OREM, Utah – Cold bats for BYU and two four-run innings for Utah Valley led to the Cougars' first loss in 17 contests, falling to the Wolverines 8-1 at Wolverine Field on Tuesday.

“We didn’t show up and compete today,” said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin. “In this game, there is no room to show up late. We fell behind and were never able to turn the tide.”

Game Highlights:

• Martha Epenesa is on a seven-game hit streak and has reached base in 11 straight games
• Rylee Jensen homered to left field for her 15th long ball of the year

Player Highlights:

• Rylee Jensen: 1-3, 1HR, 1RBI, BB
• Martha Epenesa: 1-2, HBP
• Marissa Chavez: 1-2, 2B, BB

After a quick top of the first, Utah Valley’s Siena Sandoval singled up the middle to bring in the first run of the game. Kyla Hardy was due up next with runners on the corners and promptly gave the Wolverines a 4-0 lead with her fourth homer of the season, this one to left field.

Utah Valley continued to capitalize on the Cougars’ batting woes with a pair of singles in the bottom of the third. Hardy had two on again for her at-bat, and again went deep to left field to extend the Wolverine lead to seven. Utah Valley picked up its eighth hit of the game with a single after Hardy’s second homer, and a double followed, adding on another run to put the Wolverine’s up 8-0.

In the top of the fourth inning, Marissa Chavez broke up Brooke Carter’s no-hit bid with a stand-up double that made it all the way to the wall in center field. Martha Epenesa, who reached base on a walk, advanced to third to put two runners in scoring position for Arissa Paulson.

Paulson battled Carter with a long at-bat but ultimately popped out in foul territory near first base for the second out of the inning. The inning came to a close with an impressive grab by the left fielder on a hard line drive hit by Morgan Bevell. Epenesa and Chavez became the fourth and fifth runners stranded for the Cougars.

Rylee Jensen got ahold of the ball with one out in the top of the fifth to put the Cougars on the scoreboard with her 15th home run of the year. HannahJo Peterson drove a ball into right for a single, but a ball hit by Violet Zavodnik back to the pitcher resulted in an inning-ending double play.

Epenesa hit a ball up the middle in the top of the sixth to extend her hit streak to seven games. She has also reached base in 11 consecutive games.

Bevell, Erin Miklus and Jensen were due up to hit at the top of the seventh. The Cougars entered the final frame down 8-1, needing seven runs to extend the game. The three were retired in order, and the Cougars dropped a game for the first time in over a month.

The Cougars will head to Los Angeles this weekend for a three-game series against Loyola Marymount. The Lions are currently two games back of the Cougars in the conference standings at 7-2 in league play. Game one will be played on Friday, April 30, with the first pitch at 2 p.m. PDT.

PROVO, Utah — BYU softball will take its 16-game win streak on the road to face Utah Valley in the UCCU Crosstown Clash on Tuesday before taking on Loyola Marymount in a three-game series on Friday and Saturday.

Schedule and Information

Utah Valley – Tuesday, April 27

The Wolverines are 19-22 and 5-7 in the WAC. A three-game win streak that featured a pair of wins over Boise State was snapped after losing to Utah State on Wednesday, 13-7. BYU leads the all-time series 43-4 and has claimed the last 13 matchups. The two schools have faced off twice this season, with BYU winning the first at a neutral site game in St. George, 7-2, and the second, at home, 8-2.

• Time: 5 p.m. MDT
• Location: Orem, Utah
• Stadium: Wolverine Field
• Stream: WAC Digital
• Stats: StatBroadcast

Loyola Marymount – Friday, April 30

The Lions are 19-18 and 7-2 in WCC play and just took two of three at Pacific. LMU is riding a bit of momentum after winning six of its last seven games. The Lions are 9-3 at home on the season, with two of the three losses coming to the Mexican National Team. BYU leads the all-time series 21-9. The Cougars have won the last two meetings and seven of the last eight.

• Time: 2 p.m. PDT
• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Stadium: Smith Field

Loyola Marymount – Saturday, May 1

• Time: 12 & 2 p.m. PDT
• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Stadium: Smith Field