freshman was able to record a force out at second, however, as BYU got out of a jam unscathed for the second-consecutive inning.

The Cougars sent seven batters to the plate in the top of the fifth as they scored twice to take the lead. Alexis Gilio beat out an infield single, and advanced to second as Agbayani reached on a fielder’s choice in similar fashion.

Both runners stole bases to move into scoring position, with Gilio scoring on a wild pitch that ricocheted off the umpire’s face mask. Bejarano then reached on an error that allowed Agbayani to come home and put BYU in front 2-1.

LSU answered back in the bottom half of the fifth inning with a solo home run down the left field line, making it 2-2.

Chloe Temples and Agbayani each pitched in the bottom of the sixth as the Tigers re-took the lead on a walk, sacrifice bunt, wild pitch and single to go ahead 3-2.

LSU’s run proved to be the game-winning run as the Cougars were retired in order in the top of the seventh.

BYU will continue Purple & Gold Challenge play on Friday, March 31 with a doubleheader against Louisiana Tech at 2 p.m. CDT and No. 12 LSU at 7 p.m. CDT, with the Cougars' second game of the day set to be streamed on SEC Network+.