Cougars shutout in doubleheader against the Longhorns

AUSTIN, Texas – For the first time this season, BYU softball lost both games in its doubleheader, being shutout in two losses to Texas on Saturday night.

“We had a tough day today," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "In the first game, Olivia Sanchez pitched a good game, but we played poorly on defense. We had no hitting and poor base running. In game two, Texas just flat out beat us."

BYU (20-14) was shutout 5-0 and 7-0 in the two games against Texas (22-9) on the road. The Cougars fell in the weekend series after winning the first game against the Longhorns Friday night.

Freshman pitcher Olivia Sanchez had a career day in defeat, tying her personal high in strikeouts with six. Ashley Thompson led the offensive effort with two hits.

Game one

BYU’s 5-0 loss to Texas in game one of the doubleheader was the fifth time the Cougars were shutout this season. Despite the loss, BYU was only out-hit 6 to 4. The Cougars had two errors, however, which cost them in the fourth inning.

Sanchez threw her fourth complete game, tying her career high in strikeouts with six. Thompson led the team with two hits in the game, going 2 for 3.

After a pair of scoreless innings, Texas got on the board after a triple got the runner in scoring position. A ground out allowed enough time for the first run to be scored, putting the Cougars down 1-0 in the game.

The Longhorns scored four runs on three hits in the fourth inning. One fielding error gave Texas the chance to rack up the runs, extending its lead to 5-0 heading into the fifth inning.

BYU had two runners left on base in the second, fourth and sixth innings, but was unable to get them home.

BOX SCORE: BYU vs. Texas 1

Game two

The Cougars were out-hit 12 to 2 in the 7-0 loss to the Longhorns in the second game. This was the first time all season that BYU has lost consecutive games.

Three BYU pitchers combined for just three strikeouts in the loss along with three walks. Gordy Bravo and Lauren Bell combined for the Cougars’ two hits in the game.

Texas jumped out to another early lead. After scoring one run in the first, the Longhorns struck again in the bottom of the second with a two-run homer to push their lead to 3-0 over the Cougars.

Following a scoreless third inning, BYU gave up another run in the fourth to make it 4-0, forcing a pitching change. Despite the change, the Cougars let three more cross home plate in the fifth, which pushed the Texas lead to the final tally of 7-0.

BOX SCORE: BYU vs. Texas 2

BYU returns home on Tuesday for a doubleheader against Southern Utah at 5 p.m. MDT and 7 p.m. MDT. The games will be televised on BYUtv and broadcast on BYU Radio – Sirius XM 143. Live stats will also be available on the schedule page.