PROVO, Utah — BYU softball looks to snap a four-game losing streak as it resumes Big 12 play with No. 4/6 Oklahoma State coming to town.
The Cougars and Cowgirls will play a three-game series Thursday-Saturday, Mar. 21-23. Thursday’s matchup will serve as a Down’s awareness game in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day. BYU will honor siblings of Maddie Bejarano and Hailey Morrow at the game.
*BYU softball’s Saturday afternoon matchup with Oklahoma State has been moved up 30 minutes from noon to 11:30 a.m. MDT in an effort to avoid inclement weather forecasted in the Provo area. Game two of the series between the Cougars and Cowgirls is still scheduled for Friday, Mar. 22 at 5 p.m. MDT.
| BYU vs. No. 4/6 Oklahoma State | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Time | Live Stream | Live Stats |
| Thursday, March 21 | 5 p.m. MDT | Big 12 Now on ESPN+ | Stat Broadcast |
| Friday, March 22 | 5 p.m. MDT | Big 12 Now on ESPN+ | Stat Broadcast |
| Saturday, March 23 | 11:30 a.m. MDT | Big 12 Now on ESPN+ | Stat Broadcast |
BYU fell at Utah, 3-1 on Monday evening. The Cougars plated one in the second inning and maintained its one-run advantage through five innings before the Utes scored three in the sixth, a deficit BYU wasn’t able to come back from.
Also dropping a three-game set at No. 3 Texas last weekend, the Cougars have struggled at the plate over the last four games, hitting just .167 compared to their season hitting clip of .332.
Keila Kamoku and Ailana Agbayani have turned out solid at bats during that span, however, both hitting .333 with three hits apiece, combining for one run and an RBI.
Aleia Agbayani (.250), Maddie Udall (.222) and Huntyr Ava (.200) have been the other three BYU batters to see success in the box during the last week, combing for five hits and one run.
Gianna Mares, Ailana Agbayani, Kate Dahle, Alyssa Aguilar and Chloe Temples have all spent time in the circle for the Cougars in the last four games. As a staff, BYU posted a 9.80 ERA with an opponent batting average of .361.
Despite the limited offensive output, the Cougars still rank in the top-20 of three statistical categories: No. 14 in on-base percentage (.421), No. 17 in batting average (.332) and No. 19 in scoring (6.62 runs/game).
Bejarano continues to lead the country with half a sacrifice bunt per game. Violet Zavodnik ranks ninth in on-base percentage (.573) and Ailana Agbayani is 14th in runs per game, averaging 1.19.
Hosting Oklahoma State in Provo for just the second time in series history, the Cougars get set to welcome the Cowgirls to Gail Miller Field.
Oklahoma State (24-4, 5-1 Big 12)
- The Cowgirls are ranked No. 4 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and No. 6 in the ESPN/USA Softball Poll.
- OSU has wins over former WCC foe Loyola Marymount and in-state opponent Utah State, as well as common opponent UC Riverside.
- The all-time series between the two teams is tied, 6-6. Oklahoma State won the last matchup, a 3-1 win in Stillwater back in 2019. BYU swept the only three-game series that the Cougars and Cowgirls have played, March 20-21, 2015.
- BYU head coach Gordon Eakin is 5-5 against Oklahoma State during his tenure.
On Deck
The Cougars will make the drive down to Saint George next week for a mid-week game at Utah Tech on Tuesday, Mar. 26 before hosting Houston in their second-consecutive Big 12 home series later in the week.