BYU softball preps for home opener

PROVO, Utah – BYU softball prepares to open at home with a series against Oklahoma State this weekend.

The Cougars (17-7) will play the Cowgirls (12-13) in a three-game series starting with a doubleheader Friday at 4 p.m. MDT and 6 p.m. and concluding with a 1 p.m. start time Saturday. BYU will then face UVU in Saturday contest at 3:30 p.m. All the games will be televised on BYUtv and broadcast on satellite radio via BYU Radio.

Last weekend, the Cougars went 4-1 at the San Diego Classic II, helping to notch the 500th win under head coach Gordon Eakin. 

Pitcher McKenna Bull leads the NCAA in wins with a 17-4 record while being ranked No. 18 in strikeouts with 121. Her 1.70 ERA has helped pace the BYU defense as she helped hold opponents to one run in four of the last five games.

Gordy Bravo and Lacey Hofstedt have continued their hot hitting, batting .450 and .437, respectively. Bravo has an eight-game hitting and a 25-game reached base streak. Hofstedt has recorded a hit in each of the last six games.

Other standouts from the plate include McKenzie St. Clair with her .339 average and Sydney Broderick with her .314.

BYU’s 17-7 mark so far this season is the best win percentage heading into the first home game since its 23-8 record in 2010. 

Oklahoma State

The Cowgirls are led by Shelby Davis from the plate with her .465 average to go along with 13 RBI and 26 stolen bases. Tiffany Mikkelson also stands out with a .395 average while hitting seven home runs for 28 RBI on the year. The pitching duties have been split by Brandi Needham (6-4, 4.97 ERA) and Meagan Lively (3-5, 4.29 ERA). 

Oklahoma State is on a three-game win streak after sweeping Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Prior to the series in Provo, it will play two games at home against Iowa and Central Arkansas before playing two against UVU in Orem. The Cougars are 3-5 all-time against the Cowgirls.

UVU

The Wolverines are led by Brianna Gatlin (.390 BA, 5 HR, 13 RBI) and Jaylen Watson (.324 BA, 4 HR, 10 RBI) from the plate. Bailey Moore has seen the bulk of the innings from the circle with a 7-9 record and 4.08 ERA in 104.2 innings pitched.

BYU has an all-time record of 30-3 against UVU with a 15-0 mark at home.