Longest Game in History Ends in Loss
PROVO -- The BYU women's softball team lost both games of a doubleheader against Colorado State, Friday 0-6, 5-6. The second game lasted 16 innings, the longest in Cougar history. The Cougars have now lost four straight conference games and drop to 23-15, 2-4 on the season. The Rams improve to 15-16, 3-1.
In the first game, the Cougars were shut out and had only one hit, a single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning by Brooke Cadiente. Cynthia Fallowfield (9-6) picked up the loss for the Cougars. The Ram's Melanie Mahoney, a freshman, was two outs away from a no-hitter, but improved to 9-5 with the win. Brittany Burtner went 2-3 with three RBI while Ricki Walker hit a solo home run.
Game two went 16 full innings and lasted four hour and 25 minutes, the longest in school history. The previous longest was a four-hour thriller against Utah in the 2000 season. Freshman Niki Andersen went the full 16 innings, striking out a career-high 11, but lost to drop her record to 6-5 on the season. Her next closest game in her young career was in the high school state championship game when Andersen pitched 15 long innings to get the win.
The Rams struck first in the top of the first inning to take a quick 1-0 lead. Shortstop Kate Walker hit her fourth home run of the season, a solo shot in the bottom of the first to answer for the Cougars. Down 2-3 in the bottom of the sixth, senior Liz Boydston hit a two-run double off Mahoney to help the Cougars get a one-run lead 4-3. Boydston finished 3-6 with two RBI and two walks. Colorado State's Steph Roberts doubled and scored in the top of the seventh to tie the game. The Cougars were unable to score in the seventh and the game went into extra innings, their first in conference play this season.
After five scoreless innings, the Rams scored in the top of the 13th inning off a single RBI from Amanda Kocis. BYU was able to get out of the inning and score a tying run from pinch runner Ariel Capra off of two CSU errors. Many fans booed Colorado State for choosing to intentionally walk All-American Oli Keohohou with two runners on even though she was 0-5 at that point. The Ram's Kerry Ferrell singled to bring in the game winning run in the top of the 16th. BYU was able to advance Lauren Watson to third base after her single to start the inning, but Megan Johnson grounded out to end the grueling game at 8:55 p.m.
"We gave a really good effort," said head coach Mary Kay Amicone. "Niki (Andersen) did very well and we are looking for a way to bounce back tomorrow against New Mexico."
Game one will be rebroadcast on KBYU at 11 p.m. on KBYU. New Mexico comes to Gail Miller Field tomorrow at noon after splitting their doubleheader against Utah, Friday.
Stats Available on Live Web cast link.
