Utah Softball Downs CSU, 15-4

Thursday, April 21

Salt Lake City

4:00 PM

University of Utah

Colorado State

4/21/2011 12:00 AM | Softball

April 21, 2011

Box Score

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah - Thanks to a pair of grand slams and error-free defense, the University of Utah softball team claimed a 15-4 win in six innings over Colorado State in a Mountain West Conference game Thursday at Bruin Field on the campus of Salt Lake Community College.

Utah (25-17, 3-1 MWC) has won 10 of its last 11 games and 13 of its last 15.

Three different Utes had four-RBI performances, including grand slams by Brittany Parker during a pinch-hit at-bat in the first frame and Cheyella Myers, who entered the game in the fourth inning then hit a grand slam in the sixth. With shortstop Kelsi Hoopiiaina's two grand slams this year, the Utes have tagged four grand slams this season.

"We showed that we have a lot of depth, once again," Utah head coach Amy Hogue said. "We called on players off the bench and they came up with two grand slams today. We know what we're going to get from [Parker]. It was really an easy choice for me to bring her in and she did what we thought she would do. She is very aggressive and I wanted someone to come out and take charge. She hits long balls and we knew we wanted to use her at some point in the game."

Junior third baseman Whitney Holm drove in four as well after drawing a bases loaded walk in the first inning, hitting a two-run single in the second then a one-run base hit in the fifth. Freshman outfielder Tara Glover was the other Ute with multiple hits in the contest, posting a 2-for-5 effort and scoring three runs.

Generra Nielson started her 27th game this season and went 3.0 innings for the win. She earned her eighth consecutive win after not allowing an earned run on only one hit while striking out five Ram hitters and walking a pair. The Blanding, Utah native improved to 17-10 this season.

Utah exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first, which began when Brooke Olson was hit by a pitch and advanced to third after Glover reached base on an errant throw by the CSU catcher. Holm came up and drew a bases loaded walk before Parker hit a bases-loaded home run.

The Utes tacked on a pair of runs in the second inning as Glover hit a one-out single to right field and proceeded to steal second and third base after Tia Palauni was issued an intentional walk. Glover and Palauni both scored when Holm lined an 0-1 pitch for a two-run single to center field.

Colorado State scored two in the fourth, but Utah quickly got both of those runs back in the bottom of the same frame. Runners were on second and third base with one out when Hannah Clements hit an RBI ground ball to third base to score Myers. Olson then drew another bases loaded walk that forced Hoopiiaina across the plate for Utah's ninth run.

The Rams scored two more runs in the fifth, but the Utes were quick to respond once again with a run in the bottom of the frame. Holm laced a 2-1 pitch to left field that allowed Hoopiiaina to score from second base.

Utah put the `run-rule' into effect with five more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, beginning with Jackie Sweet's third home run of the season. Then with one out, the bases were full of Utes and Myers connected for her first career grand slam that went over the left-field fence to set the final margin at 15-4. It was her second round-tripper of the season.

"We need to stay aggressive tomorrow [against New Mexico]," Hogue said. "When our hitters swing hard at good pitches, I like our chances. [Nielson] looked great on the mound. If she brings another solid performance like that, we'll have a good chance to win."

The Utes take on the Lobos tomorrow at Ute Softball Field. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. MT.