Korth tosses 1-0 shutout over Wisconsin in freshman debut

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mex. — Kaysen Korth pitched a complete game shutout to lead BYU softball to a 1-0 victory over Wisconsin in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge at Nancy Almaraz Field on Thursday evening. 

BOX SCORE

The freshman pitcher struck out nine and gave up just three hits in her first collegiate start, as the Cougars (1-1, 0-0 WCC) earned a day one split after dropping their season opener to the Tar Heels earlier in the day.

"Our pitching performed very well today through two hard-fought games against Power Five opponents, "said BYU head coach Gordon Eakin. "Kaysen pitched an incredible game against Wisconsin. We needed her to step up, and she did."

Player Highlights

• Kaysen Korth: 7 IP, 3 H, 9 K
• Ailana Agbayani: 1-3, R
• Huntyr Ava: 1-3, RBI

The Cougars scored the lone run of the game in the opening frame, with Ailana Agbayani reaching on a slap single and Maddie Bejarano’s bunt staying in fair territory after ricocheting off a Wisconsin infielder. A Violet Zavodnik walk made way for Hunter Ava, who pushed a single into left center, scoring Agbayani to give BYU the 1-0 lead. 

After giving up a leadoff double in the bottom of the first, Korth proceeded to retire the side. Wisconsin didn’t threaten again until the fourth inning with a leadoff single, advancing the runner to second on a stolen base, but Korth got out of the jam with two strikeouts and a flyout. 

With both Alyssa Podhurcak-Foss and Alexis Gilio drawing walks in the fifth and Bejarano reaching base on an error in the sixth inning, the Cougars had opportunities to score an insurance run, but were unable to bring anyone around.

Korth got out of trouble again in the bottom of the sixth as the Badgers had a runner on second with one out, but forced a pop up and fly out to get out of the inning. 

BYU went down in order in their half of the seventh, and took its one-run advantage into the bottom of the final inning. Korth then took the circle and recorded two strikeouts and a groundout to shut the door on Wisconsin and close out her career-opening shutout. 

The Cougars will continue play in Mexico on Friday, Feb. 10 against Maryland. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. CST, with the game streamed on FloSoftball.