Utes Power Past Sun Devils 8-1 on Saturday

Saturday, April 25

Tempe, Ariz. (Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium)

7:30 PM

University of Utah

#22 Arizona State

4/26/2015 12:00 AM | Softball

April 26, 2015

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. - Utah's Bella Secaira hit a three-run home run, Anissa Urtez and Maddy Woodard added solo shots and the Utes evened up its series with No. 23/22 Arizona State, downing the Sun Devils 8-1, in front of a sold out crowd of 1,805 fans Saturday night at Farrington Stadium.

Secaira's three-run shot - her first of the season and first since Feb. 15 of last season - gave Utah a 3-1 lead before adding to that lead with a four-spot in the top of the fifth inning an another insurance run in the top of the seventh. Katie Donovan (W, 14-7) did the rest, giving up just four hits and striking out four on the way to earning the complete-game victory for the Utes.

The Utes, who won in Tempe for the first time since 2011, moved to 32-16 overall and 10-10 in the Pac-12. The 32 victories on the season are the most under current head coach Amy Hogue and the most since recording 40 wins back in 2006. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils dropped to 30-17 overall with the loss and 8-8 in conference play.

ASU scored its only run in the bottom half of the first inning when Sierra Rodriguez opened the frame with a single and later scored on a fielder's choice from Haley Steele, giving the Sun Devils an early 1-0 lead.

The Utes would end up getting all the runs it needed with Secaira's three-run bomb in the top of the fourth inning, but the Utah offense continued the trend an inning later when Urtez looked to have singled to lead off the fifth inning, but she was called back to the plate due to music still playing from the press box. ASU's Dale Ryndak would get two quick strikes on the Utah shortstop, but she later cranked the 2-2 pitch over the left field fence for a home run instead to give the Utes a 4-1 lead. Hannah Flippen followed with a double and Kate Dickman followed suit with a double of her own. Flippen scored on the play and the Utes extended the lead to 5-1.

Still in the top of the fifth inning, Kristen Stewart drew a walk and Dickman moved over to third on a fly out from Bridget Castro. Stewart later stole second base and Woodard drove both runners home with a single that got past the glove of ASU's Chelsea Gonzales at shortstop to give the Utes a six-run lead, up 7-1.

Woodard, who finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate, padded Utah's lead with her solo bomb in the top of the seventh, giving Utah a seven-run advantage, up 8-1. She ended the game leading all players with three runs batted in on the evening.

Flippen finished the game with a 2-for-4 effort, as well, and Urtez tallied a pair of hits in her three trips to the plate. Eight of Utah's nine players in the line up came around to score on Saturday.

The Utes and Sun Devils will conclude the three-game series tomorrow with a first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. PT. The winner of tomorrow's contest will clinch the series.

Bella Secaira of @Utah_Softball picked a good time for her 1st HR of the year. It's the #UtahvsASU Play of the Game! http://t.co/jUH6ovYOxJ

-- Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) April 26, 2015