PROVO — The University of Utah softball team was one out away from snapping its eight-game losing streak on the road.
Ilove’a Brittingham and Lindy Milkowsky said: Not so fast.
BYU scored four runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh — on back-to-back home runs by Brittingham and Milkowsky — and Lily Owens walked off an improbable rivalry win in the eighth inning 14-13 Thursday night at Gail Miller Field.
Owens went 3-for-5 with a double and a pair of RBI, and Bre Townsend was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles for BYU (27-12, 9-7 Big 12) before scoring the winning run from third on Owens’ bases-loaded hit to hand the Utes a ninth consecutive loss.
“It’s pretty much what we practiced all week,” Owens told ESPN+ of her game-winning base hit delivered “right down the middle.”
Hailee White went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double and five RBI for the Utes (12-32, 4-12 Big 12), who matched BYU with 17 hits, including seven extra-base hits and three home runs en route to a 13-9 lead in the bottom of the seventh.
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White notched the first multi-home run game of her career with a center-field rip to go up four runs in the top of the seventh, and returning starting pitcher Shelbee Jones had three strikeouts in pushing the Cougars to the brink of their first loss in three games.
But Brittingham ripped a two-out, three-run homer to pull BYU within 13-12 with the 18th home run of her freshman season.
Milkowski then fired a solo shot over the center-field fence on the next at-bat to tie the game moments later, and the Cougars survived long enough to set up the improbable comeback — after winning pitcher Kaysen Korth finished off her third strikeout in 3.2 innings to keep a zero in the eighth.
“It was crazy, electric,” Owens said. “We just worked so hard, pitch one until now, and I just wanted to put it on my team.”
The two teams will meet again Friday at 6:30 p.m. MDT in Provo before the series finale Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MDT.
8-run seventh helps BYU baseball stun No. 22 Arizona in series opener
Crew McChesney went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI, and BYU scored eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning in a 12-5 upset win over No. 22 Arizona at Larry H. Miller Park.
Ryder Robinson went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI, and Keoni Painter had three RBI for the Cougars (19-16, 6-10 Big 12) to consecutive wins.
Payton Gubler tossed a two-hitter with five strikeouts in five innings to get the win for BYU, which hosts Arizona with a shot at the series win Friday at 4:30 p.m. MDT.
“I was pleased with the way our guys responded today,” BYU coach Trent Pratt said. “When Arizona took a lead, we responded. Our pitching was very good today as well. They threw strikes and our defense played great behind them.”
Aaron Walton went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a pair of RBI for the Wildcats (26-11, 10-6 Big 12), who had a three-game winning streak snapped.
Andersen represents BYU gymnastics at nationals
BYU gymnast Brynlee Andersen scored a 9.825 on the balance beam to finish 16th at the 2025 NCAA gymnastics championships Thursday afternoon in Fort Worth, Texas.
The sophomore from Orem notched her 13th score above 9.825 of the season in the Cougars’ first individual national competitor since 2021.
- White notched the first multi-home run game of her career with a center-field rip to go up four runs in the top of the seventh, and returning starting pitcher Shelbee Jones had three strikeouts in pushing the Cougars to the brink of their first loss in three games.
But Brittingham ripped a two-out, three-run homer to pull BYU within 13-12 with the 18th home run of her freshman season.
Milkowski then fired a solo shot over the center-field fence on the next at-bat to tie the game moments later, and the Cougars survived long enough to set up the improbable comeback — after winning pitcher Kaysen Korth finished off her third strikeout in 3.2 innings to keep a zero in the eighth.
“It was crazy, electric,” Owens said. “We just worked so hard, pitch one until now, and I just wanted to put it on my team.”
The two teams will meet again Friday at 6:30 p.m. MDT in Provo before the series finale Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MDT
