No. 10 Utah Rallies to 7-6 Win at No. 23 ASU

Saturday, April 22

Tempe, Ariz.

5:00 PM

University of Utah

29-9, 0

Arizona State

27-13, 0

Utah

Arizona State

4/22/2017 8:32 PM | Softball

Box Score

Utes provide the late-inning heroics this evening

TEMPE, Ariz. – No. 10 Utah Softball flipped the script this evening with a 7-6 victory over No. 23 Arizona State. Trailing as they entered the seventh, the Utes scored four runs to even the series.

Bridget Castro and Kelly Martinez singled to start the final frame and a grounder from BreOnna Castaneda was booted, allowing pinch runner Ryley Ball to score and tie the game, 4-4.

Kay Kay Fronda hammered the very next pitch off the wall in left for a two-run double and a Utah lead. After a grounder moved Fronda to third, Hannah Flippen fought off a pitch that fell to the left of the pitching circle and scored a massive insurance run that wound up being the difference in a back-and-forth affair.

Hailey Hilburn got the win, allowing just a late home run during 4 and 2/3 innings of relief. She improved to 4-0 this season and worked out of a handful of jams to keep the Utes in the contest.

It seemed like last night's loss did not linger in the minds of the Utes as they took an early 2-0 lead thanks to the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year. After Alyssa Barrera doubled, Flippen uncorked her eighth homer of the season, just clearing the left field fence.

ASU answered in its time at the plate, getting RBI singles from Chelsea Gonzales and Emma Remalot. Utah avoided further damage and kept the game tied when Delilah Pacheco threw out a runner at the plate.

The Sun Devils put the first two runners on in the second but Katie Donovan got a pop up, fly out and ground ball to end the threat. The positive vibes were short-lived as Fa Leilua uncorked a two-run homer for a 4-2 ASU lead during the next inning. Donovan was lifted after 2 and 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs and eight hits

In the fourth, a dropped foul ball gave Heather Bowen another chance at the plate. She battled and was rewarded with her sixth homer of the season as the solo shot pulled the Utes within a run at 4-3.

Arizona State loaded the bases in both the fourth and fifth innings but each time, Hilburn was able to manufacture an out to keep her side close.

The Utes had a chance to tie the game in the sixth when Barrera was plunked and advanced on a passed ball but Giselle Juarez induced three fly balls to keep Utah from evening the score

Juarez pitched very well for ASU until the end, allowing four earned runs in her six innings of work. Breanna Macha, who worked yesterday, allowed two runs during her inning of action and took the loss (11-6).

Hilburn ran into some trouble again during the sixth as eight straight pitches missed the strike zone, but a grounder to Bowen gave the Utes one last chance

After Utah regained the lead, ASU looked to copy last night's heroics when Margaret Stahm smacked a two-run homer to close the gap to 7-6. A sliding catch by Fronda in foul ground and a grounder to Flippen was enough to end the contest.

The Utes and Sun Devils have their finale tomorrow with first pitch slated for 12 p.m. MT. You can watch the game live on the Pac-12 Networks or stream it via pac-12.com/live