BYU softball: Cougars suffer first five-inning loss in 9-1 defeat

SAN DIEGO — BYU softball came out flat in its first game of the San Diego Classic, falling to San Diego State 9-1 in five innings at the SDSU Softball Complex on Thursday.

SDSU (9-7) had 12 hits to BYU’s (5-11) seven and the Aztecs were able to piece those hits together to score four runs in both the third and fifth innings to take the five-inning victory. Marissa Bravo led BYU offensively with two singles from the leadoff spot to extend her current hitting streak to eight games. JC Clayton also had a hit in the game to tie her career hitting record at 15 games. Coryn Tauali'i had the only RBI in the game for BYU in the fourth inning. Hannah Howell started the game, giving up seven hits and five runs to take the loss. Carly Duckworth and Katie Manuma each pitched an inning for BYU in their first appearances of the season.

The Cougars looked like they would score first when Clayton singled with two outs to start the game. Manuma followed with a walk and then Alexandra Hudson Shamo singled down the left field line. Clayton tried to stretch the hit into an RBI but was thrown out at home to end the inning.

Howell surrendered a run to the Aztecs in the bottom of the second following two doubles to start the frame. A single placed runners on the corners with one out, but Howell struck out the next batter and a groundout sealed the inning with SDSU up 1-0.

The Aztecs broke the game open in the bottom of the third with a two-out rally. Two doubles and two singles pushed in three runs and forced a pitching change for BYU. Duckworth made her first appearance of the season and walked the first three batters she faced to bring in another run for the Aztecs. A strikeout closed the inning with SDSU up 5-0.

BYU scored its only run in the fourth as Manuma and Tauali’i were able to piece singles together.

Duckworth held the first two batters off base with a strikeout and groundout and then was replaced by Manuma.

Manuma, who pitched one inning last year, gave up another double to the Aztecs before forcing the next batter to groundout, ending the bottom of the fourth.

SDSU took advantage of the multiple pitching changes from BYU and pushed in four more runs in the bottom of the fifth to defeat BYU 9-1 due to the eight-run mercy rule after five innings.

Manuma and Duckworth combined for five hits but didn’t give up a single earned run to the Aztecs.

BYU faces Boise State on Friday at 9 a.m. PST and Fresno State at 11:30. Both games can be followed on gametracker.

Jamie Morris is the softball sports information director for BYU Athletic Communications.