CORVALLIS, Ore. – No. 10 Utah Softball snapped out its recent slump to produce a 6-0 win at Oregon State in the series finale this afternoon.
Kay Kay Fronda finished with three hits, including a two-run homer that started the scoring.
In the second inning,
BreOnna Castaneda walked to keep the inning alive before Fronda homered to center for a 2-0 lead. It was the senior's first home run of the season.
Katie Donovan got the win with 5 and 1/3 shutout innings, improving to 15-8 on the season.
Miranda Viramontes came on to get two outs in the fourth and
Hailey Hilburn locked down the seventh,
Utah increased its lead in the third when
Hannah Flippen doubled down the left-field line and
Anissa Urtez followed with a RBI single. She is now three runs batted in away from fourth place all-time at Utah.
Castaneda and Fronda singled in the fourth but the freshman was wiped out on a force play. With two down,
Alyssa Barrera worked a walk to load the bases.
Flippen grounded to short but the first baseman could not handle the catch cleanly, allowing a run to score. Urtez would walk on four pitches during the ensuing at-bat to make the score, 5-0
The Utes started the seventh with three-straight singles although a base-running mistake cost them an out.
Kelly Martinez knocked home
Ryley Ball, who was pinch running for
Bridget Castro, with the final run of the game.
Taylor Cotton, who won the first two games of the series, only went two innings and allowed the homer. Nerissa Eason went the final four frames for the Beavers
Utah concludes the regular season with Washington at Dumke Family Softball Stadium. The opener is Thursday at 7 p.m. with the Power of Pink Game and rescheduled Alumni Night set for Friday at 6 p.m. The series concludes Saturday at 1 p.m. with Senior Day
You can watch the entire series live on the Pac-12 Networks, stream it via pac-12.com/live or listen on UtahUtes.com and KUTE