After tying the game in the seventh inning, BYU softball defeated Utah 14-13 late Thursday night at Gail Miller Field with a bases-loaded, walk-off single by Lily Owens in the eighth.

Both teams came out swinging, putting up five total runs in the first inning. The Utes pulled ahead in the sixth with three runs, but the Cougars (27-12, 9-7 Big 12) came back in the seventh with home runs by Ilove’a Brittingham and Lindy Milkowski, tying the game at 13 and forcing extra innings.

After shutting out Utah in the top of the eighth, BYU quickly loaded the bases. Owens sealed the Cougars’ victory with a single up the middle, allowing Bre Townsend to run home.

Keila Kamoku (Home run, 3 RBI), Brittingham (HR, 3 RBI), Hailey Morrow (3 RBI), Owens (three hits, 2 RBI) and Milkowski (HR) provided the firepower as the Cougars rallied from a 13-9 deficit.

The Utes put their first two runs on the board in the first inning off a double to right center field.

Brittingham doubled to left field, followed by a walk to first for Milkowski. Kamoku homered to right field, bringing in Brittingham and Milkowski to put the Cougars up 3-2.

Utah brought the game back to a tie with a run brought in by a double to left field.

Maddie Udall-Woolley was hit by a pitch in the second and Hina Huber took her place as a pinch runner. Huber advanced to second and third off two ground outs, and Hailey Morrow brought her home with a single to right field.

A sacrifice fly, double and home run from the Utes brought five runners in, giving them an 8-4 lead.

Milkowski walked to start the bottom of the third, and Amiya Hernandez came in as a pinch runner. Kamoku singled through the right side, and Hernandez ran to second. Both advanced a base after a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Flanders. Townsend singled past third base and sent Hernandez and Kamoku in to score.

Mansfield singled to center field and Townsend advanced to second. Owens doubled up the middle, allowing Townsend to run home and Mansfield to advance to third. Utah ended the third inning with a narrow 8-7 lead.

The Utes extended their lead 9-7 in the fifth inning off a groundout and then added three more runs to the board in the sixth with a home run.

In the bottom of the sixth, Owens walked to first, and Morrow hammered a home run past center field, tallying two more runs for the Cougars.

Another Utah home run in the seventh added to the team’s 13-9 lead.

Mansfield reached first base on a fielder’s choice, and Owens doubled to center field, bringing Mansfield to third. Brittingham homered to left center field and narrowed the Utes’ lead to 13-12. A home run by Milkowski tied the score at 13 and sent the game to extra innings.

Townsend singled up the middle in the eighth, and Lambert singled to second base, bringing Townsend to second. Mansfield loaded the bases on a fielder’s choice to the pitcher. Owens singled up the middle and brought Townsend in to score, securing a 14-13 win for BYU.