BYU softball falls to Idaho State

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The Cougar softball team played Idaho State for the second time this season and first time ever in Pocatello on Monday, losing the game 7-4.

BYU had an all-time record of 10-0 against Idaho State going into this game. The team had already beaten the Bengals earlier this season in Provo 5-2, but the Bengals used their home-field advantage this time to take the game from the Cougars for only their sixth win of the season.

Idaho State struck first in the game, scoring two runs against starting Cougar pitcher Hannah Howell in the first inning. The Bengals went on to score four more runs in the third and fourth before the Cougars could get on the board.

With two runners on in the top of the fifth, junior JC Clayton singled up the middle to bring in the first Cougar run of the game. Senior Delaney Willard then took the plate and hit a laser down the right-field line to clear the bases on a two-RBI triple to make the score 6-3.

Idaho State tacked on one more run in the bottom of the fifth to add to its comfortable lead.

The Cougars had a chance to tie up the game in the top of the sixth. BYU brought in one run before loading the bases with two outs and Willard at the plate. Willard popped up to end the inning and the Cougar scoring.

The Bengals went on to win the game 7-4.

Senior Tiffany Messerschmidt led the way for the Cougars, going 3-for-4 in the game with one run scored and one RBI. Clayton also went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.

Bengal pitcher Amanda Fitzsimmons led the way for Idaho State, both on the mound and at the plate, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs while also earning the win for her team.

BYU is set to play UVU on Wednesday in Provo. UVU has a record of 24-12 with good wins against Loyola Marymount and SUU early on in the season.

BYU has an all-time record of 22-1 against UVU with its last win against the Wolverines in 2011.

Head coach Gordon Eakin hopes his team can be consistent in all three areas of the game as they face the Wolverines.

“I’d like us to continue to play the way we’re capable of playing where we put a complete game together,” Eakin said. “Those are always my expectations. So that won’t change and hopefully we’ll bring a complete game and won’t leave any parts of it home like we have in recent games.”

The Cougars will play on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on BYUtv.

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