Morrow, Udall homer as Cougars blank Jayhawks to sweep series

Hailey Morrow and Maddie Udall homered as BYU softball shut out Kansas, 3-0 in its series finale on Saturday.

Author Cameron Muh
Maddie Udall comes home after 2-run homer, securing the series sweep at Kansas on May 4, 2024Maddie Udall comes home after 2-run homer, securing the series sweep at Kansas on May 4, 2024
Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Led by homers from Hailey Morrow and Maddie Udall, BYU softball shut out Kansas, 3-0 in its series and regular season finale at Arrocha Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.

BOX SCORE

With their second series sweep and third series win of the season, the Cougars (30-22, 11-16 Big 12) secured a 30-win season for the 23rd time in the 24-year history of the program, excluding the COVID-canceled 2020 season.

BYU broke a scoreless tie and no hitter in the fourth with a solo Hailey Morrow home run, before adding two more in the seventh on a two-run shot by Maddie Udall.

Senior lefty Chloe Temples nearly went the distance for the Cougars, going 6 1/3 innings, giving up just two hits and striking out six Jayhawks before freshman Kate Dahle came in and induced the game-ending double play.

Player Highlights

Chloe Temples pitches during series finale at Kansas on May 4, 2024
Aleia Agbayani catches foul ball up against foul territory padding during series finale at Kansas on May 4, 2024
Hailey Morrow hyped coming home after home run during series finale at Kansas on May 4, 2024
Violet Zavodnik throws in ball after snagging out during series finale at Kansas on May 4, 2024
Tristen Turlington hyped after strikeout during series finale at Kansas on May 4, 2024
Hailey Morrow and Maddie Udall celebrate game-ending double play in series finale at Kansas on May 4, 2024

A pitcher’s dual through the first four innings, 13 consecutive BYU batters were retired in order, and Kansas had just two base runners on a walk and hit by pitch.

Morrow helped the Cougars break through in the top of the fifth, launching a towering solo shot to left field for a 1-0 lead.

After Kansas landed its first hit in the home half of the fifth frame, BYU turned a 5-4-3 double play, erasing the Jayhawk single and getting the Cougars out of the inning.

BYU added a couple insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs and Morrow on second, Udall crushed a two-run opposite field home run, putting the Cougars in from 3-0 heading into the final frame.

KU made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases after a BYU error, but the Cougars turned a 1-2-3 double play, with Morrow getting the force out at home before throwing to Udall at first to seal the series sweep.

On Deck
BYU will head to Oklahoma City next week to play in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Softball Championship, beginning either Wednesday, May 8 or Thursday, May 9. Final seeding for the tournament will be released on Sunday evening after the regular season concludes.