Cougars earn doubleheader split to conclude Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

BYU dropped a 3-0 contest to Indiana before earning a 5-1 win against Florida International to go 3-2 in Mexico.

Author Cameron Muh
Cougars earn doubleheader split to conclude Puerto Vallarta College ChallengeCougars earn doubleheader split to conclude Puerto Vallarta College Challenge
  • Game 1
  • Game 2
Box Score

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mex. — BYU softball fell to Indiana, 3-0 before beating Florida International, 5-1 in a doubleheader to close out Puerto Vallarta College Challenge play at Nancy Almaraz Field on Saturday afternoon.

GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE

_DSC1527
_DSC1548
_DSC1539

All-Tournament Team
Following the completion of the tournament, BYU had right-handed pitcher Kaysen Korth and catcher Lindy Milkowski named to the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge all-tournament team.

Korth went 2-0 across 15 and a third innings pitched, posting a 0.91 ERA with 10 strikeouts. Milkowski hit .333 on the week with a pair of walks and also caught three runners stealing throughout the tournament.

 

Game 1: Indiana 3 | BYU 0

The Cougars (5-2, 0-0 Big 12) were out-hit by the Hoosiers, nine to five, and left eight runners on base in the loss.

Player Highlights

20250215_SB_BYU _01697BLOOMINGTON, IN - February 15, 2025 - \sb during game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Brigham Young University Cougars in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Photo By Dalton Wainscott/Indiana Athletics
20250215_SB_BYU _02041BLOOMINGTON, IN - February 15, 2025 - \sb during game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Brigham Young University Cougars in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Photo By Dalton Wainscott/Indiana Athletics
20250215_SB_BYU _01748BLOOMINGTON, IN - February 15, 2025 - \sb during game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Brigham Young University Cougars in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Photo By Dalton Wainscott/Indiana Athletics

Indiana got on the board first with a leadoff single, stolen base, wild pitch and BYU throwing error to lead 1-0.

The Hoosiers added to their lead in the fourth inning with a trio of singles and one double, going in front 3-0.

Breaking up a no hitter in the bottom half of the fourth, the Cougars got singles from Ilove’a Brittingham and Keila Kamoku, but were unable to do any further damage.

BYU had a runner on in each of the following three innings, including a runner at third base in the bottom of the seventh inning, but struck out looking, dropping its second-consecutive game.

 

Game 2: BYU 5 | Florida International 1

Hailey Morrow homered in the top of the first inning as the Cougars (6-2, 0-0 Big 12) got back in the win column.

Player Highlights

_DSC1468
_DSC1467
_DSC1459

Morrow got BYU going in the first, hammering a two-out homer past the left field fence.

The Cougars added to their lead in the top of the second inning, with Milkowski singling through the left side, Owens drawing a walk, and Milkowski catching FIU sleeping and taking third on the walk. Flanders dropped a sacrifice squeeze bunt, reaching first and scoring Milkowski. BYU then executed a double steal, scoring Owens for a 3-0 lead.

Florida International plated a run in the bottom of the fifth frame, doubling down the left field line and then scoring on a Cougar throwing error, making it 3-1, BYU.

The Cougars added two insurance runs in the sixth, with three-straight singles by Owens, Bre Townsend and Flanders. Aleia Agbayani and Morrow both drew walks that scored runs for a 5-1 advantage.

BYU closed the bottom of the sixth inning with a 1-6-3 double play before retiring the Panther side on four pitches in the seventh, finishing off its Mexico slate with a win and 3-2 finish in Puerto Vallarta.

On Deck
The Cougars will head to Palm Springs, California next week to participate in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, beginning on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 5:30 p.m. PT on FloCollege.