BYU to face five teams at Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

The Cougars make their sixth trip to Mexico after last opening the 2023 campaign in Puerto Vallarta.

BYU softball celebrates Miranda Mansfield's sliding snag against Portland State in the La Jolla Invitational on Feb. 8, 2025BYU softball celebrates Miranda Mansfield's sliding snag against Portland State in the La Jolla Invitational on Feb. 8, 2025

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mex. — BYU softball takes its 3-0 start to Mexico this week to participate in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.

The Cougars make their sixth appearance in the international tournament and will play North Dakota State, Illinois State, Boise State, Indiana and Florida International beyond the border.

Puerto Vallarta College Challenge
Opponent Date Time Stream Live Stats
North Dakota State Wednesday, Feb. 12 12 p.m. CST FloCollege Stat Broadcast
Illinois State Thursday, Feb. 13 4 p.m. CST FloCollege Stat Broadcast
Boise State Friday, Feb. 14 8:30 p.m. CST FloCollege Stat Broadcast
Indiana Saturday, Feb. 15 1 p.m. CST FloCollege Stat Broadcast
Florida International Saturday, Feb. 15 4 p.m. CST FloCollege Stat Broadcast

BYU began its 2025 campaign in San Diego last week, visiting UC San Diego in its La Jolla Invitational. The Cougars had their pair of Friday game's cancelled due to weather, but run-ruled their three other matchups at UCSD (8-0, 6), against Winthrop (14-3, 6) and Portland State (9-1, 5), outscoring its opponents 31-4.

Led by freshman catcher/DP Ilove'a Brittingham, who finished the week hitting .556 with 5 hits and 7 RBI, including three at UCSD, BYU also saw fellow catcher/DP Lindy Milkowski slug 1.000 and third baseman Keila Kamoku slug .900.

Kamoku paced the Cougars with a pair of long bombs, featuring a grand slam in their win against Winthrop. Milkowski and shortstop Hailey Morrow also homered during the invitational.

The quad were joined by Jaelynn Lambert, Danica Acosta, Aleia Agbayani and Lily Owens as the eight BYU hitters with multiple hits on the weekend. Acosta, an infielder who also started the Portland State game in right field, led the Cougars with two of their seven stolen bases.

Kaysen Korth and Jada Villegas posted strong performances for BYU in the circle, earning all three of the Cougars' wins. Korth went 2-0 on eight and two-thirds innings pitched with no earned runs and six strikeouts, while Villegas fanned six herself on six and one-third innings pitched and one earned run.

Through opening weekend, BYU ranks in the top 50 nationally in 14 different statistical categories. Korth, Acosta, Brittingham, Milkowski, Agbayani, Kamoku, Villegas and Miranda Mansfield represent the Cougars individually in 17 statistical categories.

Returning to Mexico, BYU has played a variety of opponents in Puerto Vallarta, including this year’s tournament opener, North Dakota State, to close its PVCC slate a couple seasons ago. The Cougars went 4-0 in the inaugural PVCC, but have finished just .500 or less in its subsequent trips back to Mexico, posting an 11-9 (.550) record overall.

2023 (2-2)
North Carolina (L, 2-0), Wisconsin (W, 1-0), Maryland (L, 10-2 in 5), North Dakota State (W, 10-1 in 5)

2020 (2-2)
Georgia Washington (W, 1-0), Nevada (W, 6-1), Oregon (L, 3-1), No. 3 Oklahoma (L, 3-1)

2019 (1-3)
No. 9 South Carolina (L, 4-3), No. 18 Baylor (W, 4-3), Liberty (L,13-3), North Carolina (L, 5-4)

2017 (2-2)
Nebraska (W, 12-1 in 5), No. 1 Oklahoma (L, 7-1), No. 13 Washington (W, 4-2), No. 2 Auburn (L, 3-0)

2015 (4-0)
Nevada (W, 7-5), Northern Colorado (W, 5-4), Southern Illinois (W, 8-0), Southern Illinois (W, 8-1)

The Cougars' series history with each of its five PVCC opponents this season are as follows:

North Dakota State
BYU leads the all-time series, 5-4, and has taken the last two matchups. The Cougars beat the Bison last time they were in Mexico, a 10-1 (5) win on Feb. 11, 2023. BYU is 4-4 against NDSU at neutral sites.

Illinois State
BYU leads, 3-0, with all three previous meetings occuring in early-season Arizona State tournaments. The Cougars shutout the Redbirds last season, 10-0 (5) on Feb. 16, 2024. 

Boise State
BYU leads, 5-3, and is 3-1 against the Boise State at neutral sites. The Broncos beat the Cougars in Provo two season ago, 8-3 on Mar. 21, 2023.

Indiana
BYU leads, 4-0, with all four previous matchups also occurring at neutral sites. The Cougars and Hoosiers last played in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Feb. 21, 2015, a 5-3 BYU victory.

Florida International
The all-time series is tied, 1-1, with both meetings coming at neutral sites. The Cougars beat the Panthers, 2-0 in their last matchup on Feb. 16, 2018 as part of a tournament at UNLV.

On Deck
Following its time in Puerto Vallarta, BYU will head to Palm Springs, California for its annual appearance in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic from Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 20-22.