BYU softball will play its first home game of the season against Abilene Christian at Gail Miller Field, according to a March 9 announcement from the team.
The matchup marks BYU’s return to Provo after playing 22 games away from home to start the 2026 campaign. The Cougars are scheduled to face Abilene Christian at 4 p.m. Mountain Time, with coverage available on ESPN+ and StatBroadcast.
Last week, BYU opened Big 12 conference play with a series against No. 13/14 Arizona in Tucson, where they were swept and outscored by a combined total of 37-4 over three games. Offensively, Rita Tavita, Lily Owens, and Hailey Morrow each recorded two hits during the series, accounting for more than half of BYU’s total hits. Additional contributions came from Bre Townsend, Danica Acosta, Hailey Shuler, and Ilove’a Brittingham. Shuler hit a double while Townsend drove in a run with an RBI single. Brittingham also hit her seventh home run of the season in the final game.
In pitching performances, Jada Villegas, Shuler, Gianna Mares, and Tavita all saw time in the circle for BYU. Each of Villegas, Shuler, and Mares was credited with a loss during the series but together they struck out eight Arizona batters.
Statistically this season, BYU ranks No. 66 nationally in strikeouts per seven innings (5.64), which is fifth among Big 12 teams. Individually, Villegas’ two saves place her at No. 22 nationally while Brittingham’s five runners caught stealing rank her No. 45 nationwide; both are second-best in their league categories. Mares averages eight strikeouts per seven innings (No. 50 nationally) and Owens averages just under one walk per game (No. 58 nationally), also ranking second in conference.
Abilene Christian enters Tuesday’s contest with a record of two wins and twenty-one losses overall and has yet to win on the road this season (0-5). The Wildcats are currently on a seven-game losing streak and this will be their first-ever meeting with BYU.
After hosting Abilene Christian, BYU will travel to St. George for the Trailblazer Classic where they will face Omaha and Utah Tech beginning Friday.
