Utah Softball Picks Up 12-10 Win At Southern Utah

Wednesday, April 22

Cedar City, Utah

TBA

University of Utah

Southern Utah

Utah Softball Picks Up 12-10 Win At Southern Utah

4/22/2009 12:00 AM | Softball

April 22, 2009

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Utah senior right fielder Angie Boardman went 5-for-7 on the day with two home runs, five runs batted in and four runs scored as the University of Utah softball team split its doubleheader at Southern Utah, losing the first game 8-7 and winning the second game 12-10, Wednesday afternoon at Kathryn Berg Field.

Utah improved its overall record to 19-27 overall thanks to impressive offensive performances from senior center fielder Kara Foster and senior shortstop Sharee Fonoti. Foster went 4-for-6. Foster extended her school-record home run mark to 51 with another round-tripper, three doubles and four runs scored. Fonoti also was 4-for-6 at the plate, highlighted by her second home run of the season and also scored three runs.

Southern Utah is now 19-27 overall.

Game 1: Southern Utah 8, Utah 7

Game 1 Box Score

Utah connected on 13 hits, but fell 8-7 to Southern Utah in the first game of the day but Southern Utah's Shannon Lum drove a game-winning home run over the center field wall to give the Thunderbirds the win.

Staci Hemingway and Medina led the Utah offense. Hemingway was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Medina posted 3-for-4 performance at the plate and also drove in one run and scored another for the Utes. Foster and Fonoti also recorded two hits apiece.

The Utes got off to a fast start offensively, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Foster led off and doubled to left-center field then Hemingway followed with her fourth home run of the season to give Utah a 2-0 edge. Boardman kept the pressure on with the second double of the inning, before being driven in by a third double by Jasey Jensen.

Southern Utah scored three runs of its own in the bottom of the first inning. Jenavieve Purcell started the rally with a triple. Brittany Henderson drew a walk, then Purcell scored from third base after Aly Daniels hit into a fielder's choice.

With one out in the second inning, Fonoti connected for her second home run of the season over the left-center field fence for her ninth RBI this season. The Ewa Beach, Hawaii native now has hit 11 home runs in her career and driven in 63 runs.

With two out in the bottom of the third inning, Medina drove her first home run of the season over the left-field wall to give Utah a 5-3 lead. Purcell hit an RBI double for Southern Utah in the fourth inning to score Caroline Fernandez.

Utah extended its cushion with two more runs in the sixth inning. Fonoti singled to right field and Foster reached on an error by the Thunderbird shortstop. Fonoti then stole third base and scored after a throwing error by the SUU catcher. Foster was driven home on a sacrifice fly to center field by Hemingway. Unfortunately, Southern Utah scored four runs to take the 8-7 victory.

Ashley Smuda started for the Utes and pitched three innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits while striking out three and walking two. Lindsey Palmer took the decision and saw her record fall to 3-7. USU's Katie Kearns improved to 2-2.

Game 2: Utah 12, Southern Utah 10

Game 2 Box Score

Boardman went 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs in the second game. The Spokane, Wash., native drove in five runs and scored five times.

Behind 6-5 entering the fourth inning, the Utes exploded for five runs as the first three Utes who stepped to the plate reached base. Bonnie Muir began the frame with a single, Andrea Hoffman was hit by a pitch, and Fonoti laid down a bunt single. Utah capitalized on the situation when Hemingway looped a two-RBI single to left field to drive in pinch runners Tia Palauni and Brooke Olson. Boardman then came to the plate and hammered her seventh home run of the season to drive in Fonoti and Hemingway.

Foster led off the second game with her 51st career home run, her 16th of the season, to help the Utes pick up three runs in the first frame of the second game. Boardman reached first base with a single and scored after freshman third baseman Whitney Holm delivered her ninth home run of the season over the left-field fence to give the Utes a 3-0 edge.

After SUU put together a four-run first inning, Jensen hit a two-out two-run home run in the third inning to drive in Holm for Utah's fourth and fifth runs of the game. The Thunderbirds retook the lead at 6-5 after scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the third frame.

Immediately after Utah's five-run fourth, Southern Utah battled back to cut its deficit to 10-8 with one run in both the fourth and fifth innings, but the Utes countered with a pair of runs to maintain their lead.

Boardman connected for her eighth career round-tripper to score Hemingway for Utah's final tally of the game. Southern Utah scored twice in the bottom of the frame to set the final margin.

Freshman Joni Cook picked up the win for the Utes and is now 3-9 this season. Cook allowed one earned run on 12 hits in six innings. USU's Meghan Wilson pitched a complete game but took the loss, allowing 12 earned runs on 13 hits while striking out.

Utah resumes Mountain West Conference competition at Brigham Young Saturday at 2 p.m., at Miller Field. BYU-TV will provide a live telecast, which will be re-aired on The Mtn. Sunday at noon.