The BYU softball team fell 8-0 in Eugene against No. 2 Oregon on Thursday. The Cougars kept the score close for most of the game but succumbed to a powerful Ducks team.
“We made some great plays to keep ourselves in the game,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “They just took advantage of some plays I thought we were capable of making in the fifth inning and opened it up. It proved to be more than we could overcome.”
The Cougars used some key defensive plays, including a throw from left field to home plate to save a run. Most of the game would be considered a pitching duel between McKenna Bull and Cheridan Hawkins. BYU pitcher Bull dropped to 34-8 on the season.
Hawkins would keep the BYU offense at bay, only allowing one hit and striking out 12. The powerful left-handed pitcher out-dueled BYU’s ace and propelled Oregon to victory.
BYU faces Fresno State today at 1 p.m. next in the double-elimination Eugene Regional.
