The BYU softball team will play Marist College in their home opener at Gail Miller Field tomorrow at 6 p.m. MDT. The Cougars have had a week off after playing in their final preseason tournament in Florida and returning with a 2-2 record.
After five tournaments in the spring season, the Cougars are 9-15. Last year, BYU softball had a winning 17-1 record at home with the only loss to No. 20 Hawaii who the Cougars have already defeated this season.
BYU first baseman Katie Manuma makes contact with the ball during a game last Spring againt Utah Valley University at Miller Park. (Photo by Chris Bunker)
For the first time, Marist College will travel to Provo to play BYU and only their second time facing each other in history. Marist College sits at a 6-7 record on the season after losing five games in a row in a San Diego tournament last weekend. The Cougars will look to take advantage of this losing streak tomorrow with their home-field advantage.
The Cougar pitching staff has been plagued with injuries that has caused coach Gordon Eakin to introduce new players to the rotation. Eakin said that the key to their success going into conference play is to get their pitching staff healthy and throwing well again.
'If we don't get our pitching healthy and pitching well, it's going to be a fight every day,' Eakin said. 'You just never know what you're going to get from the mound right now.'
The Cougars will play in just one game against Marist College which will be broadcast live on BYUtv and available through live stats on BYU.