Utah Softball Named 2010 Red Desert Classic Co-Champions

Sunday, February 14

St. George, Utah

11:00 AM

University of Utah

Tulsa

Utah Softball Named 2010 Red Desert Classic Co-Champions

2/14/2010 12:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 14, 2010

Box Score

ST. GEORGE, Utah - The University of Utah softball team scored six times in its first two at-bats against Tulsa then held on to earn a share of the 2010 Red Desert Classic with a 6-5 victory over the Golden Hurricane Sunday at the Canyons Softball Complex.

Utah (5-0) was led by senior right-hander Ashley Smuda, who made her fifth consecutive start and went six innings while not allowing a run and striking out four and walking one. Smuda received an efficient performance from the defense behind her throughout the game to post Utah's second errorless game this season.

Five different Utes had one hit apiece, including Brooke Olson, Hannah Clements, Whitney Holm, Kara Foster and Kelsi Hoopiiaina. Clements, Jensen and Hoopiiaina were all credited with RBIs.

The Utes got out ahead early with a five-run first inning, beginning with Hannah Clements drawing a walk before freshman third baseman Whitney Holm singled down the right-field line and Foster was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jensen pushed the Utes' first run across the plate by drawing another walk then Holm scored on Golden Hurricane wild pitch. An error by the Tulsa second baseman on a ball hit by Lindsey Palmer allowed Jensen and Foster to score. Then with two down, freshman shortstop Kelsi Hoopiiaina roped a single back up the middle for her first career RBI to push Palauni across the plate and to complete Utah's scoring in its first at-bat of the game.

Utah followed up its first inning by tacking on one more run in the second thanks to back-to-back doubles from the first and second spots of the Ute order. Brooke Olson laced a double along the right-field line then Clements knocked Olson in with a double to left-center field for her second RBI of the season.

The Golden Hurricane came back with five runs in the sixth and seventh innings, drawing two walks and a wild pitch to load the bases. TU drew a walk to score its first run then a ground ball to second base scored the second to cap the inning.

TU scored three more runs in the seventh thanks to three straight singles but the Utes got a grounder to first base and a strikeout to close the victory.

Freshman catcher Alyssa Garcia made her Ute debut as a defensive substitution in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior Laura Dahlberg also made her season debut, appearing as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.

This was also the second game of the season that the Utes did not hit a home run. Utah has hit 10 homers through its first five games, led by three from sophomore second baseman Tia Palauni.

The Utes travel to the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic next weekend in Las Vegas. Utah opens the event Friday against California (11:15 a.m. PT) and Hawai'i (1:30 p.m. PT).