Utah Softball Defeated By No. 11 Arizona, 6-1

Sunday, February 22

Tucson, Ariz.

11:00 AM

University of Utah

Arizona

2/22/2009 12:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 22, 2009

Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. - Junior center fielder Kara Foster knocked her sixth home run of the season as the University of Utah softball team was defeated by No. 11 Arizona, 6-1, Sunday in the finale of the Wildcat Invitational at Hillenbrand Stadium. The Utes fell to 7-8 overall after 15 games this season.

"Today, we just couldn't get the timely hitting we needed to get RBI's," Utah head coach Amy Hogue said. "There were a lot of positives today, though. We played well. We set the table [getting runners in scoring position offensively] and played solid defense.

"I'm really proud of how we didn't give up. We could have easily given up, but we played without fear and we played to win."

Freshman third baseman Whitney Holm was the lone Ute with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with a walk. The Utes managed seven hits as a team, including doubles by freshman left fielder Hannah Clements and senior first baseman Staci Hemingway.

Freshman pitcher Joni Cook registered a six-inning complete game, allowing six runs on eight hits with one strikeout and one walk. Although she took the loss, Cook held the Wildcats scoreless in three innings. The Eagle, Idaho native now has pitched three complete games this year.

Utah put together a first-inning threat to start the game, beginning with a single by Holm. Sharee Fonoti laid down a sacrifice bunt then advanced to second base after an error by Arizona pitcher Lindsey Sisk. The bases were then loaded after Hemingway was hit by a pitch, but Sisk was able to get a ground ball to her second baseman for the final out of the frame.

The Wildcats struck first with a two-run first inning off a two-run home run by Jenae Leles. Arizona followed that up with a run in the second inning, when Lini Koria led off the inning with a double down the left field line. After Cook recorded two outs, Koria advanced to third base then Victoria Kemp drove an RBI single to left field for Arizona's third run.

To start the fifth inning, Clements led off with a double then Holm reached on an error by Leles but Holm was later cut down at third base after fielder's choice. The Wildcats managed to end the inning by getting another groundout. In the bottom half of the frame, Arizona built a cushion by putting together a three-run effort, including a two-RBI triple down the right-field line.

Foster led off the seventh inning for the Utes by knocking a solo home run over the center-field wall off Arizona reliever Jennifer Martinez. The Derby, Kan., native took over the team lead with six home runs and stands second in school history with 41 in her career. Foster is only eight home runs from tying Melissa Stahnke (2001-04) for the school's all-time lead. Foster is now second on the team with 10 RBI this season.

Holm followed by walking then moved to second on a sacrifice by Fonoti -- on a play where she beat the throw but was called out for running outside the chalk line to first. Unfortunately, Martinez came up with a pair of strikeouts to end the game.

Arizona committed a pair of fielding errors on the day, but still improved to 13-2 overall and were 6-0 in their home tournament. Sisk recorded the win with a six-inning performance, giving up six hits and striking out four.

"This weekend was an opportunity for our eight newcomers to Division I softball to see a top-level program," Hogue said. "We got a chance to see what we can improve."

The Utes head to the San Diego Classic for five games between Feb. 27 and March 1, beginning Friday against No. 4/6 UCLA at 11:30 a.m. PST.