Cougars unable to hold off Oregon 3-1

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mex. – BYU softball was unable to hold off the Oregon Ducks in a 3-1 loss on Friday night in the second day of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.

"Oregon's pitcher, Brooke Yanez, pitched an incredible game," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "You just have to tip your cap to her. We will learn some valuable lessons from tonight and grow from the experience."

Game Highlights:

• Freshman Carley Brown earned her first start in the circle in the game against Oregon. She went four innings with only two runs in the game while Arissa Paulson finished out the last three innings, giving up just one unearned run. 
• The hitting was highlighted by Morgan Bevell who tallied a double followed by Rylee Jensen-McFarland who blasted a triple to score Bevell.

Player Highlights:

• Carley Brown: 4.0 IP, 3H, 2R, 2BB
• Rylee Jensen-McFarland: 1-3, 1RBI, 3B
• Morgan Bevell: 1-2, 1R, 2B

BYU vs. Oregon Box Score

Oregon (2-0) scored the first run of the game as their leadoff batter walked and came around to score later in the first inning to go up 1-0.

In the third inning, the Cougars (2-1) got on the board. Bevell hit a ball over the center fielders head and made it all the way to second base for a double. Miklus followed grounding out to the shortstop but advancing Bevell to third base.

With BYU at the top of the lineup, Jensen-McFarland smashed a ball to the left-field fence to score Bevell for an RBI triple to even the score at 1-1.

However, a walk as well as an error ultimately scored two runners in the top of the fifth inning to give the Ducks at 3-1 advantage. The Cougars were unable to score a run in the bottom of the seventh and suffered their first loss of the season 3-1.

BYU will play its final game of the Puerto Vallarta Challenge against No. 3 Oklahoma Saturday, Feb. 7 at 8:30 p.m. CT.