Utah Softball Falls to No. 2/1 Arizona

Friday, February 11

Tempe, Ariz.

4:30 PM

University of Utah

Arizona

2/11/2011 12:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 11, 2011

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. - Freshman center fielder Tara Glover had two hits and an RBI but the University of Utah softball team suffered an 8-3 loss to No. 2/1 Arizona Friday in the Kajikawa Classic at the Tempe Sports Complex.

Utah (2-1) had its two-game win streak snapped but could not overcome a 6-0 deficit.

Glover was credited with a pair of singles in four at-bats and also drove in a run to lead the Ute offense. Cheyella Meyers and Tia Palauni also registered hits for Utah, while Meyers and Brooke Olson both had RBIs.

Junior Generra Nielson put together another solid performance on the mound, going 3.1 innings and allowing four runs on four hits with three strikeouts. The Blanding, Utah native fell to 2-1 this season. Brittany Parker made her season debut for the Utes, while Naomi Amu went 3.0 innings while allowing two runs on two hits.

Arizona scored the first six runs of the ballgame after Brittany Lastrapes hit a home run over the center-field wall with two out in the third inning. The Wildcats blew the game open with a five-run fourth inning as Brigette DelPonte led off with a double to left field then a single by Lini Koria pushed DelPonte across the plate. Kristen Arriola followed that up with a two-run homer to left field then Lastrapes looped an RBI single to right field before Lauren Schutzler was credited with an RBI double.

Jackie Sweet drew a leadoff walk, Glover singled to right-center field, then Olson drew another walk to load the bases in top of sixth inning. Myers drew the third walk of the inning to force in Utah's first score of the game.

Despite Utah shortstop Kelsi Hooppiiaina making a spectacular diving catch of a line drive by Arizona's Karissa Buchanan in the bottom of the sixth inning, DelPonte hit a two-run home run over the right-field wall to give Arizona an 8-1 advantage heading into the bottom half of the frame.

The Utes fought back with two more runs in the sixth as Glover reached on a bases loaded fielder's choice to score Palauni, who drew a leadoff walk to start the inning. Chalese Fankhauser, who drew the second walk of the inning, tallied Utah's third run of the game after a sacrifice fly to center field by Brooke Olson. Arizona improved to 2-0 this season.

Utah continues Kajikawa Classic against No. 13/10 Arizona State tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Farrington Stadium.