Take me out to Gail Miller Field: What makes BYU softball games special
Since 2001, Gail Miller Field has been home to the BYU softball team — creating lifelong memories for players, students, and fans who pass through its gates.
With sports across campus winding down as the Winter Semester ends and the weather begins to warm up, attending a BYU softball home game should be on every BYU fan’s calendar this spring.
At one of BYU's recent home games against UVU, BYU student Toby Jeffs shared what brings him out to games.
"I obviously love BYU and all their teams, and I really enjoy softball, so being at a game environment where our team is pretty good is a cool experience," Jeffs said. "It’s just fun to hang out with friends and see BYU win. It makes for a good night."
Not only does attending softball games make for a good time for students, but it also doesn’t go unnoticed by players like Hailey Morrow and Lindy Milkowski.
Morrow, currently in her third year at BYU, and senior infielder Milkowski, who just transferred to BYU after spending years at Iowa and Eastern Illinois, spoke about their experiences playing in Provo.
Milkowski, a Kansas City native, was excited to begin playing games at home after being a trailblazer of sorts at her previous schools and starting the first half of the season on the road. After playing during COVID and at Eastern Illinois — where softball wasn't as popular — she's embraced the opportunity to connect with fans.
"I started college during COVID, so it was tough to interact with the community," Milkowski said. "You couldn’t really engage with fans or be as open with people. Now that I’m at BYU, I'm part of something bigger where I can connect with the fans in a way that I wasn’t able to before. It's so much fun to see the faces of smiling kids when signing autographs and inspire the next generation."
For Milkowski, the opportunity to play at BYU has meant not just a chance to showcase her skills, but also a sense of belonging that she hadn't experienced with her previous teams. Not only having a close connection with her teammates but also with those who support her from the crowd has made her proud to represent BYU.
"I feel like I'm a part of the community and the culture because I wear the 'Y' on my chest. The atmosphere here is so much more family-oriented — it makes you feel welcome," Milkowski said. "I've only been here seven months and already feel so welcomed by the community and everybody that comes to our games. The fact that they have such a strong following from young athletes all the way up to alumni and just regular BYU supporters makes games here special."
Being away from home for an extended amount of time can be exhausting for players. Though BYU fans are everywhere, Morrow — now in her third year with the Cougars — spoke about the impact that having the home crowd behind them has on game day.
"Fans play a huge role in bringing energy to our field and to our games. I feel like when fans are super loud and engaged, it helps boost our adrenaline and confidence because it allows us to play looser," Morrow said. "When the entire fanbase is chanting 'B-Y-U', that’s got to be intimidating for our opponents as we try to get momentum off of that."
"We had a pretty hostile crowd when we played in Houston, which was very intimidating trying to combat that," Milkowski added. "Now at home, there was a moment when I may have disagreed with the umpire’s call regarding a strike. Hearing the fans behind me, having my back and rooting for me instead of against me, makes me feel more confident even when I'm not playing well."
With three more home series remaining and a regional matchup against Fresno State still on the schedule, it isn’t too late to be a part of what has been an exciting season for the Cougars. For Morrow, she’s especially looking forward to facing some elite competition.
"I'm really excited to host Texas Tech at the end of the year," Morrow said. "It's our last home conference series, and we'll get to host one of the best pitchers in the country, which will be an honor to have her on our home turf."
As for Milkowski, she’s only heard stories about the heated in-state rivalry between BYU and Utah, but it’s a series she and much of campus has circled on the calendar.
"I have heard some interesting things about the Holy War," she said. "So I'm definitely excited to host Utah, because it's not something I got to be a part of the last few years. It'll be interesting to see."
2025 remaining home games
- Central Florida – Thursday, April 10, to Saturday, April 12
- Fresno State – Monday, April 14
- Utah – Thursday, April 17, to Saturday, April 19
- Texas Tech – Thursday, May 1, to Saturday, May 3
Miller Park has often been called one of the most stunning baseball and softball complexes in the country, offering memorable views and a great atmosphere for fans and players alike.
"The atmosphere is just electric; we love to hit home runs and make the lights turn blue," Morrow said. "It's an experience of a lifetime and definitely something you don't want to miss."
BYU has been on a roll as of late, winning back-to-back games in Iowa against the Cyclones and then defeating Utah Tech 12–7 at home.
Sitting in third place in the Big 12 standings, they Cougars will be determined to keep up their winning ways and make the home crowd happy when UCF visits on Thursday.