Three-run seventh leads Northwestern over BYU softball

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif.—A three-run seventh inning led Northwestern to a 4-1 defeat of the BYU softball team on Saturday at the Mary Nutter Classic.

JC Clayton had her third two-hit game of the tournament and is on a 13-game hitting streak for the Cougars. Bailie Hicken and Marissa Bravo had the other two hits for BYU. Tori Almond took the mound at the start of the game, but issued two-straight walks and was quickly relieved by Hannah Howell. Howell pitched a solid seven innings, giving up only one earned run on eight hits.

BYU had only one hit leading up to the seventh inning and had bases loaded in the sixth and seventh, but weren't able to capitalize.

Northwestern scored three unearned runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to beat BYU. The Wildcat leadoff batter reached on an error to start the inning and a passed ball and a sacrifice bunt moved her all the way to third base. The next batter for Northwestern followed with a single to bring in the go-ahead run at 2-1. The Cougars surrendered two more runs to the Wildcats before heading into the bottom of the inning.

BYU got on the board in the bottom of the second when Alexandra Hudson Shamo walked and advanced to third following a sacrifice bunt and stolen base. A wild pitch from the Wildcat pitcher allowed Shamo to score for the Cougar’s only run of the game.

BYU held the 1-0 lead until the top of the fourth when Northwestern was able to stitch two singles together to tie the game at 1-1.

BYU wasn't able to answer and fell to 5-9 on the season, while Northwestern improves to 6-6.

The team is currently playing UC Santa Barbara in its last game of the Mary Nutter Classic.