Offense struggles as BYU drops doubleheader at No. 15/16 UCLA

LOS ANGELES – Late comebacks fell short as BYU softball lost to No. 15/16 UCLA in a doubleheader, losing 1-0 and 4-2 on Saturday.

“We fought hard today, but we just couldn't get going offensively," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "Once again, our pitching was solid today."

BYU (21-9, 0-0 West Coast Conference) struggled offensively against the tough pitching of UCLA (23-8, 0-3 Pac-12). The Cougars had just one hit in the first game, but picked it up and notched seven in the second matchup. They finish the UCLA Invitational with a 2-2 record.

McKenna Bull led the pitching staff on the day, tallying seven strikeouts with no walks in the first game. Caitlyn Larsen Alldredge had a solid day at the plate in the second game, going a perfect 3 for 3.

Game one

A solo homer in the bottom of the fifth was the lone run of the game as BYU fell to UCLA 1-0 in the first game. Bull pitched a complete game, throwing seven strikeouts and giving up just one run and zero walks. Libby Sugg notched the only hit of the game for the Cougars.

The first game started off slow with the first three innings resulting in zero runs and just one hit from UCLA.

The Cougars got their first hit in the top of the fourth off of a single from Sugg to left field. In the bottom of the fourth, the Bruins led off with a single, but Bull struck out three straight to end the inning and keep the score tied at 0-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, a solo home run to right center got UCLA on the board, taking the 1-0 lead.

BYU was poised to score in the top of the sixth with runners on first and third, but a pop up to first base got the third out, leaving Lauren Bell stranded in scoring position. The Cougars couldn’t get anything going in the top of the seventh, sealing the 1-0 loss.

BYU vs. UCLA Game One Box Score

Game two

Despite a late rally, BYU fell 4-2 in the second game against UCLA. Caitlyn Larsen Alldredge went 3 for 3 in the second game, only the second time in her career she has bat 1.000 with at least three at bats. Arissa Paulson pitched a complete game, throwing two strikeouts in the loss.

The Bruins struck first in the second game, scoring on a double to right center in the bottom of the third. The Cougars were down 1-0 after three with just one hit in the game.

In the bottom of the fifth, UCLA brought in three more runs, one scored on a fielding error and two on a single up the middle. Kerisa Viramontes came in to relieve Paulson, getting the next two batters out. BYU trailed 4-0 after five innings.

The Cougars got a rally going in the top of the seventh with Alldredge and Madison Merrell leading off with singles. With two outs, and facing the reliever and winner of the first game Rachel Garcia, Briielle Breland hit a double to right field, bringing in both Alldredge and Merrell to make it 4-2. Lexi Tarrow reached on an error and Sugg was walked in the next two at bats to fill up the bases. However, Garcia struck out Ashley Thompson to save the 4-2 win for UCLA.

BYU vs. UCLA Game Two Box Score

Next week, BYU will travel to the northwest to face Oregon and Oregon State.

PROVO, Utah – Fresh off of a big win over No. 11/13 Utah on Wednesday, BYU softball heads back on the road to play doubleheaders against Dartmouth and No. 15/16 UCLA in the UCLA Invitational this weekend.

BYU Game Notes

BYU (19-7, 0-0 West Coast Conference) will play a pair against Dartmouth (0-14-1, 0-0 Ivy League) on Friday starting at 12 p.m. PDT. Saturday, the Cougars will face the home team UCLA (21-8, 0-3 Pac-12) in a doubleheader also beginning at 12 p.m. PDT.

Live stats will be available on the BYU softball schedule page. For the matchups against the Bruins, streaming audio will also be available from the UCLA Sports Network.

BYU Storylines

• After defeating No. 11/13 Utah on Wednesday, BYU now has three wins over ranked opponents in 2017. The Cougars also picked up victories over No. 13 Washington and No. 11 Georgia. This weekend, BYU has a chance to pick up a few more wins over a ranked opponent in the doubleheader at No. 15/16 UCLA.
• With the career records for complete games, shutouts, saves and strikeouts under her belt, McKenna Bull still has a few career marks to reach. She is one win away from breaking Paige Affleck’s 91 career wins, tying the record with the win over Utah. Additionally, she is close to reaching Affleck’s 803.1 career innings pitched. Bull has 789.2 so far.
• Libby Sugg hit a pair of two-run home runs in BYU’s upset over No. 11/13 Utah at Gail Miller Field on Wednesday. The sophomore catcher leads the team in RBI with 29, home runs with seven and in slugging percentage with .750.

Opponents Outlook

Dartmouth (0-14-1, 0-0 Ivy League)

• The Big Green has yet to pick up a win in 2017. They tied the game 5-5 against Maryland.
• This is the third matchup in the series history with BYU, the Cougars undefeated so far. BYU’s last win came in an 8-0 run-rule win back in 2009 in the Capital Classic in Sacramento, California.
   

UCLA (21-8, 0-3 Pac-12)

• The Bruins have picked up big wins so far in 2017, taking down Georgia and LSU on the way to their 21-8 record.
• In 2016, UCLA advanced to the Women’s College World Series, dropping out after losses to LSU and Auburn.
• The Bruins edge the Cougars in the series history, leading 4-1. BYU’s last win came in 2011, a 6-4 victory in the Mayfair Tournament. UCLA won the matchup last season at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, winning 9-4.