Down to Fresno

PROVO -- The BYU softball team (10-10) continues it’s 33-game road stand at the Bayer Cropscience Classic in Fresno, Calif., where it will face two top-25 opponents.

The Cougars will first face the hosting No. 21/24 Fresno State Bulldogs at 7 p.m. (PST) on Thursday. The Bulldogs are 8-6 on the season, but are coming off a tremendous 2008, when they finished 54-13 at the NCAA Regionals. Fresno State leads the all-time series 5-1.

On Friday BYU will take on Providence in the first game of an afternoon doubleheader. Providence is 5-8 on the season. The Cougars last met Providence in a 12-2 victory in 2002.

The nightcap will feature BYU against Northern Illinois. The meeting will be the first between the two schools.

With another matchup against Northern Illinois on Saturday morning, BYU will then face its toughest competition of the Classic in No. 9/10 Cal. After finishing 2008 in the NCAA Super Regional, the Golden Bears are 14-3 on the season.

The Cougars look to snap their five-game losing streak to top-25 opponents this season. BYU has faced No. 1/3 Washington (then No. 15), No. 3/1 Alabama (No. 1), No. 8/9 Michigan (No. 6), No. 7/8 Tennessee (No. 12) and No. 20/22 Louisville (RV) this season.

Livestats for the game are available at www.byucougars.com.