HENDERSON, Nev. – Ashlee Robinson led BYU to a 5-4 victory over Portland State before the Cougars dropped the second game 8-0 to Chattanooga.

“Our effort today was not worthy of a BYU uniform,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “If we are going to rebound tomorrow, we need to have some heart."

BYU (4-4) and Portland State (2-4) battled back in forth in yet another close game between the two schools. The contest with Chattanooga (1-5) was the first ever meeting between the two schools.

Robinson batted .500 on the day with three doubles and two RBIs. Ashley Thompson added 3 for 4 hitting with two runs and an RBI.

Game one

Thompson started the game retiring the first three batters and striking out two. With runners on first and third with two outs in the bottom of the first, Thompson singled to centerfield to bring McKenzie St. Clair home and give BYU the 1-0 lead.

Portland State put their first three batters on in the top of the second, but Thompson was able to retire the next three batters to end the threat. Robinson doubled, followed by singles from Lauren Bell and Lacey Millett-Hofstedt to load the bases in the bottom of the frame, but the Vikings retired the next three batters to keep the score at 1-0 heading to the third.

In the top of the fifth, the Vikings loaded the bases after a couple of errors by the Cougars and were able to score two unearned on a walk and a passed ball to take a 2-1 lead. BYU answered with a two out rally in the bottom of the inning. Katie Manuma and Thompson drew walks and Sydney Broderick singled up the middle to tie the game. Robinson then doubled to bring around one more and give the Cougars a 3-2 lead.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Portland State hit a two-run homer off the top of the fence in right-centerfield to retake the one run lead. BYU put a runner on second in the bottom of the frame but St. Clair’s drive to right field was caught on the warning track.

In the bottom of the seventh, Manuma walked to start things off and Thompson singled to put runners on first and second. Robinson came up and hit a double down the left-field line to score Manuma and tie the game at four. Megan Arnold then came in to pinch hit and hit a hard ground ball that allowed Thompson to score from third giving BYU the 5-4 victory. Manuma was credited with the win after retiring the last two batters in the top of the seventh.

Game two

Chattanooga struck first in the second game, putting runners on first and second with consecutive walks and scoring on a single up the middle to give them the 1-0 lead. McKenna Bull was able to get out of a bases loaded jam and get her team back up to bat.

In the second inning the Mocs threatened again loading the bases with one out, but yet again Bull retired the next three batters to leave the runners stranded.

Chattanooga added two more runs in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead heading into the fourth. In the bottom of the fifth inning the Mocs scored five runs to close out the game.

BYU wraps up the Easton Desert Classic tomorrow with games against Nevada at 11:15 a.m. PST and Minnesota at 1:30 p.m. PST.

PROVO, Utah – After starting the season 2-3 in the Red Desert Classic BYU will be heading to Las Vegas for the Easton Desert Classic.

Easton Desert Classic
Feb 13-15

Seattle
Thursday, Feb 13 at 6:45 p.m. PST
Eller Media Stadium
Las Vegas

Portland State
Friday, Feb 14 at 1:30 p.m. PST
Stephanie Lynn Craig Park
Henderson, Nev.

Chattanooga
Friday, Feb 14 at 3:45 p.m. PST
Stephanie Lynn Craig Park
Henderson, Nev.

Nevada
Saturday, Feb 15 at 11:15 a.m. PST
Stephanie Lynn Craig Park
Henderson, Nev.

Minnesota
Saturday, Feb 15 at 1:30 p.m. PST
Stephanie Lynn Craig Park
Henderson, Nev.

BYU
BYU started the season with a 2-3 record in the Red Desert Classic. All three of the losses were by a single run and the Cougars had the lead or tie heading into the sixth inning of all three games. McKenzie St. Clair was a bright spot in the tournament hitting .667 with seven RBIs and two home runs. She earned WCC Player of the Week honors for her performance. On the mound freshman Ashley Thompson had a record of 2-0 with a 2.23 ERA good for second in the conference.

Seattle
Seattle started the season with a win over Cal Poly before dropping four straight in the Kajikawa Classic. They are led by Bubba Morrow who is hitting .714 with a double and a home run. Jenny Hurst joins Morrow as a leader from the plate hitting .538 with two doubles and a home run. From the mound they are led by Richelle Ashburn with a 1-1 record and a 2.55 ERA.

BYU Series Record Vs. Seattle
Overall Series Record: 3-0
BYU Record in Provo: 0-0
BYU Record in Seattle: 0-0
BYU Record at Neutral Sites: 3-0
BYU Record under Gordon Eakin: 3-0
Longest BYU Win Streak: 3 (2010-Present)
Longest Seattle Win Streak: none
Largest BYU Margin of Victory: 14 (2011)
Largest Seattle Margin of Victory: none
Most Runs Scored by BYU: 14 (2011)
Most Runs Scored by Seattle: 2 (2010)

Portland State
Portland State and BYU have met in each of the last three seasons splitting the four games in which they have played. The Vikings opened in the Kajikawa Classic going 2-3 with wins against Indiana and New Mexico. They are led from the plate by Crysta Conn and Shae Nelson. Conn is hitting .500 with a double and a home run. Nelson is hitting .400 and scoring a team high five runs. Meagan Hendrix is the leading pitcher with 2-1 record and a 5.60 ERA.

BYU Series Record Vs. Portland St.
Overall Series Record: 5-3
BYU Record in Provo: 0-0
BYU Record in Portland: 1-1
BYU Record at Neutral Sites: 4-2
BYU Record under Gordon Eakin: 4-3
Longest BYU Win Streak: 2 (twice 2001-05, 12)
Longest PSU Win Streak: 1 (three times)
Largest BYU Margin of Victory: 13 (2005)
Largest PSU Margin of Victory: 2 (2005, 13)
Most Runs Scored by BYU: 13 (2005)
Most Runs Scored by PSU: 5 (2013)

Chattanooga
This will be the first meeting between BYU and Chattanooga.  Chattanooga enters the Easton Desert Classic with a 0-4 record in the UCF Knights Invitational. They are led from the plate by Anyssa Robles with a .538 batting average. On the mound, Taylor Deason leads the team with a 0.64 ERA in three appearance allowing only one earned run.

Nevada
Nevada and BYU played in the Red Desert Classic when the Wolfpack pulled out a 10-9 victory over the Cougars by scoring four runs in the sixth inning.  They finished the classic with a 4-1 record with their only loss coming agianst Idaho State. They are led by Karley Hopkins and Megan Sweet who are both hitting over .500 on the season. Megan Dortch is the leading pitcher with a 2-0 record without allowing a single earned run.

BYU Series Record Vs. Nevada
Overall Series Record: 3-2
BYU Record in Provo: 0-0
BYU Record in Reno: 3-0
BYU Record at Neutral Sites: 0-2
BYU Record under Gordon Eakin: 3-2
Longest BYU Win Streak: 3 (2012)
Longest Nevada Win Streak: 2 (2013-Present)
Largest BYU Margin of Victory: 10 (2012)
Largest Nevada Margin of Victory: 8 (2013)
Most Runs Scored by BYU: 10 (2012)
Most Runs Scored by Nevada: 14 (2013)

Minnesota
Minnesota started the season strong going undefeated in the Tiger Classic. Tyler Walker is hitting .429 for the Golden Gophers with two triples and five RBIs. Kaitlyn Richardson adds a .353 average and two doubles. Sara Moulton and Sara Groenewegen both come into Vegas with a 0.00 ERA, striking out a combined 53 batters and being the pitchers of record in all five of their games.

BYU Series Record Vs. Minnesota
Overall Series Record: 0-1
BYU Record in Provo: 0-0
BYU Record in Minneapolis: 0-0
BYU Record at Neutral Sites: 0-1
BYU Record under Gordon Eakin: 0-1
Longest BYU Win Streak: none
Longest Minn. Win Streak: 1 (2007-Present)
Largest BYU Margin of Victory: none
Largest Minn. Margin of Victory: 3 (2007)
Most Runs Scored by BYU: 2 (2007)
Most Runs Scored by CSU: 5 (2007)