Utah Sweeps Doubleheader at Utah State

Tuesday, April 7

Logan, Utah

TBA

University of Utah

Utah State

4/7/2009 12:00 AM | Softball

LOGAN, Utah - Whitney Holm went 4-for-6 at the plate during the day and Hannah Clements drove in four runs as the University of Utah softball team gained a pair of victories in a doubleheader against Utah State, 9-5 and 8-2, Tuesday at Johnson Field.

"We've struggled to hit with runners in scoring position this season," Utah head coach Amy Hogue said. "Andrea Hoffman's sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning of the second was really good for us and allowed us to put together a big inning. Those little things add up for either a win or a loss.

Lindsey [Palmer] pitched great," Hogue said. "She threw a lot of innings today. To get so many innings from her was great because some of our pitchers have been banged up lately. We needed her to throw a lot of strikes today. [Utah State] got a lot of hits, but not enough runs. We wanted to make hit them ball and earn everything they got."

Utah (16-21, 0-2 MWC) now enjoy a three-game win streak as they head into a pair of Deseret First Duel games against BYU Friday and Saturday at Ute Softball Field.

Game 1: Utah 9, Utah State 5

Game 1 Box Score

Utah won the first game of the day, 9-5, after putting together a five-run first inning with three home runs, starting with a leadoff round-tripper to center field by Brooke Olson, her second of the season.

Not to be outdone, Hemingway followed by roping a solo home run to left field. The West Valley, Utah native has now hit three home runs this year. Holm then drew a walk and Andrea Hoffman reached after an error by the Aggie first baseman then was driven across after a three-run home run by Tia Palauni, which was the first of her career.

On the mound, junior pitcher Ashley Smuda pitched the first 2.2 innings, allowing four earned runs on two hits with three strikeouts. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native improved to 11-7 this season with the win. Lindsey Palmer pitched the final 4.1 innings, giving up one earned run on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Utah State's Nicole Rupp drew a walk and stole second then Jasmine Harris hit a two-run home run to cut its deficit to three runs at 5-2 in the bottom of the first inning.

The Utes got a run back in the third inning when Holm reached base on a walk and was later driven in after an RBI single by Hoffman.

In the third inning, Rayna Bradshaw drew a walk and Jasmine Harris was hit by a pitch. Both Aggies went on to score after Simone Hubbard walked and Jeanine Hernandez was hit by a pitch to score both runs in the inning for USU.

Utah scored its eighth run of the game in the fifth inning when Hoffman hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Holm then capped their scoring effort with a ninth and final run as Hemingway scored after the Aggies misplayed a single by Clements.

USU managed one more run in the seventh inning, but Kate Greenough took the loss for the Aggies and fell to 5-6 this year. She pitched seven innings, allowing five earned runs on 13 hits while striking out four and walking three.

Game 2: Utah 8, Utah State 2

Game 2 Box Score

The Utes scored all eight of their runs in their final three innings of an 8-2 win over Utah State in the second game of the day.

Palmer started in the circle for the Utes and pitched her third complete game of the season, allowing only two earned runs on 10 hits with three walks and two strikeouts. The Stansbury, Utah native evened her record at 3-3 with the win.

Foster started things in the fifth inning with a two-run double to center field, her sixth double of the season drove in her 28th and 29th RBI of the season.

In the sixth inning, Holm started the sixth inning with a home run to left field to extend her team-high hit streak to nine games. She is second on the team with eight home runs this season.

Clements followed with a single up the middle then Hoffman laid down a key sacrifice bunt to keep the Ute rally going. Haylee Hoch then singled to put runners on the corners then Jasey Jensen hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Clements. Sharee Fonoti then hit an RBI single up the middle to plate Hoch.

Clements connected on a three-run home run to right-center field in the top of the seventh inning to set the final margin.

USU (8-25, 1-5 WAC) got an RBI single from Reilly in the second inning to score Hernandez for its first run of the game. The Aggies led off the sixth inning with back-to-back singles by Bradshaw and Harris and Bradshaw eventually scored Hubbard hit a sacrifice fly to left field.

Aggie starter Lindsey Benson fell to 1-15 on the year with seven innings pitched, allowing eight earned runs on 12 hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

The Utes play a pair of Deseret First Duel games against BYU at Ute Softball Field Friday (4 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m.).