Drake University rallied from a 2-1 deficit with runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to beat the BYU softball team 3-2 in the first game of the NCAA Tournament’s Eugene Regional in Oregon on Thursday afternoon.
The loss sends BYU into an elimination game on Friday against Albany, which lost to the top-seeded Ducks in the nightcap on Thursday. The game is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. MDT.
BYU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning on Thursday as Rylee Jensen singled with one out, advanced to second on a bunt single by Briielle Breland, went to third on another single by Lexi Tarrow and scored on a fielder’s choice by Libby Sugg. The Cougars were unable to push another run across, and Drake tied the game at 1 in the bottom of the inning.
BYU regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Madison Merrell walked, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a fielding error after a single by Brooke Vander Heide.
BYU’s Kerisa Viramontes pitched 4 2⁄3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts, before being relieved by Autumn Moffat, who took the loss with one run on one hit in 1 1⁄3 innings.
Baseball
Washington 6, Utah 4 • Wade Gulden had two hits, including a RBI triple, for the Utes in the opening game of a three-game series at Smith’s Ballpark. Tanner Thomas took the loss, striking out seven in six innings and allowing six hits and four runs.
BYU 3, Pacific 1 • At Provo, Jordan Wood was one out short of a complete game, allowing six hits with three strikeouts, and Casey Jacobson had a home run for the Cougars, who improved to 23-26 overall and 12-14 in the West Coast Conference.
SLCC 3, Trinidad State 0 • At Taylorsville, Brady Brook and Jaxon Otis had RBI singles in the second inning as the Bruins won in the opening round of the District One tournament.