LOS ANGELES – BYU softball was unable to hold off No. 2 UCLA after tying the game in the fifth inning, losing 8-2 Saturday afternoon during the final game of the UCLA/Long Beach Invitational.

BYU vs. UCLA Box Score

"We played a very good game for six innings," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We let the game get away from us in the sixth inning with most of UCLA's runs coming with two outs. Autumn Moffat pitched very well and if we had cleaned things up, we had a chance to win."

The Cougars (10-11, 0-0) kept up with the No. 2 Bruins (19-1, 0-0) taking a 1-0 lead after the second inning. Libby Sugg nailed her second homer of the season while Rylee Jensen went 2 for 4 at the plate with one run.

BYU went up first as Sugg sent a ball out of the park against the Bruins giving the Cougars the edge 1-0. In the bottom of the inning, with the bases loaded and only one out, UCLA hit a ball to Allie Hancock at first base. Hancock threw home to get the runner out at home. The Bruins grounded out for the final out and the Cougars escaped the early jam unscathed still ahead 1-0.

In the third, a Bruins homer tied the game at 1-1. A walk followed by a double to right center put the Bruins up 2-1.

BYU stayed in the game in the top of the fifth when Jensen reached first base on an error by the pitcher and then stole second. With two outs and Brooke Vander Heide at the plate, a hard-hit ball deflected off the third baseman’s glove and went into left field. As UCLA scrambled to get the ball back to the infield, Jensen had enough time to make it home before the tag to tie the game at 2-2.

The bottom of the fifth inning wasn't so promising for the Cougars as the Bruins scored six runs, including a two-run homer, putting the game out of a reach with UCLA up 8-2. The team tried to rally in the seventh with a couple of runners on but it wouldn't be enough. 

BYU travels to its final tournament of the season for the Tennessee Invite in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Cougars will play two games against Tennessee and Texas in the tournament with all four games being played at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. The games will be broadcast on the SEC Network and live stats will be available on the schedule page.

PROVO, Utah – In its final five-game tournament, BYU softball takes one last trip to California for the UCLA/Long Beach State Invitational.

BYU Game Notes Week 5

BYU came to this tournament in 2017 splitting its games 2-2, beating Dartmouth twice and losing to UCLA twice. 

The Cougars will play five different teams, starting with Robert Morris and Long Beach State on Thursday, March 7 at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. PT, respectively. Both games will be played at LBSU Softball Complex.

The tournament continues on Friday, March 8, with BYU playing against Ohio at 11:30 a.m. and Boston University at 2 p.m. PT, both at UCLA’s Easton Stadium in Los Angeles. The Cougars finish the tournament on UCLA’s home turf taking on the No. 2 team Saturday, March 9 at 3 p.m. PT.

Live stats will be available on the BYU schedule page with a live stream on the Big West Conference Network for the game against Long Beach State and a live audio feed for the game against UCLA. 

BYU Storylines

FIVE-GAME TOURNAMENT. The UCLA/Long Beach State Invitational is the last of four straight five-game tournaments BYU will attend. It is the third and final week that the Cougars will travel to California until conference play begins on April 5 against Loyola Marymount. 

POWER AT THE PLATE. BYU captain Libby Sugg returns for her final season at BYU. The two-time captain has been named to the USA Softball College Softball Player of the Year watch list and was named NFCA All-American Third Team after the 2018 season. 

RANKED OPPONENTS. The Cougars will take on No. 2 UCLA in the tournament. This will be the fourth top-25 ranked team this season (No. 9 South Carolina, No. 18 Baylor, No. 4 Oklahoma. It will be the second top 5 team, after playing No. 4 Oklahoma in Palm Springs. 

WCC WEEKLY AWARDS. Rylee Kerisa Viramontes won her first WCC Pitcher of the Week award after her performance in San Diego. Viramontes pitched a one-hit shutout against Florida Gulf Coast in a complete game where she allowed no walks. This is the fourth total WCC weekly selection for BYU this season. Autumn Moffat and Rylee Jensen have 

Opponent Outlook
Robert Morris | Thursday, March 7 | 9 a.m. PT | 

• The Colonials have compiled a 3-10 record so far this season. They most recently competed at the Liberty Softball Classic.

•This is the second meeting between the two teams as BYU won the last game 7-2 in 2016.

•Interim Head Coach Jexx Varner is in his first season with the Colonials. 

Long Beach State | Thursday, March 7 | 11:30 a.m. PT | 

• In 2019, the 49ers have a 7-10 overall record. They also competed at the San Diego Classic last week going 1-2.

• Last season, the 49ers advanced to the NCAA regional in Tempe and finished the season ranked No. 20.

• Long Beach State leads the series with a 5-3 record, last season they took the win 5-4 in Las Vegas.

• Kim Sowder is in her 13th season as head coach of the Spartans holding a 399-258-1 overall record.

Ohio | Friday, March 8 | 11:30 a.m. PT | 

• The Bobcats currently have a 11-7 overall record during the 2019 season, including going 4-1 last weekend at the Duke/NC State Invitational.

• Last season, Ohio was the Mid-American Conference Champions and advanced to the NCAA Regionals. 

• This will be the first meeting between the two teams.

• Kenzie Roark starts her first season with the Bobcats.

Boston University | Friday, March 8 | 2:00 p.m. PT | 

•During the 2019 season, the Terriers are currently 8-5. Last weekend, BU went 2-2 at the Wooo Pig Classic.

• BU went to the Norman NCAA Regionals last season but lost to No. 2 Oklahoma and Missouri.

• The two teams have met once before as the Cougars took the win 9-0 in 2017.

• Ashley Waters enters her 4th season leading the Terriers compiling an overall record of 92-71.

No. 2 UCLA | Saturday, March 9 | 3:00 p.m. PT | 

• The Bruins are 17-1 in the 2019 season, including going 9-12 in the Big West.

• UCLA recorded its only loss of the season last week against Michigan at the Judi Garman Classic.

• In 2018, the Bruins were defeats by the National Champion’s in the first round of the College World Series.

• Kelly Inouye-Perez starts her 13th season with the Bruins recording a 561-167-1 overall record including leading her team to fourth straight appearances in the College World Series.