STANFORD, Calif. - No. 15 Utah Softball got a strong offensive performance and showed resilience in taking the opener at Stanford, 8-6.
 
Kay Kay Fronda's bases-clearing double in the seventh proved vital as Stanford made things interesting in the final frame. Delilah Pacheco had a pair of hits and runs batted in while Bridget Castro had two hits and scored twice.
 
After going over the century mark just once in her first 14 starts of the season, Katie Donovan threw over 130 pitches for the second-straight outing. Her complete game victory pushed her to 12-6 on the season.
 
The Utes struck first when Hannah Flippen drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored when Anissa Urtez blooped a ball down the left-field line.
 
They threatened again in the second when Castro singled and was lifted for pinch runner Ryley Ball. Ally Dickman bunted her up but after a walk to Kelly Martinez, a strikeout ended the inning.
 
Stanford notched a pair of infield singles in the second but Donovan was able to get off the hook for the time being. The Cardinal used a pair of walks and an error to load the bases in the third and then plated three runs on two more Utah blunders in the field.
 
The Utes did not let the home momentum last as Castro doubled and scored on a Dickman single to make it a one-run contest in the fourth.
 
Fronda entered to pinch-run and advanced on a wild pitch. After a walk to Martinez it was Pacheco knocking a pitch up the middle for a two-run double. With Utah back in front, Alyssa Barrera singled to tack on another run and make it 5-3
 
Donovan allowed a two-out double in the fifth as Stanford tried to inch closer but the junior fielded her position well and retired the final batter of the inning on a grounder back to the circle.
 
The Utes tried to gain some breathing room in the sixth as BreOnna Castaneda walked, stole second and mover over to third on a Pacheco single. However, with two runners in scoring a position, a fly out brought the inning to a close.
 
Urtez singled before Heather Bowen and Castro earned walks to load the bases in the seventh. Then it was time for Fronda to deliver and she smashed her three-run double to finally create some breathing room for the Utes at 8-3.
 
Stanford continued to fight and five of the first six batters reached in the seventh to close the gap to two. However, with the bases loaded, Donovan struck out the side and preserved the win for Utah.
 
The two teams meet again tomorrow at 2 p.m. PT/3 p.m. MT. You can watch the game live on the Pac-12 Networks or stream it via pac-12.com/live