Utah Softball Starts with Split at Mary Nutter Classic

Thursday, February 25

Cathedral City, Calif. (Big League Dreams)

3:00 PM

University of Utah

8-4

No. 12 Oklahoma

8-3

Oklahoma

Utah

Utah Softball Starts with Split at Mary Nutter Classic

2/26/2016 12:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 25, 2016

Box Score

Palm Springs, Calif. - Utah Softball won its nightcap on Thursday, 7-2, over Cal State Fullerton to even its record at the Mary Nutter Classic. Earlier in the day, the Utes were dropped by No. 12 Oklahoma, 6-2.

Utah 7, Cal State Fullerton 2
The Utes started strong, producing a run at the start. Delilah Pacheco drew a lead-off walk, moved to second on a sac bunt and scored on a Heather Bowen single

Fullerton loaded the bases in the second and would tie the score, but the damage could have been worse if Kristen Stewart did not snag a liner to end the frame.

Shelby Pacheco homered in the second, her first of the season to put Utah back in front, 2-1. The Titans countered with another two-out single in the top of the third to knot the score.

In the bottom of the frame, Bridget Castro crushed a two-out triple that sent the right fielder crashing into the wall and scored Bowen, who had led-off with a walk.

The Utes broke things open in the fourth after Pacheco singled, Hannah Flippen reached on an error and Anissa Urtez singled. Stewart lashed a liner to the gap that cleared the bases for a 6-2 lead. An error on a Kay Kay Fronda grounder would then score Stewart for another Utah run.

Katie Donovan picked up her fourth-straight win by going four innings and allowing two runs on five hits. Miranda Viramontes entered in the fifth and allowed one hit the rest of the way while mowing down five batters.

Oklahoma 6, Utah 2
The Sooners started off putting runners on the corners in the first and with one out, took the lead on a RBI single.

In the third, OU doubled its lead despite a heads-up play by Kristen Stewart. The senior scooped a bunt attempt to get a force at home and preserve the one-run game for the time being. However, an error on a double-steal attempt brought home a second run for the Sooners.

In the bottom half of the inning, Utah responded. Kay Kay Fronda and Delilah Pacheco drew a pair of one-out walks before Hannah Flippen singled to load the bases. After another Utah out, Anissa Urtez smacked a two-run double over the right fielder's head to tie the game.

The Sooners went back in front behind a two-out, two-run, pinch-hit single in the fourth. They would add single runs in the sixth and seventh to salt away the win, 6-2.

Miranda Viramontes lasted 3 2/3 innings, striking out three but allowing four runs on eight hits. Katie Donovan and Hailey Hilburn each allowed a run in relief.