Utah Softball Splits Against Nevada and UC Santa Barbara

Sunday, February 27

Palm Springs, Calif.

11:00 AM

University of Utah

Nevada

Utah Softball Splits Against Nevada and UC Santa Barbara

2/27/2011 12:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 27, 2011

Box Score

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - The University of Utah softball team downed Nevada, 10-0, in five innings but lost to UC Santa Barbara, 4-2, Sunday in the Cathedral City Classic at the Big League Dreams Park.

Utah is now 6-11 this season after going 1-5 this weekend.

Utah def. Nevada, 10-0 (5 innings)

The Utes scored early and often as Kelsi Hoopiiaina went 2-for-3 at the plate in the day's opener against Nevada, a 10-0 Utah victory in five innings. Cheyella Myers connected on her first career grand slam and Chalese Fankhauser's first career round-tripper gave the Utes three more runs.

Generra Nielson picked up the victory after allowing only two hits in 3.0 innings with six strikeouts and no walks. Nielson improved her record to 5-8 on the mound this season. Brittany Parker nailed down the win by throwing the final 2.0 innings. Parker did not allow a hit or a walk while striking out four Wolf Pack hitters.

After two walks and an illegal pitch, a Whitney Holm ground ball allowed leadoff hitter Jackie Sweet to score the first run of the game in the second inning. A second Wolf Pack illegal pitch then scored Fankhauser.

The Utah offense exploded for eight runs in its next at-bat as Fankhauser hit a one-out, three-run to score Myers and Sweet. Hoopiiaina got aboard with a single to right then reached third base after a pair of fielder's choices by Nevada. Tara Glover drew a walk to push Hoopiiaina across the plate for the Ute's fourth run in the inning. And with two out in the same frame, Myers drilled a grand slam over the outfield wall to complete the scoring and set the margin at 10-0.

UC Santa Barbara def. Utah, 4-2

In the second game of the day, Utah could not prevent its fifth loss in the last six games in a 4-2 loss to the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.

Utah heads to Tallahassee, Fla., for the Louisville Slugger Seminole Classic next weekend. The Utes begin the event March 5 against Wisconsin at 11 a.m. ET then take on the host Seminoles at 3 p.m. ET.