Three home runs lead BYU to doubleheader split

NORMAN, Okla. – After winning 7-4 over Maryland, BYU softball split its doubleheader on Friday, falling 8-0 to No. 13/14 Oklahoma.

"We played like we are a road-weary team today," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "We played flat. Tomorrow is a new day. We'll put it together and play better."

BYU (13-9) hit three home runs in the win over Maryland (6-15). However, the momentum at bat did not carry over to the game against Oklahoma (14-4) as the Cougars were shut out for the first time this season by suffering a no-hitter at the hands of the Sooners.

Junior pitcher McKenna Bull totaled seven strikeouts on the day with three walks. Her record on the season is now 9-7. Libby Sugg led the batting effort with two RBI .

Game one

BYU’s 7-4 win over Maryland was a balanced effort. Bull and Olivia Sanchez shared the pitching effort. Between them, they totaled nine strikeouts and four walks. At the plate, it was a team production with seven players each getting one hit with five players recording an RBI. Sugg led the team with two RBI when she hit her 11th home run of the season.

BYU struck first, scoring one run off Ashley Thompson’s double to left center.  The hit brought in Lauren Bell to take the early 1-0 lead over Maryland.

Sugg's home run over centerfield scored two in the top of the third, but the Terrapins got on the board in the third with a pair of solo home runs, making it 3-2.

In the top of the fourth, Emilee Erickson hit a solo homer over the centerfield fence, pushing the Cougar lead to 4-2. Maryland tied the game 4-4 after two runs in the bottom of the fourth.

After two scoreless innings, BYU put the game away in the seventh. McKenzie St. Clair hit the fifth home run of the game to get the Cougars going. A Terrapin error gave the Cougars two unearned runs, extending the lead to 7-4, which would be the final score.

BOX SCORE: BYU vs. Maryland

Game two

No. 13/14 Oklahoma shut out BYU in the second game of the doubleheader 8-0. The Sooners’ pitcher Paige Parker completed the no-hitter with 11 strikeouts and one walk.

The Cougars reached base just once when Thompson advanced with a base on balls. Bull and Arianna Paulson combined for just three strikeouts in the loss.

BYU got down big in the first inning, allowing the Sooners to score four runs, three of which came from a home run over center.

After a couple of scoreless innings, Oklahoma scored again in the bottom of the fourth. Then in the fifth, the Sooners scored three more runs, pushing their lead to 8-0. Those runs would end the game due to the mercy rule, giving the Cougars their first loss being run ruled this season.

BOX SCORE: BYU vs. No. 13/14 Oklahoma

BYU will wrap up its time in Oklahoma on Saturday with a game against Saint Louis at 11 a.m. CST and a rematch against Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. CST. Live stats will be available for both games with audio available for the game against the Sooners. Links for those are available on the BYU schedule page.