TEMPE, Ariz. — BYU softball fell at Arizona State in game one of a three-game series, 1-0 at Farrington Softball Stadium on Thursday night.
Scoreless through five innings, the Cougars (14-5, 0-1 Big 12) surrendered a leadoff homer to the Sun Devils in the sixth, the game’s only run. BYU struck out 18 times in the contest and left six runners on base.
Player Highlights
Lily Owens and Hailey Morrow both drew walks to begin the game, moving into scoring position on a passed ball, but three straight strikeouts left them stranded.
Maddie Udall-Woolley landed a one-out single in the second inning, stealing second base, but BYU was unable to advance her further.
Lindy Milkowski led off the fourth inning with a single, but a trio of strikeouts again slowed the Cougars.
Arizona State looked to threaten in the bottom of the fourth with a one-out single of its own, but BYU turned a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning.
The Cougars again put two in scoring position in the fifth frame as Tristen Turlington and Morrow both walked. Turlington’s pinch runner, Miranda Mansfield, stole second, with her and Morrow both advancing on a passed ball before BYU’s 13th strikeout of the game left them on the base paths.
After the Cougars went down in order in the sixth, the Sun Devils capitalized, slicing a leadoff homer to left center for a 1-0 lead, the game’s lone run.
BYU went down in order in the seventh inning, twice swinging and once looking, falling to ASU, 1-0.
On Deck
Game two of the series will be on Friday, Mar. 7 at 6 p.m. MT, with streaming through ESPN+.