Who’s to credit for Cougars’ recent hot streak? It’s ‘someone different every game’

BYU pitcher Ethan Zufall (33) delivers a pitch during an NCAA baseball game against Utah held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News Straight up hill. That is the path the BYU baseball team has been on since the second the Cougars joined the Big 12.

Opposition has been stiff, injuries have been frequent, and expectations from around the conference have been low — even this year BYU was picked to finish 13th among the 14 teams. Yet, as mid-April arrives, the Cougars (19-16, 8-7) are raising a few eyebrows as they rise in the standings, now up to a fourth-place tie in the Big 12 and just one game back of No. 23 Arizona State (26-12, 9-6).

The Cougars and Sun Devils open a three-game series at Miller Park on Thursday (1 p. m, ESPN+). BYU is riding a season-best five-game win streak, and the Cougars are fresh off their first series sweep at Houston.

During the run, BYU outscored its opponents a combined 29-10. “We are pitching really good, throwing a lot of strikes, walking less people. That’s the biggest thing,” said BYU coach Trent Pratt.