PROVO, Utah — BYU softball returns to Utah for a seven-game homestand, beginning with a single game against Idaho State.
The Cougars (22-19, 5-13 Big 12) and Bengals will play their first of two games this season on Tuesday, April 16 at 6 p.m. MDT.
BYU went 1-3 last week, suffering a 12-10 loss at Utah Valley and dropping its series at No. 1/2 Oklahoma. Despite this, the Cougars took their Friday night matchup off the Sooners, 9-4.
In the upset victory, BYU handed OU its first home Big 12 loss since 2017. Its 11 hits were the most that Oklahoma has given up since 2021, with its nine runs the most the Sooners have surrendured since 2020. Shortstop Ailana Agbayani went 4-for-5 on the night with two doubles and two RBI. Her four hits were also the most Oklahoma has allowed to a single player since 2020.
Beating No. 4/6 Oklahoma State earlier in the year, 2024 marks just the fourth season in program history that the Cougars have two Top 10 wins, accomplishing the feat in 2010, 2011 and 2014, with the latter also the last year that BYU had a pair of Top 5 wins in the same season.
The Cougars were led offensively by their middle infielders, Ailana Agbayani and second baseman Keila Kamoku, who hit .600 and .429 respectively, combining for nine hits, three runs, and three RBI.
Kamoku hit a solo home run in BYU’s game two win, while infielder Maddie Udall and outfielder Aleia Agbayani each hit long bombs in game three, upping the Cougars’ season total to 42, for an average of just over one homer per game.
Right-handed freshman Kate Dahle led the way in the circle, posting a 2.86 ERA on 7.1 innings pitched with one strikeout. She and fellow freshman, lefty Gianna Mares teamed up in BYU’s Friday night win over Oklahoma, tossing a combined six and two thirds innings in the contest.
After their four road games last week, the Cougars rank No. 12 nationally in scoring, averaging 6.68 runs per game, and No. 14 in on-base percentage (.415), with their .326 batting average good for No. 20 in the country.
Left fielder Maddie Bejarano paces the nation with 0.41 sacrifice bunts per game, while Ailana Agbayani’s 1.22 runs per game rank ninth. First baseman Huntyr Ava is 14th in both total RBI (49) and RBI per game (1.23).
Hosting game one of seven at Gail Miller Field over the next two weeks, BYU gets set to welcome Idaho State to Provo for the 22nd matchup between the two teams on Tuesday night.
Idaho State (21-20, 3-3 Big Sky)
- The Bengals come into the contest on a three-game win streak, having swept a series at Montana last week.
- ISU also has wins over former WCC foes San Diego, Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara, as well as Utah Valley.
- BYU leads the all-time series between the two teams, 19-2, including a 15-1 record at Gail Miller Field. The Cougars have won the last seven matchups dating back to 2014.
Following BYU’s meeting with Idaho State, it will continue Big 12 play with a three-game series against Iowa State from Thursday-Saturday, April 18-20.