PROVO, Utah — After 30 games to start the season, just one at home and five within the state of Utah, BYU softball will host its first Big 12 series, welcoming Kansas to Gail Miller Field for a three-game set.
The Cougars (10-20, 1-5 Big 12) and Jayhawks will kick off their series on Thursday night, with two games at 6 p.m. before an 11:30 a.m. first pitch on Saturday.
| BYU vs. Kansas | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game | Date | Time | Stream | Live Stats |
| Game 1 | Thursday, Mar. 26 | 6 p.m. MT | ESPN+ | StatBroadcast |
| Game 2 | Friday, Mar. 27 | 6 p.m. MT | ESPN+ | StatBroadcast |
| Game 3 | Saturday, Mar. 28 | 11:30 a.m. MT | ESPN+ | StatBroadcast |
BYU picked up a midweek non-conference win at Utah Valley on Tuesday night, 8-5. The Cougars made the drive down University Parkway and opened up a 4-0 lead to start the game before plating a pair of insurance runs in the sixth to pull out the win.
Freshmen Kaiya Fabela and Rita Tavita both homered in the contest, going a combined 5-8 at the plate with five RBI. BYU finished with 11 hits to UVU's 10, with eight of the Cougars' nine hitters reaching base safely.
Hailey Shuler earned the win, her fourth of the year, after tossing four innings in the game. She allowed just three earned runs and three walks. Jada Villegas picked up her third save of the season, going the final three and striking out two, including the game's final out.
BYU dropped its series at then-No. 23/21 Oklahoma State last week, but salvaged the set with a 7-3 win in game three. The Cougars received a two-run home run by Lily Owens in the game to get things started, with Danica Acosta, Tavita and Shuler also picking up RBI.
Villegas went the distance in the series finale to earn the first win of her season, which was also BYU's first win in Big 12 play and its first over a Top 25 opponent this year.
As a team, the Cougars rank No. 83 nationally in home runs (28) and No. 87 in home runs per game (0.93). They are also sixth in the Big 12 in both strikeouts per seven innings (5.04) and sacrifice bunts (10).
Individually, Ilove'a Brittingham and Jada Villegas are second in the Big 12 in respective statistical categories, catching six runners stealing and posting three saves. Owens is also third in the league, being hit by six pitches.
With Kansas one of the two teams BYU did not face in Conference play last week, the Cougars and Jayhawks will meet for the first time since 2024 this weekend.
Kansas (23-9, 4-3 Big 12)
- The Jayhawks won their first two Big 12 series against Houston and Utah, 2-1.
- KU is 5-4 in road games this year.
- The all-time series between the two teams is tied, 5-5. BYU swept Kansas in Lawrence back in 2024. The Jayhawks' only previous trip to Provo came when the Cougars hosted an NCAA Regional in 2006. KU won both matchups, 3-0 and 2-1.
On Deck
BYU will head out on its final true road trip next week, visiting No. 2 Texas Tech in Lubbock for a three-game series beginning on Thursday, Apr. 2, at 6 p.m. CT.