Utah Softball Splits First Two Games of FGCU Tournament

Friday, March 9

Ft. Meyers, Fla.

3:45 PM

University of Utah

Georgetown

Utah Softball Splits First Two Games of FGCU Tournament

3/9/2012 12:00 AM | Softball

March 9, 2012

Photo Gallery

FT. MYERS, Fla. - Senior pitcher Generra Nielson allowed only one earned run in 12.0 innings as the University of Utah softball team defeated Georgetown, 5-1, and lost to host Florida Gulf Coast, 2-0, Friday at the FGCU Spring Break Tournament.

Utah is now 16-4 overall and has won 14 of its last 16 games.

Nielson posted a 0.58 ERA on the day with one earned run in 12.0 innings. The Blanding, Utah native struck out 19 opposing hitters and allowed only 12 hits. She took the decision in both games and is now 11-3 on the season and 32-15 over Utah career. Nielson has had eight games with 10 or more strikeouts or this season and 13 performances of 10 or more strikeouts over her career.

Senior third baseman Whitney Holm continued her hot hitting as she went 4-for-6 on the day. The Spanish Fork, Utah native had a pair of doubles and an RBI. Freshman outfielder Kate Dickman added two hits as well with a run scored.

Utah def. Georgetown, 5-1
Box Score

Utah pushed its wins streak to 12 games as Nielson did not allow an earned run in six innings, scattering seven hits while striking out 11 Hoyas to pick up her seventh straight victory.

Holm went 2-for3 at the plate with an RBI against the Hoyas, while Tia Palauni, Dickman, Hannah Clements and Taylor Austin each had a hit apiece. Junior catcher Shay Wallace also drove in a run.

Utah struck first in the bottom of the second when Dickman drew a leadoff walk before an errant throw by the Georgetown third baseman on a ball hit by Clements allowed Dickman to plate the first run of the contest. Clements then pushed Utah's lead to 2-0 after a Hoya wild pitch.

With two out in the third, Tia Palauni smacked a single past the Georgetown shortstop and then scored after two errors by the Hoya left fielder.

The Utes manufactured another run in the fourth frame as Katelyn Elliott drew another leadoff walk. Chalese Fankhauser entered the game as a pinch runner for Elliott then proceeded to steal second base and would take third as the throw got away from the Georgetown throw. Dickman then came to the plate and drove in her 10th run of the season after launching a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Fankhauser to score.

Georgetown got one run back in the fifth, but the Utes came back with another run when Sandi Bowles reached on a fielding error by the Hoya shortstop then took second after a sacrifice bunt by Kelsi Hoopiiaina. Bowles then stole third and crossed home plate after an RBI single hit by Holm off an 0-1 delivery to set the final margin at 5-1 in favor of Utah.

Florida Gulf Coast def. Utah, 2-0
Box Score

Unfortunately, the Utes had their 12-game win streak snapped in the nightcap as Nielson threw her eighth complete game of the season, allowing one earned run on five hits against the Eagles. She struck out eight FGCU hitters, while walking four.

Holm came up with two hits in three at-bats for the second straight game, while Dickman, Elliott, Chalese Fankhauser and Mariah Ramirez all collected hits for the Utes.

Dickman also made an impact defensively when she slid into the tarp in foul territory along the right-field line to make an acrobatic catch for the first out of the bottom of the second.

Florida Gulf Coast managed to take the lead with the first run of the contest in the bottom of the fourth. In the Utah half of the frame, Holm gathered her first single of the game past the FGCU shortstop. Dickman followed with a single down the left-field line. Elliott then looped a base hit through the right side of the Eagle defense, but Holm was thrown out at home plate on a well-executed relay by the FGCU defense.

Utah mounted another scoring threat in their last chance in the top of the seventh inning. The Utes got back-to-back singles by Fankhauser and Ramirez, then a walk by Clements loaded the bases with no one out. Unfortunately, the Utes could not push a run across home plate.

The Utes play two more games at the Florida Gulf Coast Spring Break Tournament tomorrow, starting at 6 p.m. ET, against Howard. Utah's second game of the day will be against Stony Brook and is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.