Utah Softball Extends Win Streak To Four Games

Thursday, April 18

Salt Lake City

3:00 PM

University of Utah

Cs-Northridge

4/18/2002 12:00 AM | Softball

April 18, 2002

Box Score

Salt Lake City - The University of Utah softball team defeated the Cal-State Northridge Matadors, 1-0 in a non-conference match-up in Salt Lake City on Thurs., Apr. 18. Utah improves to 20-31 overall, 7-3 in MWC play. Cal-State Northridge drops to 23-19 on the season.

Utah's Traci Keller notched a double in the fourth inning, scoring Lauren Field to lift the Utes to a 1-0 win over the Matadors. Masie Ota went 2-for-3 with a double, while Angie Kenney went 2-for-3 with a double. Teammates Niki Hayhurst and Michele Larsen picked up one hit each in the game. Junior Jen Pursell (10-15) threw a two hitter in seven innings pitched. She faced 21 batters in the game and gave up zero runs and zero walks, while striking out four in the game. As a team, Utah tallied seven hits in 22 at bats, along with one run and one RBI.

Cal-State's Christen Bedwell and Katie Kearns tallied a hit each for the Matadors. Kia Fennell (5-9) recorded the loss for CSNR. She pitched 3.0 innings and gave up five hits, one run and two walks in 16 batters faced. Teammate Jenny Wheeler closed the game for the Matadors. She pitched 3.0 innings and gave up two hits, zero runs and zero walks in 10 batters faced. As a team, Cal-State managed just two hits in 21 at bats.

"This win is so sweet," said Head Coach Mona Stevens. "We faced them earlier this season and lost and we just didn't play well. Today was a totally different game, we came out sharp and JP (Jen Pursell) threw a great game. That shows what a difference being relaxed and comfortable can make. JP faced 21 people today and that is an amazing stat. I am very proud for the win."

UP NEXT: Utah will face the UNLV Rebels on Fri., Apr. 19 at 1:30 p.m. (DH) and the San Diego State Aztecs on Sat., Apr. 20 at 12:00 p.m. (DH) at Ute Field. On Tues., Apr. 23, the Utes take on the Utah State Aggies in a single-game contest at 3:00 p.m. in Salt Lake City. Utah will face Southern Utah on Wed., Apr. 24 for a single-game match-up in Cedar City, Utah at 3:00 p.m. On Sat., Apr. 27, the Utes will play in-state rival BYU in Provo, Utah (DH) at 12:00 p.m. Utah travels to Albuquerque, N.M. on Fri., May 3, facing New Mexico in a doubleheader match-up at 1:00 p.m. On Sun., May 5, the Utes will take on the Colorado State Rams at 11:00 a.m. in Fort Collins, Colo (DH). The Utes will host the Utah State Aggies in a non-conference match-up at 3:00 p.m. on Tues., May 7. On Thurs.-Sat. May 9-11, Utah will participate in the MWC Tournament held in Provo, Utah.