Cougars drop series opener at LMU, 3-2

Martha Epenesa lays down a bunt at LMU on April 14, 2023

LOS ANGELES — BYU softball dropped the opening game of its series at Loyola Marymount, 3-2 at Smith Field on Friday afternoon.

BOX SCORE

The Cougars (21-11, 3-1 WCC) rallied to tie the game in the fourth, but were unable to score again, tallying just three hits to the Lions’ five and leaving eight runners left in base.

Player Highlights

Martha Epenesa: 1-2, R
Ailana Agbayani: 1-3
Alyssa Podhurcak-Foss: 1-3

LMU struck first in the bottom of the first, drawing a two-out walk and then hitting a two-run home run to right field, going ahead 2-0.

Hailey Morrow earned a leadoff walk in the top of the second, moving around to third on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, but BYU was unable to bring her in to score.

The Cougars intentionally walked a Lion to load the bases in the bottom of the third, but first baseman Huntyr Ava reached up over the top of the LMU dugout to record a foul out and get BYU out of the jam.

A two-out attack helped the Cougars draw even in the top of the fourth, as Epenesa singled to third base on a ball that settled on the infield after a couple bounces. Maddie Udall was then hit by a pitch and Alyssa Podhurcak-Foss reached on a Lions error to score Epenesa.

Taryn Lennon came in to pinch run for Udall, and she came home from third on a wild pitch. BYU would load the bases after a Maddie Bejarano walk and Ailana Agbayani single, but a strikeout would end the inning.

LMU answered in the bottom of the fourth, again homering with two outs, this time a solo shot down the left field line to retake the lead at 3-2.

Podhurcak-Foss tripled down the right field line with two outs in the top of the sixth, but a strikeout would leave her stranded and keep the deficit at one.

Holding the Lions scoreless in the home half of the sixth, the Cougars had the top of the order due up in the seventh. Violet Zavodnik drew a two-out walk, but a pop out prevented any further rally and closed out the game.

BYU will wrap up its three-game set at LMU with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 15. First pitches are scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. PDT, and both games will be streamed on the WCC Network.