PROVO, Utah — BYU softball dropped its home opener to Texas Tech, 10-5 at Gail Miller Field on Thursday afternoon.
Five runs wasn't enough for the Cougars (14-5, 0-1 Big 12) to catch the Red Raiders (18-4, 1-0 Big 12) who earned 10 runs on 14 hits.
Player Highlights
Texas Tech saw two runs in the top of the first, headlined by an RBI home run over the center field wall. BYU closed out the inning with a force out at first, and the Red Raiders left one on base.
The Cougars brought in a run in their half of the frame, starting out with Ailana Agbayani reaching first on a walk. A sacrifice bunt to third from Maddie Bejarano brought Ailana Agbayani to second. Lily Owens then nailed a shot to right field to bring her teammate home.
Chloe Temples quickly retired the side in four batters for BYU, leaving one on base for Texas Tech.
The top of the third saw the Red Raiders get two batters home on an RBI double off the center field wall and single to right field. Chloe Temples closed out the top half of the frame for BYU with a strikeout, as Texas Tech led 4-1.
The Cougars loaded the bases early in the bottom of the third. Aleia and Ailana Agbayani each garnered back-to-back singles to start things off with Bejarano reaching first on a walk. A quick three outs squandered the opportunity, however, with BYU leaving three batters on base.
The top of the fourth saw a quick three outs from the Cougars, two coming from bunt attempts thrown out at first.
BYU earned another run to bring the game within two in the bottom of the frame. Hailey Morrow reached first with a walk, and a single from Maddie Udall saw runners at first and second. Keila Kamoku hit a sacrifice bunt to advance runners to second and third. The Cougars saw another runner cross home plate on a fielder’s choice. Texas Tech closed out the inning catching a fly ball in the infield.
The Red Raiders scratched two more runs onto the scorecard in the top of the fifth, recording three singles and a double with two outs remaining. The Cougars closed out the inning down six, at 8-2, Texas Tech.
The Cougars showed out in the bottom half of the frame with two runs, two hits and a walk. Owens ripped a hit to right field to advance to third and brought in a run. Huntyr Ava brought in Owens with a double to the center field wall, bringing BYU within four at the end of the inning, 8-4.
Gianna Mares retired the side in the top of the sixth inning, allowing only one runner on base and one hit. Switching sides, the Red Raiders kept the Cougars scoreless in their half of the frame.
Texas Tech tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh, with three hits and a walk to move up 10-4 on BYU.
Bejarano homered on the first pitch of the bottom half of the inning to bring the Cougars to five runs through the contest. Zavodnik reached first moments later on an error by Texas Tech. With two outs, Ava reached first on a single advancing Zavodnik, but a flyout to left center ended the competition, Texas Tech taking game one, 10-5.
Up Next
The Cougars will continue play against the Red Raiders in game two of a three game series on Friday, Mar. 7 at 3 p.m. MT. Coverage will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.