Cougar Lose First Two to Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif. - The BYU softball team lost its first two games of the weekend to Fresno State on Friday, falling 3-1 in the first game before a rally fell short in the second in a 10-9 defeat.

The Cougars (21-10, 3-2 WAC) will play the Bulldogs (24-13, 4-1) one more time on Saturday at 2 p.m. PT.

A solo home run and a 2-RBI single for three run in the third inning was all Fresno State leaded in game one. The Cougars didn't manage a hit until Carly Duckworth's single in the fifth inning.

BYU tried to put something together in the top of the seventh after Delaney Willard walked and Stacie Toney hit a single. Both runners moved over after a passed ball. Willard tried to make a play from third on Katie Manuma's grounder to shortstop, but was called out at the plate.

Duckworth hit a single to left to bring in Toney, but the solitary run was all the Cougars could get before the third out.

Game Two

Down 10-4 late, BYU scored five runs in the sixth inning but left two on base in the seventh to fall short in a furious rally.

For the first time all day, BYU put together a rally in the sixth with Jessica Dugas, JC Clayton and Willard all reaching. Manuma registered the big hit of the inning, hitting a 3-run double down the left field line to bring the Cougars within one, 10-9.

Dugas and Clayton reached again in the seventh with one out, setting up a chance to tie or take the lead late, but a ground out and a strikeout ended the threat and put BYU down two games in the series.

In game two, Dugas went 3 for 3 with three runs and two walks, Clayton had three hits and two runs, Willard collected two hits, two runs and two RBI while Toney had two walks, two RBI, one hit and a run and Manuma had four RBI. However, the second half of the lineup registered no hits and just one walk combined.