PROVO, Utah (Interstat) — The Kansas Jayhawks (37-15) will try to build on a narrow series-opening win when they face BYU (26-25) on Friday at 6 p.m. MDT at Larry H. Miller Field. The forecast calls for clear skies and 71 degrees.

Kansas took a 1-0 lead in the three-game Big 12 series Thursday, winning a pitchers’ duel, 1-0. The Jayhawks have won four of their last five overall but were routed 13-2 (8 innings) by West Virginia on Sunday. Right-hander Mathis Nayral, who took the loss in that game, is scheduled to start Friday. In the outing, Nayral allowed one earned run on seven hits over 4⅔ innings with five strikeouts; over his past five appearances, he has a 4.20 ERA across 12⅔ innings.

BYU enters on a high after a 13-3 rout of Utah Valley on Tuesday, snapping a three-game skid. First baseman Ezra McNaughton homered and drove in three runs in that win, continuing a hot stretch. Over his last 10 games, McNaughton is batting .325 with three home runs and 11 RBIs, including a 3-for-4, 1-HR, 3-RBI performance at Texas Tech on May 9.

The Jayhawks boast the better record and have a high-powered offense that averages nearly seven runs per game. Kansas has won eight of its last 10. BYU has been inconsistent, splitting its last 10 and going 4-6 in Big 12 play since April 25.

Friday’s matchup will be a rematch of a tight game Thursday, when Kansas scored the only run in the seventh inning. The Jayhawks are projected to win 7-5 by Interstat’s simulator, but BYU’s bats have shown the ability to erupt (Interstat) — the Cougars have scored 12 or more runs three times in May.

Kansas will send Nayral, who has been used in relief but is stretched out. The 6-foot-3 sophomore has a 4.80 ERA in 30 innings this season, with 36 strikeouts. He has been sharp in short outings but struggled in longer appearances, including a five-run outing against Oklahoma State on April 17.

BYU will counter with its bullpen-heavy approach; no starter has been announced. The Cougars’ staff has a 5.85 ERA as a unit, while Kansas pitchers own a 4.12 ERA.

Both teams play a doubleheader-style Saturday series finale the next day. Kansas has won the last two meetings in Provo, including a sweep in 2023.

Players to Watch:

- Mathis Nayral, Kansas: The right-hander has allowed three earned runs in 6⅔ innings over his last two appearances but yielded five earned runs in 1⅓ innings against Oklahoma State on April 17.

- Ezra McNaughton, BYU: The junior first baseman has homered in three of his last seven games and driven in multiple runs four times in that span.

Up Next: The teams meet again Saturday at 1 p.m. MDT at Larry H. Miller Field.