Bats go cold in losses against LMU

PROVO, Utah—With two hits and no runs in the second game of a Friday doubleheader, the BYU softball team couldn’t overcome Loyola Marymount for a 5-0 loss after falling 8-2 in the first game of the day. 

“I don’t know if we finally hit a wall where everything’s caught up to us, or what, but it’s dismal right now,” head coach Gordon Eakin said. “We keep telling them to fight and not give up and try to get them to dig deeper. If we don’t come back tomorrow and play the way we’re capable of playing and return the favor, we’re in trouble.”

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Game 1
BYU (17-22, 6-4 Pacific Coast Softball) fell 8-2 to LMU (27-18, 10-4 PCSC) in the frist game of the weekend series as the Lions scored eight runs on eight hits. Hannah Howell took the loss after giving up four runs on six hits. Caroline Umphlett pitched three innings in relief and held the Lions to just one hit and one earned run. Carly Duckworth pitched the seventh, giving up two runs on one hit.

LMU's Meghan Harman started things off in the top of the first with a home run to score herself and teammate Skylar Segura, but BYU responded with a double play to halt the Lion momentum. 

JC Clayton scored in the bottom of the first to bring BYU within one after Gordy Bravo grounded out to second base.

Another LMU home run and RBI started the second inning and, with BYU unable to score, gave the visting team a 4-1 edge to start the third. 

Both teams went scoreless through the third inning. The Lions got an unearned run to start the fourth and BYU's Katie Manuma homered, her sixth of the season and BYU's first hit of the game, to end the drought. Manuma's home run also took away the no-hitter for LMU's Sydney Gouveia, who improved to 14-2 with the win.

BYU went 3-up and 3-down to start the fifth, but was unable to capitalize on offense, keeping the score at 5-2 in favor of the Lions.

LMU loaded the bases in the seventh inning and scored three more runs to take an 8-2 lead while BYU was unable to score, ending the game.

Game 2
Coco Taualii and Madisen Robb each got hits for BYU. Pitcher Tori Almond picked up the loss to fall to 6-5 on the season. She had five strikeouts in the game and only gave up three hits, but two were home runs.

LMU (27-18, 10-4 PCSC) had a three-run homer in the first frame, which BYU wasn’t able to respond to in the bottom of the inning. Almond struck out the Lions in order in the second inning, preventing any lead increase.

In the top of the third, shortstop Clayton caught a grounder and tagged second, then threw the ball to Jenna Goar at first in time for a double play, the team's 13th of the season and second of the day. The play sent the game to the bottom of the third.

BYU had a chance to score in the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded and only one out, but Mylee Davis and Clayton struck out to end the inning.

LMU picked up two more runs on the Lions’ second home run of the night in the sixth inning. The Cougars weren’t able to counter.

The teams meet up again at Gail Miller Field Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. MDT.