Kansas loaded the bases with back-to-back doubles and a BYU error in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs on a sacrifice fly that Violet Zavodnik caught up against the wall in center and a two-run single for the 3-0 lead.
In the second inning, Hailey Morrow led off with a single through the left side. Maddie Udall doubled to right center on the first pitch of her at bat, scoring Morrow to cut into the Jayhawk lead, at 3-1.
BYU tied it up in the top of the third inning as Ailana Agbayani led off with a walk, moving to third on a walk and double play. Then with two outs, Huntyr Ava singled up the middle to score Ailana Agbayani. Ava’s pinch runner, Jaelynn Lambert, stole second, and came home on a Kansas error to make it 3-3.
Taking the lead in the fourth, Maddie Bejarano picked up a two-out single before Ailana Agbayani walked. Aleia Agbayani singled to center on the first pitch she saw, making it 4-3 in favor of the visitors.
The Cougars added another in the top of the fifth inning with Haley Morrow getting hit by a pitch and her pinch runner, Lexie Bennett moving to second on a groundout. After Udall reached on an error, BYU executed a double steal, scoring Bennett while Udall got out of a pickle thanks to a KU error to go ahead 5-3.
Extending the lead with two more in the sixth, Maddie Bejarano drew a walk and Aleia Agbayani, attempting to sacrifice bunt, reached on a Kansas throwing error that brought Bejarano to third. Zavodnik loaded the bases being hit by a pitch, and Ava reached on a fielder’s choice, with both Bejarano and Aleia Agbayani scoring on a Jayhawk throwing error home to go in front, 7-3.
Kansas got two runs back in the bottom of the sixth inning with a walk, and two singles sandwiched by a wild pitch to make it 7-5, Cougars.
In the seventh, Keila Kamoku walked and her pinch runner, Taryn Lennon, moved to second on a Bejarano sacrifice bunt. Ailana Agbayani then singled up the middle to score Lennon, adding an insurance run for an 8-5 lead.
The Jayhawks picked up two-straight two-out walks before a BYU error allowed a KU runner to score, but Udall snagged a line out at first base to halt any potential comeback and seal the Cougars’ game one win.
On Deck
BYU and Kansas will play game two of the series on Friday, May 3, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. CDT. The game will be streamed through Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
