FULLERTON, Calif. –  The BYU softball team took down No. 25 Texas Tech in a 7-5 thriller but dropped its second game 5-1 to Boise State on the second day of the Judi Garman Classic.

“Today was a mixed bag for our team,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “We beat a really good Texas Tech team but came out flat against Boise State. We will learn from the experience and be better tomorrow.”

Game One

Game Highlights:

• The Cougars came from behind twice in the game and still managed to secure a 7-5 win over No. 25 Texas Tech. It was their first victory over a top-25 team this season.
• Autumn Moffat pitched a complete game from inside the circle, giving up only two earned runs, one walk and had six strikeouts for her fifth win of the season.
• Rylee Jensen-McFarland and Huntyr Ava both recorded homers for the second straight game. It was Ava’s seventh of the season and Jensen-McFarland’s sixth.

Player Highlights:

• HannahJo Peterson: 2-3, 1R, 3RBI, 3B, HBP
• Rylee Jensen-McFarland: 1-2, 2R, 1RBI, 1HR, 2BB
• Autumn Moffat: W (5-3), 7.0 IP, 7H, 2ER, 1BB, 6K

BYU vs. No. 25 Texas Tech Box Score

After giving up two runs in the top of the first, BYU fought its way back. In the bottom of the inning, Jensen-McFarland hit a leadoff home run for the Cougars to make the score 2-1.

BYU’s defense held No. 25 Texas Tech scoreless in the top of the second and the Cougars continued their scoring, putting up three runs in the bottom of the inning as HannahJo Peterson drove in three runners with a triple to center field putting the Cougars up 4-2.

The Red Raiders countered with three runs of their own in the third frame to take back the lead at 5-4.

In the bottom of the third, Ava homered to tie the game up at 5-all. A Martha Epenesa two-run double in the bottom of the fourth pushed BYU ahead 7-5.

The two teams remained scoreless for the next two innings and the BYU defense recorded three outs in the top of the seventh to secure the win.

Game Two

BYU vs. Boise State Box Score

Despite a single from Jensen-McFarland in the bottom of the first inning, the Cougars were overcome by Boise State as the Bronco’s put up three runs in the top of the second followed by one run in each of the third and fourth frames.

Jensen-McFarland smashed her second dinger of the day in the bottom of the sixth, but it was too late as BYU dropped its second game of the day 5-1.

The Cougars close out the Judi Garman Classic Saturday, Feb. 28 with a contest against California at 9:30 a.m. PT. The game will be broadcast live on FloSoftball.

PROVO, Utah – The BYU softball team will head to the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California for its fourth week of competition. 

BYU at Judi Garman Classic Game Notes

BYU will play five different teams with two teams from Power 5 conferences including the No. 25 Texas Tech Raiders.  This is the third-straight week the Cougars will travel to California after competing in the Campbell Cartier Classic and Mary Nutter Classic. 

On the first day of play, BYU will face off against Cal Poly at 10 a.m. PT on Thursday, Feb. 27, followed by a game against Illinois at 3 p.m. The Cougars will then play two more games on Friday, Feb. 28 against No. 25 Texas Tech at 9:30 a.m. and Boise State at noon. 

BYU will finish out the tournament with a game against California on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 9:30 a.m.

The first three games will be played at PGF Field and the last two will be played at Cal State Fullerton’s home field, Anderson Family Field. All of the games will be streamed on FloSoftball with live stats on the BYU schedule page. 

BYU Storylines

20 Years of BYU Softball. The start of the 2020 season marks the 20th anniversary of the start of BYU softball. February 4, 2000, the Cougars defeated Sacramento State 3-2 in San Jose to start the program off with a win. In the 20 years, BYU has captured 14 conference titles and made 16 appearances in the NCAA tournament. Head coach Gordon Eakin has been part of the BYU softball program since its inception and took over the head coaching duties in 2002.

Ranked Opponents. Throughout the 2020 season, BYU will play six top 25 teams including No. 25 Texas Tech this weekend as well as a handful of teams that received votes in the poll. 

California Calling. BYU heads to California for its third straight-week to compete in the Judi Garman Classic hosted by Cal State Fullerton. The Cougars will travel to California three more times before the season ends. 

Return to the WCC. This will be BYU’s seventh season as a member of the West Coast Conference after joining in the 2014 season. Since its first season, BYU has claimed the WCC Championship for six-straight years. Last season, BYU earned three of three of the top season awards including Player of the Year (Lexi Tarrow), Pitcher of the Year (Arissa Paulson) and Defensive Player of the Year (Erin Miklus) as well as having seven players named to the All-WCC teams. 

BYU Notable Stats. Senior Rylee Jensen-McFarland recorded her 150th career run last weekend against Notre Dame and followed it up with her 100th career RBI against Bethune-Cookman.  

WCC Player of the Week. Rylee Jensen-McFarland earned her first WCC Player of the week award after her performance at the Mary Nutter Classic. This is her ninth player of the Week award.

Opponent Outlook

Cal Poly | Thursday, Feb. 27 | 10 a.m. PT | FloSoftball  

Overall: 7-4

Home: 1-0

Away: 0-0

Neutral: 6-4

Under Eakin: 7-4

Longest win Streak: 3, two times

Last win: 5-0, 3/5/11

Longest Losing Streak: 1

Last loss: 3-1, 2/27/15

Illinois | Thursday, Feb. 27 | 3 p.m. PT | FloSoftball

Overall: 3-4

Home: 0-0

Away: 0-0

Neutral: 3-4

Under Eakin: 3-4

Longest win Streak: 2

Last win: 10-0, 3/7/08

Longest Losing Streak: 2

Last loss: 14-5, 3/8/08

No. 25 Texas Tech | Friday, Feb. 28 | 9:30 a.m. PT | FloSoftball 

Overall: 0-2

Home: 0-0

Away: 0-0

Neutral: 0-2

Under Eakin: 0-1

Longest win Streak: --

Last win: --

Longest Losing Streak: 2

Last loss: 7-5, 2/10/11

Boise State | Friday, Feb. 28 | 12 p.m. PT | FloSoftball

Overall: 5-0

Home: 1-0

Away: 0-0

Neutral: 4-0

Under Eakin: 5-0

Longest win Streak: 5 

Last win: 8-0, 2/19/16

Longest Losing Streak: --

Last loss: --

California | Saturday, Feb. 29 | 9:30 a.m. PT | FloSoftball

Overall: 2-0

Home: 0-0

Away: 0-0

Neutral: 2-0

Under Eakin: 2-0

Longest win Streak: 2 

Last win: 3-0, 2/25/16

Longest Losing Streak: --

Last loss: --