The BYU softball team was defeated in all three games against the University of Houston this weekend.
BYU did not lead at any point during the three-game series and struggled offensively, leaving a total of 32 runners on base. Ashlee Brawley Robinson highlighted the defensive efforts and was a powerful reinforcement for BYU.
Shortstop JC Clayton makes a play during Friday night's game against Houston. (Photo by Sarah HIll)
'She's so solid defensively,' BYU assistant coach Vaughn Alvey said. 'We just need to be more consistent offensively, because it helps our pitching situation with our injuries and low numbers.'
In the first game, Houston scored five runs early in the top of the first inning, leaving BYU to play catch up. BYU could not recover even after a rally late in the game, which resulted in another loss for Hannah Howell. The team traded in their winning streak and took the 3–7 loss.
Houston hopped on the board early again in Saturday's first game with a two-shot home run in the top of the first inning. Two runs in the second and five more in the seventh secured Houston's first win of the day.
Katie Manuma and Howell traded off on the mound through five innings to try to hold the Scarlet Cougars.
'Pitching is another deal where you have to be consistent and do the right things in the right spots,' Alvey said. 'We give up runs early in games and it takes the air out of everybody's sails.'
BYU didn't break the board until the bottom of the fifth when Alexandra Hudson Shamo brought in Marissa Bravo. BYU left the bases loaded three times in the game and scored only three runs to Houston's nine.
Carly Duckworth pitches to Houston during Friday night's game. (Photo by Sarah HIll)
The Cougars played small ball to keep Saturday's second game close through six innings. However, BYU chased Houston the whole game and attempted to match each of their runs. They came up short leaving the bases loaded for the final out and the 2–3 loss.
Lacey Millett led the team, using her slapping abilities and speed to help put runners in scoring position. She also showed the crowd just how strong her arm is when she threw a runner out at home from deep left field. The play was huge defensively and stopped any future runners from trying to reach extra bases.
'I lined up where she had been hitting the ball all game, so I figured that's what play she would give me if I got one,' Millett said. 'I stayed loose and threw it in as hard as I could.'
The Cougars will head next-door to Orem to play Utah Valley University in a four-game series next Friday and Saturday. For a full schedule and game times visit the BYU softball website.