Hilburn Helps Utah Softball Walk-Off vs. BYU, 3-2

Friday, May 19

Salt Lake City, Utah

1:00 PM

University of Utah

35-14

Brigham Young

45-12

BYU

Utah

Hilburn Helps Utah Softball Walk-Off vs. BYU, 3-2

5/19/2017 5:56 PM | Softball

Box Score

Sophomore's key hit sends Utes to regional final

SALT LAKE CITY - Pinch-hitter Hailey Hilburn plated pinch-runner Aubrey Peterson in the bottom of the seventh as Utah Softball advanced to the NCAA Regional Final tomorrow afternoon with a 3-2 walk-off win over rival BYU

" I thought it was hanging for a little longer than I wanted it to," Hilburn said. "Then when I saw it starting to come down it came straight down," Hilburn said.

Trailing by a run entering the final frame, Bridget Castro singled immediately. Heather Bowen followed with a deep double down the left-field line that tied the score. After a pair of substitutions, Hilburn provided the dramatic ending

It was just the fourth hit of the season for the sophomore, who is also a standout pitcher for the Utes. In last year's postseason, Hilburn batted .400 in five contests

"We have played in intense settings like this before," head coach Amy Hogue said. "We have played against good teams like this all year. I think they are really prepared. It is just another game for us and it is a lot of fun."

Miranda Viramontes started the contest and last 4 2/3 innings, striking out five batters and allowing a pair of runs. Katie Donovan got her second win as many days with 2 1/3 no-hit frames. For BYU, McKenna Bull went 6 1/3 and did not allow a walk while striking out three.

BYU struck in the second when Ashley Thompson walked and Utah committed an error. Alexa Strid singled up the middle for a 1-0 lead.

Utah would answer in the bottom half when Anissa Urtez legged out an infield single and Castro cracked a RBI double off the wall in center field

BYU loaded the bases in the third for Thompson but the BYU first baseman lined a shot right to Castro who stepped on the bag to turn an inning-ending double play.

The Cougars returned the favor after Alyssa Barrera doubled and Hannah Flippen was plunked, Lauren Bell calmly started a 4-6-3 double play to keep the game tied.

In the fifth, Bell singled, a pitch hit Lexi Tarrow and Libby Sugg also reached to load the bases. Thompson followed with a single to left to put the Cougars back in front, 2-1

BYU threatened again in the sixth, getting Brielle Breland on second with one out. Donovan struck out Rylee Jensen and induced a pop-up from Bell to avoid further damage.

With one more chance to add to its lead, the Cougars put runners on first and second with an out in the seventh. However, Donovan buckled down again and got a fly ball to right and pop to short to set up the Utah comeback.
This was the fourth-straight one-run game in the series between Utah and BYU and the two teams could meet again tomorrow.

The Cougars play Fordham tonight with the winner advancing to the regional final against Utah. Tomorrow's action gets underway at 2 p.m. from Dumke Family Softball Stadium with a possible second game at 4:30 p.m.