Utah Softball Wraps Up Second Day at OU Spring Festival

Saturday, March 13

Norman, Okla.

4:45 PM

University of Utah

#12 Oklahoma

Utah Softball Wraps Up Second Day at OU Spring Festival

3/13/2010 12:00 AM | Softball

March 13, 2010

Box Score

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Utah softball team suffered a 5-3 defeat against Northern Iowa and a 9-5 loss to No. 12/9 Oklahoma Saturday during the second day of the Oklahoma Spring Festival at Marita Haynes Field.

With the two losses today, Utah fell to 10-9 this season.

Northern Iowa def. Utah, 5-3

Three Ute hitters posted 2-for-3 days at the plate for the Utes and they scored one run apiece in their final three at-bats but still endured a 5-3 loss to Northern Iowa in the first game of the day on Saturday.

Freshman shortstop Kelsi Hoopiiaina went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and one RBI and scored a run as well. Junior catcher Brooke Olson was 2-for-3 as well on a bunt single and a comebacker up the middle. She also crossed the plate once for the Utes. Right-fielder Jasey Jensen was the third Ute with a 2-for-3 performance with two singles. Third baseman Whitney Holm went 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.

Senior right-hander Smuda threw her eighth complete game of the season but could not avoid her second consecutive loss, allowing four earned runs on three walks while striking out eight in seven innings. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native fell to 10-8 this season.

The Panthers jumped out early by scoring four runs in the first two innings before Utah got its offense going in the fifth frame.

Hoopiiaina led off the fifth inning by reaching base and advanced to second after an error by the UNI third baseman. She then took third base after Lindsey Palmer popped up to first base. `Hoop' put Utah's first run of the game on the board after a wild pitch.

To start Utah's sixth inning, Kara Foster singled to right field with one out. She then stole second base then went to third after Jensen singled up the middle. Hoopiiaina stepped to the plate with two outs and drove the first pitch she saw up the middle to make the score 4-2.

After the Panthers tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh frame with a home run by Courtney Dunker, Olson reached after being hit by a pitch. Holm then hit her second triple of the season to left-center field with two outs to drive in Olson. Unfortunately, the Panthers were able to get the final out with the final margin set in their favor at 5-3.

No. 12/9 Oklahoma def. Utah, 9-5

Junior pitcher Brittany Parker got the start in the circle for the Utes and allowed only one run on three hits through four innings but fell to 0-2 in her 10th appearance this season. Parker gave up a total of six earned runs and struck out six and walked six in 5.1 innings.

A pair of Utes had multiple-hits in the game, led by Jensen who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Olson scored a run as well and went 2-for-4 at the plate.

For the 15th time in 19 games this season, Utah struck in the first inning when Foster led off the game with a double to left-center field and would later took third when Olson singled to right. Holm then launched a sacrifice fly to center field to drive Foster across the plate for the first run of the game. The Utes were the first team to score for the 14th time this season.

Oklahoma came up with a run of its own in the second when Brianna Turang led off with a single then stole second base. Katie Norris then slapped a single over the Ute infield to push Turang in for the tying score.

The Utes took the lead for the second time in the contest the following inning that started when Olson connected for a one-out single to left field. Holm looped a double down the right-field line to put runners on second and third base. With two out for the Utes, Jensen hammered a 2-2 pitch up the middle of the Sooner defense for an RBI single.

Unfortunately, the Sooners broke the game open with five runs in their half of the fifth inning.

Utah cut into its deficit with three runs in the top of the sixth that began when Jensen hit an 0-2 pitch to left-center field. Hannah Clements hit a single to center field and Tia Palauni reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Utah's first run of the frame was driven in when Palmer grounded a 1-2 pitch to drive Jensen in. Pinch hitter Haylee Hoch then stepped to the plate with two outs and came through with a double to plate Clements and Palauni and bring the Utes within a run at 6-5.

The Sooners tacked on three runs in the sixth to set the final margin at 9-5.

Utah was in pursuit of its first win against a ranked opponent since a 2-1 win over No. 19 San Diego State on April 26, 2008. A win would have also been the first road win against a ranked opponent, also against the Aztecs, since a 1-0 win on April 10, 2008.

The Utes conclude Oklahoma Spring Festival action tomorrow against Northern Iowa at 10 a.m. CT.