Series evened with 3-2 extra-inning win for BYU softball

OREM, Utah—The BYU softball team outlasted UVU for the second time this weekend with an extra-inning 3-2 victory against the Wolverines on Saturday at Wolverine Field. 

BYU (16-20, 6-2 PCSC) started the game with a 1-0 lead for the third time in the series, but allowed UVU (24-14, 7-5 PCSC) to creep back in in the bottom of the seventh.

Alexandra Hudson Shamo started the top of the second with a two-bagger to right field. She led the team with two of its six hits in the game. Following two outs from UVU, Shamo's sister, Anna Hudson, knocked the first double of her career to bring in her sister for her first RBI of the season, giving BYU the 1-0 lead. 

The game stayed quiet until the fourth inning when UVU evened the score at 1-1 with a solo home run.

Tori Almond held UVU to just one hit in the fifth and sixth to hold the tied score. Almond pitched a solid six innings in the game and held UVU to just three hits alongside eight strikeouts.  

The seventh inning didn’t disappoint for the finale of the series with BYU scoring the go-ahead run. However, UVU was able to extend the game to extra-innings in the bottom of the frame.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, JC Clayton singled up the middle and advanced to third on a center-field liner from Jenna Goar. The eventual go-ahead run was scored as Duckworth reached on a fielding error that also allowed Clayton to score from third and take the 2-1 lead.

The Cougars were just three outs from evening up the series, but Almond wasn’t able to close out the game. UVU’s first two batters of the inning were given free passes on walks and eventually tied the game on a wild pitch. Katie Manuma came in to relieve Almond and sat down the first three batters she faced to send the game into extra-innings. Manuma earned the win to improve to 2-1 from the circle. 

BYU and UVU weren't able to get a single runner past second base in the eight and ninth resulting in the tie-breaker rule to start the top of the tenth. The Cougars and Wolverines each placed a runner from the previous inning on second base to start the top and bottom of the inning. Duckworth, who was placed on second for BYU, advanced to third on a sacrfice bunt from Gordy Bravo. Manuma then stepped to the plate and smacked a hard hit ball to the pitcher, which was deflected and scooped up by the UVU shortstop to save the out, but not before Duckworth was able to cross the plate for BYU . 

UVU started the bottom of the inning with the same strategy as BYU and bunted its runner over to third. However, BYU's pitching and defense held strong with a groundout and a flyout to end the game and allow them to take the 3-2 victory. 

The Cougars and Wolveries split games on both Friday and Saturday to each add a 2-2 record to their PCSC standings. BYU will have a quick turnaround as they play at Utah State in another in-state matchup on Tuesday at 4 p.m. MDT.