Utes Drop Opener to OSU, 9-5

Thursday, May 10

Salt Lake City, Utah

7:00 PM

University of Utah

20-29, 0

Oregon State

27-26, 0

Oregon State

Utah

5/10/2018 11:25 PM | Softball

Box Score OSU 9 Utah 5

Viramontes K's 9, Bowen and Martinez both drive in pair

SALT LAKE CITY – Miranda Viramontes came within one strikeout of matching her career-high but Utah committed three costly errors in a 9-5 loss to Oregon State on Thursday evening.

Viramontes struck out the first seven batters, finishing with nine for the game, and threw a season-high 137 pitches for the Utes. Her opposite, Meehra Nelson won her 14^th game of the season, tossing 120 pitches and striking out four batters. Mariah Mazon got her fifth save of the season, entering with two on in the seventh and getting the final pair of outs.

The Utes took an immediate lead as Julia Noskin walked and Alyssa Barrera reached via an error. The third batter of the game, Heather Bowen, cracked a triple down the right-field line to score both runners. Bowen was able to slide around a tag and put Utah ahead 3-0 on a Kelly Martinez sacrifice fly.

An error allowed Missy Nunes to reach in the second and Camryn Ybarra doubled, putting a pair in scoring position with two outs. Jessica Garcia slapped a ball to third and reached on an infield single, getting OSU on the board. A throwing error during the next at-bat allowed it to pull within a run.

Shelby Weeks started the third with another infield hit on the first pitch she saw and stole second base. Hope Brandner singled up the middle with one out to get the Beavers even at 3-3.

Utah had a chance to go back ahead in the bottom half when Barrera started the frame with a single and stole second. Hailey Hilburn worked a two-out walk but a grounder to short ended the inning.

Oregon State put a crooked number on the board in the fourth, scoring four times for a 7-3 lead. Ybarra began the inning with a double and Garcia got a free pass from a full count offering. McKenna Arriola delivered a two-run single and after she was called out for leaving first early, Weeks reached on an infield hit to keep the inning alive. Alysha Everett followed with a two-run homer, her fourth of the season, over the right-field wall.

The Utes got a run back as Ally Dickman reached base and Noskin singled with two outs in the fourth. Barrera smashed a single to score a run and Bowen walked on four pitches to load the bases. However, OSU got a fly ball to center to keep the home side at bay.

Brandner struck again for the Beavers in the sixth with a two-strike, two-out single through the right side, scoring a pair of runs for a 9-4 advantage.

Utah's second triple of the contest provided the game's final run as Martinez hit one to the wall in right center that scored Bowen in the seventh.

Tomorrow is Utah's Power of Pink Game and first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Utes are also collecting donations for the Utah Food Bank all weekend so bring a non-perishable food item and have a chance at winning Under Armour gear.