BYU exploded for seven runs in the top of the second inning, batting around the order in the frame. Hailey Morrow picked up two base hits, with Lily Owens, Keila Kamoku, Aleia Agbayani and Huntyr Ava all recording one. Ava capped off the scoring with a three-run jack off the left field foul pole for the 7-0 Cougar lead.
Kansas got a run back in its half of the second, earning a leadoff single before dropping in a triple down the right field line to make it 7-1.
The Cougars kept on the attack in the third inning as Maddie Bejarano sent an opposite field home run to left center on the first pitch of her at bat, making it an 8-1 BYU advantage.
BYU added three more runs the fourth to go in front, 11-1. Violet Zavodnik led off with a double to left center and Ava dropped a bloop single down the left field line. Morrow, laying down a sacrifice bunt, reached on a Jayhawk error, scoring Zavodnik. After a Maddie Udall sacrifice fly that scored Morrow, Kamoku walked and the Cougars executed a double steal, with Lily Owens escaping a run down to score.
Owens helped BYU add an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, she singled into left, scoring Jaelynn Lambert, who had singled earlier in the frame, for a 12-1 lead.
KU got the run back with a Cougar error and two singles in the home half of the fifth, but consecutive fly outs to left closed out the run-rule victory and series win.
On Deck
The Cougars’ series finale with the Jayhawks is set for Saturday, May 4, beginning at noon CDT, with coverage through Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
