Ute Softball Sweeps Doubleheader From Utah State

Monday, April 26

Salt Lake City, Utah

4:00 PM

University of Utah

Utah State

Ute Softball Sweeps Doubleheader From Utah State

4/26/2010 12:00 AM | Softball

April 26, 2010

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - Senior center fielder Kara Foster tied the Mountain West Conference record with her 61st career home run and the University of Utah softball team earned a pair of wins (8-7, 8-3) over Utah State in a non-conference doubleheader Monday at Ute Softball Field.

"We came out and swung the bats well," Utah head coach Amy Hogue said. "I was glad to see that. Something we harped on our team about was that when we swing, we have to put our opponents on their heels. That's what I was the happiest with today."

Foster and BYU's Oli Keohohou (2001-03) are now tied for the MWC's all-time lead with 61 career home runs, respectively. Foster went 3-for-5 in the two games with three RBI, three stolen bases and three runs scored. Foster, a Derby, Kan., native, also has 160 career RBI and is just two shy of taking sole possession of second place in Utah's school record book.

"I was just trying to get things started for our team [in that at-bat]," Foster said. "We have been hitting the ball, but we just haven't been able to push runners across the plate. I was happy and relieved because now there's a lot of pressure off my back. It feels great. [Keohouhou] was a phenomenal player but I'm pleased to be in such exclusive company."

"It's fun," Hogue said. "The last couple of weeks, she's getting her hands out in front of the ball again and I expect that she'll break that record any day now."

Utah (23-23, 3-5 MWC) has win six of its last eight games and improved to 7-3 at Ute Softball Field this season. Brooke Olson went 4-for-5 on the day with three RBI, three runs scored and one home run. Sophomore left fielder Hannah Clements was 3-for-4 with four RBI on the day to go with one home run and a run scored. Clements registered a pair of multiple-RBI performances and now leads the team with eight this season.

Utah continued its strong starts during both games of the day. The Utes outscored the Aggies 6-0 in the first frame in both games and have scored first 29 times this year and have scored in the first inning in 29 games, as well. Utah owns a 61-33 edge over its opponents in the first frame this year.

"Our plan is to be aggressive early," Hogue said. "We got runs [early in the game], but kept pushing. Their pitching staff did a nice job making adjustments against us but we still continued to get runners in scoring position."

Game 1: Utah def. Utah State, 8-7

The Utes jumped out quickly by scoring all eight of their runs in their first four times at the plate in the first game of the day.

The first two spots in the Ute lineup combined to go 4-for-5 at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored. Olson earned her 14th multiple-hit game by going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored.

Senior right-hander Ashley Smuda started in the circle for the Utes and earned her 19th win of the season by going five innings and allowing six earned runs on six hits while striking out five and walking five. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native is now 19-11 this year with a 3.40 ERA.

Joni Cook came in for two innings of relief to earn the save and allowed one earned run on three hits while striking out two and walking one.

Utah got on the board in the first inning when Olson led off the game by lacing a triple down the right-field line. Clements then drove her across the plate by smacking an RBI single up the middle of the Aggie defensive alignment. Olson now has two triples this season.

Utah continued its offensive momentum in the second inning beginning with a Cook single through the left side of the Aggie defense. Lindsey Palmer then laid down a bunt that was misplayed by the USU first baseman then with one out Tia Palauni drew her team-high 25th walk of the season. Olson came to the plate with the bases loaded and unloaded a two-run single to right field. Clements then launched a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Palauni for Utah's fourth run of the contest. Clements is now second on the squad with 24 RBI this year.

The Utes kept the pressure on with an additional pair of runs in the third inning that started with a double by Whitney Holm to left-center field then took third base after an Aggie wild pitch. Foster then came through with an RBI base hit to left-center field to push Holm across home plate. Foster leads the team with 31 RBI this season.

With one out in the frame, Palmer singled through the left side of the Utah State defense. Foster then swiped third base but didn't stop there. Foster successfully stole home plate to give the Utes a six-run cushion.

Utah State got on the board with a three-run home run over the center-field wall by Kelley Kaneshiro in the top of the fourth inning to cut USU's deficit in half at 6-3.

The Utes countered with two more runs in their half of the fourth inning as Olson started things off with a single over the Aggie shortstop. Olson then moved to second base after Sandi Bowles laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her to second base. Hoopiiaina then drew a walk before a Utah State miscue on a ball hit by Foster allowed Hoopiiaina and Olson to score Utah's eighth run of the contest.

The Aggies scored four unanswered runs to end the ball game but Cook was able to peg down the save and preserve an 8-7 win for the Utes.

Game 2: Utah def. Utah State, 8-3

Parker took the start in the circle for the Utes and earned her third victory of the year, going 6.1 innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and four walks. The Murray, Utah native improved to 3-7 this year.

Offensively, Clements went 2-for-3 in the game with a pair of RBI while Foster also had two hits and two runs driven in. Holm registered a two-run double to bolster the Ute offensive attack.

Utah led the second game off with back-to-back home runs and ended with a total of three in the opening inning. It all started with Olson hitting a line-drive home run over the left-field fence. Olson now has four homers this season and 17 RBI. Clements followed with a homer over the right-center-field fence to put Utah up 2-0. Clements also has four home runs this season with 26 RBI.

After Kelsi Hoopiiaina drew a walk, Holm launched the third home run of the inning, her sixth of the season, to plate two more runs for the Utes. Holm, a sophomore from Spanish Fork, Utah, now has 23 RBI this season.

Foster struck with her 61st career home run in the bottom of the fifth innings with a hard-hit ball over the left-center field wall to put Utah's advantage back to five runs at 6-1.

The Aggies managed to put one run on the board in their third inning and a pair in the seventh but Cook once again came on in relief for the final two outs of the game and protected Utah's 8-3 lead.

The Utes continue their MWC schedule Thursday against New Mexico. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.