Utah Softball Clipped by No. 17 Kentucky, 1-0

Monday, February 15

Tempe, Ariz. (Farrington Stadium)

12:30 PM

University of Utah

3-3

No. 17 Kentucky

4-1

Utah

Kentucky

2/15/2016 12:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 15, 2016

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. - Utah Softball closed play at the Kajikawa Classic this afternoon with a 1-0 walk-off loss to No. 17 Kentucky. Sophomore Katie Donovan had seven strikeouts in the contests as the Utes finished 3-3 for the weekend.

Ally Dickman continued her solid start, connecting for Utah's first hit of the game to begin the third inning. The freshman finished the weekend going 7-for-15. After moving up on a sacrifice bunt by Shelby Pacheco, the Utes were stymied in their attempts to take the lead.

In the bottom half of the inning, Donovan worked out of her first bit of trouble by getting a foul out and lineout to leave a runner stranded on second.

Kristen Stewart came up with a one-out single in the fifth and would steal second base to create an opportunity for the Utes. However, a Ute strikeout ended the inning.

In the sixth, Hannah Flippen reached on a misplay by the Kentucky third baseman and would also steal second base to get in to scoring position. A ground ball to third base stayed fair during the next Utah at-bat and ended the inning.

The Wildcats got a runner to third with two outs in the bottom half of the frame. However, Donovan buckled down and registered her final strikeout of the game to keep matters scoreless.

Heather Bowen knocked a hit to left to begin the seventh and was lifted for pinch-runner Sammy Cordova. The junior was stranded after she stole second base as a ground ball to first base brought the inning to a close.

Kentucky put its leadoff runner on base via a walk in the seventh. A bunt and single had runners on the corners with one out. Unfortunately for the Utes, the next pitch was wild and the decisive run scored for UK.

Utah heads to Las Vegas next weekend for the DeMarini Desert Classic. The Utes will play five games in three days, starting with a doubleheader on Friday morning against Robert Morris and San Jose State.