BYU battled back in the last frame of play to defeat Portland State 5-4, before being held scoreless in a 8-0 loss to Chattanooga Friday in the second day of play in the Easton Desert Classic.
Ashlee Robinson posted impressive numbers batting .500 on the day with three doubles and two RBIs. Also, Ashley Thompson showcased her talent, hitting 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI. Despite their individual efforts, head coach Gordon Eakin was disappointed in the team’s performance overall.
“Our effort today was not worthy of a BYU uniform,” Eakin said. “If we are going to rebound tomorrow, we need to have some heart.”
BYU vs. Portland State
Thompson started the game with solid pitching, as she retired the first three batters. BYU then put runners on first and third, and Thompson brought McKenzie St. Clair home with a single to centerfield, giving BYU a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, Portland gave BYU a scare by loading the bases with the first three batters.However, Thompson put away the next three and ended the threat. Robinson then doubled, and Lauren Bell and Lacey Millett-Hofstedt both singled, loading the bases for the Cougars. However, Portland State pitched its way through three more Cougars, leaving three stranded on base without scoring.
Finally, in the fifth, the Vikings had three runners on, and scored two runs on a walk and a passed ball. They now led the Cougars 2-1. BYU rallied back in the bottom of the inning when Katie Manuma and Thompson drew walks, and a single from Sydney Broderick tied the game. A double from Robinson brought home another Cougar, and BYU led once again, 3-2.
In the sixth, the Vikings hit a two-run homer off the top of the fence while facing two out,, taking back the lead 4-3. One Cougar made it on base in the bottom of the sixth, but no one came home. Portland State came out to bat again, in the final inning, with a one run lead.
BYU held the Vikings scoreless in the seventh, thanks to Manuma closing out the last two batters. In the final at-bat, Manuma walked and Thompson singled, putting runners on first and second. Robinson then smashed a double down the left-field line, scoring Manuma and tying the game 4-4. Megan Arnold pinch hit a ground ball, allowing Thompson to score and sealing the hard-fought win for the Cougars 5-4.
BYU vs. Chattanooga
In the Cougars second game of the day, they faced off for the first ever time against the Mocs of Chattanooga. BYU walked the first two batters, and a single scored one runner, giving Chattanooga the 1-0 lead. McKenna Bull bounced back defensively, leaving three Mocs stranded on base without scoring.
Bull allowed Chattanooga to load the bases again in the second, but pitched her way out of that threat as well, without allowing a run.
In the third inning, the Mocs finally brought home two more runs, taking a 3-0 lead. They went scoreless in the fourth, but put up five runs in the fifth to end the game 8-0.
The Cougars are 2-1 in the Easton Desert Classic and finish play Saturday competing against Nevada at 11:15 a.m. and Minnesota at 1:30 p.m. PST.
