Utah Softball Splits First Day of Judi Garman Classic

Thursday, March 18

Fullerton, Calif.

8:15 PM

University of Utah

Purdue

Utah Softball Splits First Day of Judi Garman Classic

3/19/2010 12:00 AM | Softball

March 19, 2010

Box Score

FULLERTON, Calif. - The University of Utah softball team earned a 4-2 win over Purdue and lost a 3-0 decision to No. 11 Oklahoma Thursday during the first day of the Judi Garman Classic at Anderson Family Field.

Utah (11-11) has been the first team to score in 16 of its 22 games in 2010.

Utah def. Purdue, 4-2

Sophomore third baseman Whitney Holm went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a home run to help Utah snap a five-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over Purdue.

In the circle, junior Brittany Parker earned her first win of the season after pitching her first complete game of the season. Parker allowed only two earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out two. The Murray, Utah native has now pitched 10 career complete games.

At the plate, four other Utes recorded hits in the game, highlighted by a double by junior Jasey Jensen.

With two out in the third inning, the next four Utes reached base to give them the early advantage. Sandi Bowles started Utah's three-run inning by drawing a walk. Kara Foster then reached on a Boilermaker fielding error before Brooke Olson doubled to left-center field to drive Bowles in for the first run of the game. Foster scored the second run of the game after a wild pitch.

Holm then came to the plate and cranked a two-run home run over the left-field wall to give the Utes a 4-0 advantage. Holm, a sophomore from Spanish Fork, Utah native, is now tied for the team lead with four home runs this season and owns 14 for her career.

Purdue then answered with a pair of runs in the fourth inning beginning with a double through the left side of Utah's defense and Purdue's Maia Monchek hit a two-run home run to center field to draw within two runs at 4-2.

No. 11 Oklahoma def. Utah, 3-0

In her seventh appearance in the circle this season, sophomore Joni Cook did not allow an earned run in six innings of work, her first complete game this season and the fifth of her career. The Eagle, Idaho native gave up four hits and three walks while striking out three.

Five different Utes had hits and the Utes managed to put runners on second third base in the second inning after Hannah Clements drew a leadoff walk then took second after an illegal pitch. Olson then walked and went to second while Clements advanced to third after another Sooner illegal pitch.

Utah put runners on second and third once again in the top of the seventh inning as Clements dropped a bunt single and Tia Palauni lined a double to left field. Unfortunately, OU was able to get out of the jam unscathed.

The Sooners' first and only scoring burst of the game came with three runs in their half of the third inning. Karolyne Long started the inning by reaching second base after a Ute fielding error. Long then took third after Brianna Turang laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners at first and third. Turang got into scoring position after stealing second base then Amber Flores singled back to Cook to allow Long to score the first run of the game. And with the bases loaded and two down in the frame, OU's Haley Nix knocked an RBI single to push across the second run. Dani Dobbs was then hit by a pitch to force Jessica Shults in for the third and final run of the inning.

The Utes continue the Judi Garman Classic with a single game tomorrow against No. 4 Michigan at 11:15 a.m. PT.