PROVO, Utah — BYU softball welcomes Utah Tech and Iowa State to Gail Miller Field this week, continuing its nine game homestand.
The Cougars (14-26, 5-10 Big 12) will host the Trailblazers on Tuesday and the Cyclones in a three-game series beginning on Thursday.
| BYU vs. Utah Tech, Iowa State | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game | Date | Time | Stream | Live Stats |
| Utah Tech | Tuesday, Apr. 14 | 11:30 a.m. MT | ESPN+ | StatBroadcast |
| Iowa State (G1) | Thursday, Apr. 16 | Noon MT | ESPN+ | StatBroadcast |
| Iowa State (G2) | Friday, Apr. 17 | 6 p.m. MT | ESPN+ | StatBroadcast |
| Iowa State (G3) | Saturday, Apr. 18 | Noon MT | ESPN+ | StatBroadcast |
BYU went 3-1 last week, dropping a Tuesday midweek to Utah Valley before earning a series sweep of Houston, its first Big 12 series win and sweep this year. The Cougars hit .375 on the weekend, outscoring UH, 33 to 25.
Tallying 10 runs in all three games, which it had done just twice against Utah Tech and Abilene Christian in non-conference play, BYU took games two and three despite being out-hit by Houston.
Ilove'a Brittingham led the Cougars in the series with a .714 batting average and 2.143 slugging percentage, hitting three home runs, including a pair in the game two victory.
She was joined by seven others hitting .300 or better: Lexie Bennett (.500), Rita Tavita (.444), Tristen Turlington (.400), Lily Owens (.364), Danica Acosta (.364), Hailey Shuler (.333) and Maddie Udall-Woolley (.308).
Owens, Acosta and Udall-Woolley each homered in the series to go along with Brittingham's three long bombs. She finished with seven RBI, while seven other BYU batters posted two or more RBI: Bennett, Tavita, Turlington, Owens, Acosta, Shuler and Bre Townsend.
Jada Villegas picked up two of the Cougars' wins in the circle, while Gianna Mares recorded one and also added a save in game two. The pair of southpaws totaled 18 strikeouts, with Mares' carding 13 and Villegas turning in five.
Heading into week 11, BYU ranks fifth in the Big 12 in strikeouts per seven innings (4.92) and is also sixth in both double plays (17) and double plays per game (0.43).
Individually, Villegas' three saves and Brittingham's seven runners caught stealing are both good for second in the league. Mares is fourth in games started (17) and fifth in total strikeouts (84).
After moving up to the No. 10 spot in Conference after sweeping Houston last week, BYU looks to jump in the standings again with Iowa State coming to town. The Cougars, Cyclones, senior weekend opponent Arizona State and week 12 opponent Utah all have five wins in Big 12 play.
Utah Tech (16-24, 3-6 WAC)
- The Trailblazers beat San Diego and Cal State Bakersfield during their WAC bye last week, and will have had nearly a week off before facing BYU in Provo on Tuesday morning.
- The Cougars lead the all-time series, 11-0, and are 5-0 against Utah Tech in Provo.
- BYU took the season's first meeting in St. George, 10-1 in five innings on Mar. 13.
Iowa State (24-17, 5-10 Big 12)
- The Cyclones will host South Dakota on Tuesday afternoon before making the trip to Provo.
- ISU run-ruled No. 19 Oklahoma State, 12-0 last week, but dropped the series to the Cowgirls, 2-1.
- The Cougars lead the all-time series, 10-3, and have swept the previous two series' held in Provo, most recently in 2024, BYU's first year as members of the Big 12.
- The two teams split last season's meetings, with the Cougars taking the three-game series in Ames before the Cyclones were victorious in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinal.
On Deck
BYU will conclude its nine-game homestand with a midweek contest against Weber State on Tuesday, Apr. 21 at 6 p.m. MT on ESPN+.