BYU smacks 14 hits in 7-4 win against Idaho State

ST. GEORGE, Utah—A season-high 14 hits helped BYU softball defeat Idaho State 7-4 in its final game of the Red Desert Classic at the Canyons Complex on Saturday.

BYU (2-3) was down 4-3 heading into the top of the sixth, but scored four runs to defeat Idaho State (2-2). Marissa Bravo was a perfect 4-for-4 in the game with two runs scored and two RBI. JC Clayton was 3-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI. Caroline Umphlett earned her first win of the season, relieving Hannah Howell in the bottom of the fifth inning. Umphlett held Idaho State to zero runs and gave up only two hits for the win. 

Down 4-3 in the top of the sixth, Jenna Goar dropped a single into left field to score both runs from second and third for the game-winning run at 5-4. Bravo poked a single over the shortstop to start that inning and Megan Arnold added a sacrifice bunt to move runners into scoring position.

Idaho State put together four hits in the first inning to break the scoreboard and go ahead of BYU 1-0.

A stand-up double from Ashlee Brawley Robinson spurred a three-run inning for the Cougars in the top of the third. Coryn Tauali’i and Lacey Millett followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Two runs came in on a single up the middle from JC Clayton and then both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Bailie Hicken. Bravo followed with a squeeze bunt to score Clayton for the last run of the inning.

Katie Manuma led off the top of the fourth inning with a single for her first hit of the day, but was the only one to reach a base as Idaho State pitcher struck out the side.

The Bengals made their comeback in the bottom of the fourth with two on and no outs as Hailey Breakwell smoked a pinch-hit homer over the left field fence to grab the 4-3 lead over BYU. The BYU defense answered to hold the next four batters to just one hit to close out the inning.

Umphlett made her second appearance of the day in the bottom of the fifth to relieve Howell, who gave up four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. Umphlett gave up one hit to start the inning and then the BYU defense sat down the next three batters to hold the score at 4-3.

After claiming the lead in the sixth inning, BYU added some cushion in the top of the seventh following singles from Clayton, Millett, Bravo and Manuma to bring in two more runs.

BYU will play Hawai’I next at the Easton Classic in Las Vegas on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. MST. The game will be available via gametracker.