After starting the home series with a nice win on Thursday, the BYU softball team found itself in some trouble early in Game 2 on Friday night at Gail Miller Field.

After trailing 4-1 through five innings, the Cougars added four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-4 advantage. Iowa State found a way to even the score at five in the top of the seventh, forcing the game into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, the Cyclones had runners on first and second when a hit by Alesia Ranches allowed Olivia Wardlow to score off a fielder’s choice and Cougar error, giving Iowa State the 6-5 advantage.

Looking to stay alive, BYU’s Huntyr Ava evened the score at 6-6 with her second solo home run of the evening. Maddie Udall then sent a ball deep down the right field line for a triple. With a chance to win the game, Keila Kamoku hit a ball deep into right center field, but it was caught by the Cyclone right fielder to force the game into a ninth inning.

After a triple of its own down the right field line, Iowa State scored on a passed ball to take a 7-6 lead and again put the pressure on BYU.

But the Cougars were up to the challenge.

Hailey Morrow then evened the score at 7-7 with a leadoff solo home run past center field in the bottom of the ninth. Maddie Bejarano followed with the game-winning homer to right field, securing an 8-7 walk-off win in nine innings.

BYU recorded 13 hits in the game, tied for its second-most in Big 12 play.

The Cougars went on to complete the three-game sweep on Saturday with an 8-5 win over the Cyclones.

BYU recorded its first sweep in their debut season in the Big 12 Conference. Saturday’s victory featured eight runs on seven hits, highlighted by another home run from Morrow.

Once again, the Cougars fell behind Iowa State in the early going as the Cyclones score five runs in the first two innings to go up 5-3.

But BYU seized control with two runs in the bottom of the third, then the Cougars put the game away with a two-run blast by Morrow in the sixth.

BYU will return to action at Gail Miller Field in Provo on Thursday, April 25 for the start of a three-game series with Baylor. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. MDT with live coverage through Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

Cougar baseball loses series to Oklahoma

BYU lost all three games to the Sooners this weekend, including a 10-7 defeat in the finale at Miller Park in Provo on Saturday afternoon.

Five runs through the first two innings and a home run by Easton Jones in the final inning weren’t enough to propel the Cougars to victory as the Sooners used 11 hits to record their 10 runs.

Oklahoma scored three runs in the first inning to take control, forcing BYU to attempt to rally. The Cougars got the lead to one at 5-4 and 6-5 midway through the game, but the Sooners kept scoring to stay in front.

BYU will be back at Miller Park on Tuesday, April. 23 when the Cougars face rival Utah at 6 p.m. MDT. The game will be broadcast live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and streamed on BYU Radio 107.9/BYU Radio App.

BYU women’s golf ends up 13th at Big 12 tournament

The BYU women’s golf team finished its inaugural Big 12 Championship in 13th after posting rounds of 303-306-299-908 to finish 56-over-par for the tournament, which took place in Hockley, Texas.

“The Big 12 Conference Championship was an amazing experience,” BYU head coach Carrie Roberts said. “We didn’t show well, but we know what we need to work on. We are excited to be in this conference with world-class competition and hopefully be able to take our games to the level needed to compete.”

Texas (286-283-282–851; -1) took home the team title after being the only team to finish under-par in the 54-hole tournament. Iowa State (292-283-288–863; +11) finished runner-up at 11-over-par with Kansas State (292-289-285–866; +14) taking third at 14-over. Baylor (292-289-287–868; +16) and Texas Tech (293-295-281–869; +17) rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth respectively.

Maria Jose Barragan (78-73-74-225; +12) finished tied for 41st, with Lila Galeai (74-81-73-228; +15) tied for 48th and Alexa Udom (77-77-75-229; +16) tied for 50th. Berlin Long (74-79-79-232; +19) tied for 55th and Lily McCauley (82-77-77-236; +23) rounded out the tournament for the Cougars in 60th.

Selection for the NCAA Regional tournaments will commence on Wednesday, April 24 at 12 p.m. MDT on The Golf Channel.

Cougar track gets excellent 400-meter hurdles time from Hart at Mt. SAC Relays

BYU track and field sprinter Annalise Hart ran a program No. 3 time of 57.11 in the 400-meter hurdles at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., on Saturday afternoon.

The junior from Highlands Ranch, Colorado crossed the finish with a new personal best time, surpassing her previous No. 7 program time of 58.24 that she achieved just one week prior at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. Hart only started competing in the event this season as Saturday’s race at Mt. SAC marked her fourth outing for the distance.

Hart also competed in the women’s 4x400m relay with teammates Sami Oblad, Emily Ellis-Daley and Lainey Jones. The team finished third in the fastest heat of the night with a time of 3:35.29.

“I felt good about today,” said Hart. “There’s still progress to be made. My goal going into it was to run under the 58-second mark. I’m excited about making more progress.”

Other relays included the men’s and women’s 4x100m teams that finished sixth and 13th, respectively. The men’s 4x400m relay finished fifth at 3:05.29.

Indoor women’s high jump school record-holder Cierra Tidwell-Allphin took fourth overall with a height of 1.82m/5-11.5.

At the Utah State Aggie Invitational, Jonathan Holman jumped 1.96m/6-5 in the men’s high jump to take second overall. Harrison Gould threw for a 49.44m/162-2 mark in the men’s discus throw.

The Cougars will now return home to Provo for the annual Robison Invitational at the Clarence F. Robison Track and Field Complex beginning Thursday, April 25. The distance crews will head to the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford University for events on Friday, April 26.

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