Utah Softball Opens Cathedral City Classic with Two Losses

Thursday, February 25

Palm Springs, Calif.

5:30 PM

University of Utah

#21 Fresno State

Utah Softball Opens Cathedral City Classic with Two Losses

2/25/2010 12:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 25, 2010

Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - The University of Utah softball team dropped a 4-2 decision to Oregon and was dealt an 11-0 loss in five innings to No. 19/21 Fresno State Thursday during the first day of the Cathedral City Classic at the Big League Dreams Sports Park.

Utah dropped to 7-5 this season.

Oregon def. Utah, 4-2

Freshman shortstop Kelsi Hoopiiaina and senior center fielder Kara Foster both went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI apiece against Oregon starter Sam Killingstad.

Despite pitching her sixth complete game in 2010, senior right-hander Ashley Smuda suffered her first loss of the season in her eighth start, pitching a complete six innings while allowing four earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and three walks. The senior from Scottsdale, Ariz., is now 7-1 this season.

Utah got off to another quick start offensively in the top of the first inning for the 11th time in as many games this season. Brooke Olson reached on an error by the Oregon shortstop then stole second base and advanced to third after a flyout to center field by Whitney Holm. Foster capitalized on the scoring chance by knocking a single on a full-count pitch over the shortstop for her 11th RBI this season and the 140th of her career. Foster, a Derby, Kan., native, is fourth in school history in career RBI.

The Utes kept their offensive momentum going in the second inning when Lindsey Palmer drew a two-walk then took second base after an Oregon passed ball. Hoopiiaina, a Riverton, Utah native, came up with the fifth RBI of her career after hitting a single to left field on a 1-2 pitch to give the Utes a 2-0 advantage.

Oregon got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when Kaylan Howard hit a solo home run inside the left-field foul pole.

The Ducks had runners on second and third base with no outs in the fourth inning when Monique Fuiava rolled a ground ball to second base that resulted in a fielder's choice that cut down the lead runner. Unfortunately, Kelsey Chambers laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Sam Pappas to score the tying run.

In Oregon's following at-bat in the fifth inning, Blair Williamson lined a two-run double to right-center field to set final margin in favor of UO at a 4-2 advantage.

No. 19/21 def. Utah, 11-0 (5 innings)

No. 19/21 Fresno State scored 11 runs in the second and third innings to hand Utah an 11-0 defeat in five innings in the second game of the day.

Joni Cook took the loss in her second start of the season on the mound for the Utes. After retiring Fresno State in order in the first inning, the Bulldog offense exploded for seven runs in the second inning.

Junior Brittany Parker came on in relief, going three innings while allowing four runs with a strikeout and three walks.

Olson came up with a single to center field in the third inning and Haylee Hoch lined a single to center field for Utah's lone hits of the contest.

This was the first game this season in which the Utes failed to score in the first inning and were not the first team to push a run across the plate.

Utah continues its Cathedral City Classic tomorrow against Baylor at 10 a.m. PT.