Utah Tops No. 6 Texas A&M, 8-7

Friday, March 2

College Station, Texas

9:00 AM

University of Utah

6-6

Texas State

13-4

Texas State

Utah

3/2/2018 7:58 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 TSU 6 Utah 1 Utah 8 TAMU 7

Utes open tournament in College Station with win over top 10 team

Utes open tournament in College Station over top 10 team

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The first evening at the Texas A&M Tournament was a thrilling one as Utah Softball defeated the host and No. 6 ranked Aggies, 8-7.

Utah 8, Texas A&M 7
Kelly Martinez was a perfect 4-for-4, scored a pair of runs and drove in three as the Utes notched a huge road win this evening. Katie Donovan came within one out of a complete game before Miranda Viramontes shut the door in a thrilling affair.

For Texas A&M, Keeli Milligan drew a walk to start the game and then stole second. With two outs, a fly ball to right field was dropped and she scored for a 1-0 Aggie lead.

Utah got things going in the second as Martinez started the frame with a walk and a passed ball saw her scoot to second. Abby Robertson singled off the third baseman's glove and BreOnna Castaneda was plunked to load the bases. Alyssa Palacios recorded her first collegiate RBI with a sac fly to tie the game, 1-1

The home side went back in front during the fourth. Pitcher Samantha Show hit a two-out, two-run homer to push Texas A&M on top and Kristen Cuyos followed with another shot for a 4-1 lead.

The Utes would not surrender as Barrera started the fifth by extending her hitting streak to 11 games. After a Julia Noskin single, a wild pitch put both runners in scoring position for Martinez. The catcher came through with a two-run single to make the score, 4-3

With Martinez alertly advancing to second on the throw, she put herself in a great position to score on a single, which is exactly what followed. Hailey Hilburn hammed a ball to the left-center gap, tying the game.

With the playing field leveled, Robertson worked a walk and Castaneda hit a ball right back up the middle to give the Utes their first lead of the day, 5-4.

Utah continued to add to its tally in the sixth. Ally Dickman was hit and Barrera walked before Noskin singled to load the bases. Martinez singled again and Hilburn added a second run on a ground out to the right side for a 7-4 edge.

In the seventh, Castaneda led off with a single and advanced via a passed ball. Barrera smoked a ball off the wall in center for a double and a run that proved to be extremely vital.

The Aggies loaded the bases off Donovan in the seventh and Ashley Stevens' bases-clearing double created some high drama with two outs. Viramontes was called out of the pen and got a slow roller to Castaneda at second to end the contest.

Donovan threw a season-high 125 pitches and improved to 4-1 with the victory while Viramontes notched her first save of the season and fourth of her career.

Texas State 6, Utah 1
The tournament opener did not go as planned as the Utes mustered just two hits against the Bobcats.

Utah took the lead in the bottom of the third and it started when BreOnna Castaneda was plunked. Julia Noksin's grounder to third was bobbled and with two outs, Heather Bowen delivered a RBI double down the left-field line

TSU responded with three runs in the fourth to grab the advantage. The first two runners reached but a ground ball to Bowen at third and a Miranda Viramontes strike out seemed to settle the Utes. However, a single through the left side by Bailee Carter scored a pair and Jaelyn Young's slow roller to the right side allowed another run to come home.

The Bobcats added to their lead in the fifth, again tacking on runs with two outs. After a pair of walks, Ariel Ortiz brought them both home with a single to right.

Christiana McDowell added another run in the seventh with a solo homer off the scoreboard in left.

The Utes are back in action with a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. CT against the Aggies and Louisiana Tech