BYU prevails against Utah Tech, 4-3

PROVO, Utah — BYU softball defeated the Utah Tech, 4-3 at Gail Miller Field on Wednesday evening behind first baseman Huntyr Ava's 2 RBI and a solo home run.

BOX SCORE

The Cougars (25-13, 4-2 WCC) registered seven hits on the day to the Trailblazers' six while leaving a total of eight runners on base. 

Player Highlights

• Huntyr Ava: 2-4, 2 RBI, HR
• Maddie Bejarano: 1-3, 2B, RBI
• Ailana Agbayani: 1-4, RBI
• Kaysen Korth: 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 4 K

After a 1-2-3 inning by starting pitcher Kaysen Korth, the Cougars threatened early in the bottom of first, as they would load the bases with the help of Hailey Morrow's single. A groundout to third, however, helped get the Trailblazers out of the inning. 

The first hit of the game for Utah Tech came in the form of a double, followed by a single to take an early 1-0 lead on the Cougars. BYU responded with Alexis Gilio getting in scoring position, but a line out to short would strand the fourth runner of the game through the first two innings. 

Following a home run by Utah Tech to take a 2-0 lead, Ava responded with her team-leading 10th homer of the year to cut into the Utah Tech lead at 2-1. BYU was able to get two more base runners on in the inning before a strikeout stranded another two to end the bottom half of the third inning. 

After getting out of the top-half of the fourth inning with no runs allowed, the Cougar bats came alive, as they would string together three-straight hits and score three runs to take a 4-2 lead. Ailana Agbayani singled up the middle after a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt, scoring pinch runner Lauren Flanders from second. Following the hit, Maddie Bejarano doubled to left center, scoring Agbayani. Ava's big day continued, as her single scored Bejarano to give BYU the 4-2 lead through four innings.

After threatening again in the fifth, the Cougars were unable to add to their lead after getting three more baserunners on, stranding two to end the inning. In the sixth inning, the Trailblazers cut into the Cougar lead with a single through the left side to make it a 4-3 game.

Korth proved to be too much in the 7th inning, shutting down the Utah Tech offense to finish her 11th complete game of the year, and her 13th win on the season.  

BYU will continue its nine game homestand as it gets set to face conference foe San Diego on Friday and Saturday, April 28-29. Friday's doubleheader will begin at 5 p.m. MDT, with Saturday's first pitch coming at Noon. All three games will be streamed on the BYUtv app.