Ute Softball Drops a Pair to UNLV

Saturday, April 24

Salt Lake City, Utah

1:00 PM

University of Utah

UNLV

4/24/2010 12:00 AM | Softball

April 24, 2010

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - Tia Palauni and Kara Foster had two hits apiece but the University of Utah softball team had its four-game win streak snapped with a pair of defeats, by 4-0 and 8-1 scores, to UNLV in a Mountain West Conference doubleheader Saturday at Ute Softball Field.

Utah (21-23, 3-5 MWC) was led offensively by multiple-hit efforts from Palauni and Foster. Palauni went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles at the plate and also drew one walk to drive her team-high total to 24. Foster was 2-for-5 with a walk, including an RBI double.

Game 1: UNLV def. Utah, 4-0

Palauni, Utah's sophomore second baseman from Taylorsville, Utah, was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate and also drew a walk. Hannah Clements and Foster also registered hits for the Utes.

Utah starter Ashley Smuda dropped to 18-11 this season after going 2.1 innings and allowing four earned runs along with two walks while striking out one. Joni Cook came on for 4.2 innings of scoreless relief while allowing three hits and two walks.

Utah had the bases loaded in the bottom half of the seventh inning Jasey Jensen was hit by a pitch then Palauni singled through the left side and Brooke Olson was also hit by a pitch to pack the bags full of Utes. Unfortunately, the Rebels got the Utes to pop up to the shortstop and a ground ball back to the pitcher to preserve the win for UNLV.

Game 2: UNLV def. Utah, 8-1

Foster and Lindsey Palmer tallied hits for the Utes in the second game as both went 1-for-3 at the plate. Clements got on base twice after drawing a pair of walks.

Utah junior Brittany Parker got the start in the circle and allowed two earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two. Cook came on in relief again, pitching the final 2.2 innings while allowing five earned runs on six hits with one walk.

The game was scoreless through the first three frames before UNLV's Kendall Fearn hit a solo home run to left-center field with one out in the fourth inning. Ashli Holland then drew a walk and would eventually score after two singles and ground out to put the Rebels ahead by two runs.

Kelsi Hoopiiaina reached base on a one-out fielder's choice in the Utah half of the fourth inning. Hoopiiaina then took second base after a wild pitch and crossed home plate to cut Utah's deficit in half after Foster drilled a 3-2 pitch down the right-field line for an RBI double. Foster, a Derby, Kan., native, now has a team-high 28 RBI this season and is third in school history with 157 career RBI.

Unfortunately, the Rebels were able to get one insurance run in the sixth inning as Holland led off the inning with a double and scored after a pair of ground ball outs. UNLV padded its two-run cushion with five more runs in the seventh.

The Utes continue their nine-game homestand in a doubleheader Monday against Utah State. First pitch against the Aggies from Ute Softball Field is set for 2 p.m.