CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – After getting down early, BYU softball’s comeback bid fell short 8-5 against No. 22/23 Texas A&M Friday in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

“It was disappointing that we weren’t ready to play,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “It was 4-0 before we got off the bus mentally. I made some substitutions early on, and we outplayed them from the second inning through the end of the game.”

The Cougars (7-6) gave up four runs in the top of the first to the Aggies (8-4) as the first two batters advanced quickly to second and third.

A throwing error allowed Texas A&M’s Tori Vidales to reach first, loading the bases with no outs. The Aggies capitalized with a two-run double down the right field line. Two batters later they struck again with a two-run single to take a 4-0 lead before BYU took its first turn at the plate.

Both teams battled the rest of the game. The next three innings deadlocked with both teams not able to bring runners home.

Scoring picked up again with the Aggies picking up two runs in the top of the fifth, but BYU broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning with three of its own.

A pair of one-out base hits by Bravo and Bell followed by a bunt single by Godfrey loaded the bases for the Cougars. Arnold then singled to left, driving in two, before Sydney Broderick’s RBI on a fielder’s choice scored Godfrey to make the score 6-3.

In each of the last two innings, Texas A&M and BYU both scored one run apiece. Bravo’s RBI-single to left center scored Hofstedt in the sixth, making the score 7-4.

The Cougar rally came up short in the bottom of the seventh after two singles to begin the frame. BYU was only able to score one on a sacrifice fly by Brittany Call for the final 8-5 tally.

Box Score – BYU vs. Texas A&M

While extending her hitting streak to 11 games, junior Gordy Bravo had her second-straight game with three hits, leading the Cougars with 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and a run scored.

Freshman Ashley Godfrey and senior Megan Arnold each went 2-for-3 from the plate with Godfrey scoring two and Arnold collecting two RBI. Senior Lacey Hofstedt added two hits in three at-bats while also stealing two bases for the 15^th time in her career.

Pitcher McKenna Bull took the loss, falling to 7-3 on the season while allowing seven hits, three earned runs, two walks and striking out four in four innings. Freshman Arianna Paulson finished out the game in relief, allowing seven hits and four earned runs in three innings of work.

BYU continues play in the Mary Nutter Classic, facing Indiana at 10 a.m. PST and Oregon State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Links to live stats or audio streaming is available on the BYU softball schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – Following a 4-1 showing last weekend, BYU softball returns to action against UC Santa Barbara, Maryland, No. 22 Texas A&M, Indiana and Oregon State Thursday through Saturday in Cathedral City, California.

The Cougars (6-4) will be tested this weekend in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic where three of the five opponents have winning records and two are either ranked or are receiving votes.

From the circle, McKenna Bull will lead the charge with her 6-1mark to go along with 43 strikeouts and a 2.63 ERA.

Junior Gordy Bravo leads BYU with an eight-game hitting streak to go along with five RBI, a .400 batting average and a .471 OBP from the leadoff spot. Fellow junior Coco Tauali’i is also hitting above .400 with a .429 average to go along with a .619 slugging percentage including four doubles on the year while sophomore McKenzie St. Clair is hitting a team-high .438 from the plate with a .542 OBP.

Recaps of the day’s action will be posted each day. Links to live stats and audio streaming will be available on the BYU softball schedule page.

Game Notes

UC Santa Barbara (Thurs. at 1 p.m. PST, Des Moines field)

The Gauchos are off to a 3-7 start with wins over Ole Miss, UTEP and Rutgers. Last time out they fell to Saint Mary’s 14-6. UCSB’s offense is powered by Jaqueline Hinojosa (.381 BA, .418 OBP), Arianna Palomares (.344 BA, 5 doubles, 6 RBI), Jenessa Jeppesen (.333 BA, 4 RBI) and Samantha Stark (.308 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI). Ashley Ludlow (1-5, 5.29 ERA) and Alex Pingree (1-1, 5.40 ERA) have thrown the bulk of the innings with 32.1 and 28.1, respectively. The last meeting between the two teams was a 12-10 BYU loss in 2013.

Maryland (Thurs. at 6 p.m., Des Moines field)

The Terrapins are 6-4 on the season with a 3-2 mark in the second week of play. Standouts at the plate are Corey Schwartz (.361 BA, 2 HR, 9 RBI) and Hannah Dewey (.464 BA, 4 doubles, .714 slug. pct.). Dewey has also contributed from the circle, throwing 23.1 innings and accumulating a 2-1 record with a 2.70 ERA. Kaitlyn Schmeiser has seen the bulk of the innings, pitching 42.2 with a 4-3 mark along with a 1.80 ERA. The Cougars last faced Maryland in 2002, taking the game 10-8.

Texas A&M (Fri. at 10 a.m., ASA/USA Wrigley field | 1150 AM The Zone)

The No. 22-ranked Aggies bring a 7-3 record into the tournament this weekend including wins over UCLA, Penn State and San Diego State. Texas A&M is led by Ashley Walters (.364 BA, 5 RBI, .462 OBP) and Cali Lanphear (.300, 6 RBI, .576 OBP) at the plate with pitcher Rachel Fox (4-2, 1.56 ERA) setting the pace from the circle with her four complete games and two shutouts.

Indiana (Sat. at 10 a.m., Mizuno Pawtucket field | Live Stats/Audio Stream)

The game against the Hoosiers will be the fourth meeting in BYU softball history with the Cougars 3-0 against the Hoosiers. Indiana is currently 2-8 with its two victories coming against San Diego and Utah Valley. The Hoosier offense features Michelle Huber (.433 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI) and Shannon Cawley (.303 BA, 4 HR, 10 RBI). Pitchers Lora Olson (1-3, 4.85 ERA, 30.1 IP) and Miranda Tamayo (1-4, 5.80, 25.1 IP) have split time in the circle this season.

Oregon State (Sat. at 2:30 p.m., Des Moines field | Live Stats)

With an 8-3 record, the Beavers bring a 10-2 record all-time against the Cougars. Last meeting between the two was a 7-3 Oregon State win in 2013. Mikela Manewa (.464 BA, 7 RBI), Danni Gilmore (.368 BA, 2 HR, 6 RBI), Hannah Akamine (.360 BA, 1 HR, 10 RBI) and Sammi Noland (.355 BA, 2 HR, 9 RBI) have fueled the offense this season. Beverly Miller has a 4-3 record from the circle, throwing 41 strikeouts over 44.0 innings with a 1.11 ERA.