PROVO, Utah — BYU softball makes the drive down University Parkway for a single game at Utah Valley on Tuesday night.
The Cougars look to snap a three-game skid during their second of two matchups with the Wolverines this season.
BYU went 1-3 last week, beating Utah Tech in five innings, 12-4, before suffering a series sweep at UCF in its second Big 12 road trip of the year. The Cougars dropped games one and three by just one run, taking the series finale into extra innings, but lost game two, 9-4.
Leaving 26 total runners on base during the series, including a season-high 12 during Saturday’s series finale, BYU will look for a stronger hitting performance at UVU.
Despite the limited scoring in Orlando, the Cougars still rank No. 12 in the nation in on-base percentage (.420) and scoring (6.81 runs per game), and No. 14 in batting average, at .331, which ranks third in the Big 12.
First baseman/designated player Huntyr Ava was one of the bright spots for BYU at UCF. She finished the series batting .545 with six hits and four RBI, including a two-run homer in game three that now has her tied with center fielder Violet Zavodnik for the team lead at seven home runs.
The Cougars have relied on the long ball this season, going 8-5 when hitting one homer and 8-1 when launching two or more, but are just 5-10 when hitting none. 16 of BYU’s four baggers have come at home, with 18 of its 37 (48.6%) total home runs coming during games played within the state of Utah.
Rounding out their national rankings, the Cougars are 28th with a .499 slugging percentage and 38th in home runs per game, averaging one with 37 total homers. Both marks rank fifth in the Big 12.
Going 3-1 against in-state opponents this season with a pair of wins against Utah Tech, and one against Utah Valley, BYU gets set for its 54th meeting with the Wolverines on Tuesday.
The Cougars trailed for majority of the two team's first matchup this season, finally tying the game at 6-6 in the sixth inning before facing a one-run deficit heading into the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and a full count, left fielder Maddie Bejarano slapped a 3-run opposite field home run, delivering BYU a come-from-behind 9-7 win.
Utah Valley (14-19, 8-5 WAC)
- The Wolverines are also looking to snap a skid, having dropped two straight at home to California Baptist last week before Saturday's series finale was canceled due to wind chill.
- BYU leads the all-time series between the two teams, 48-5, having won five-consecutive meetings, including the first matchup earlier this season, a 9-7 walk-off win courtesy of a three-run Maddie Bejarano bomb to left field.
- Cougar head coach Gordon Eakin is also 48-5 against UVU, with a 20-4 record against the Wolverines in games played in Orem during his tenure.
Following BYU’s midweek matchup with UVU, it will then hit the road again for a three-game Big 12 series at No. 1 Oklahoma in Norman.