PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Utah fell in its first two outings at the Mary Nutter Classic this evening, 6-1 to Colorado State and 7-2 to North Carolina.
Julia Noskin went 4-for-8 in the doubleheader but the Utes left 15 runners on base and walked 13 batters in a pair of losses.
It is another twin bill for Utah tomorrow against a pair of Big Ten teams at the Mary Nutter Classic. Utah plays Northwestern at 9:30 a.m. PT, followed by a contest against Ohio State
Colorado State 6, Utah 1
Utah dropped its opener to CSU as the Rams used the long ball to do damage.
The Utes threatened at the onset when
Ellessa Bonstrom walked and
Alyssa Barrera singled.
Abby Robertson punched a ball to left but the CSU left fielder was able to throw Bonstrom out at the plate.
With momentum on their side, the Rams took advantage when Ashley Ruiz belted a three-run homer in the second to open the scoring.
Utah got on the board in the bottom half of the inning with some two-out lightning.
Katie Faulk singled and
BreOnna Castaneda followed with a run-scoring double to the right-center gap. Unfortunately, that would be the only offense generated by the Utes.
CSU quickly got its run back when Danni Klein opened the third with a solo blast, the second of the game for the Rams. They added another in the fifth on a wild pitch with the bases loaded and capped it in the sixth on consecutive two-out doubles, the latter by Amber Nelson for the final score.
North Carolina 7, Utah 2
Both pitchers kept the opposition in check for the first three innings with
Hailey Hilburn holding UNC without a hit. In fact, the first hit for the Tarheels turned out to be a run-scoring double from its pitcher, Hannah George.
A leadoff walk in the fifth prompted Utah to make a pitching change and after a throwing error brought in a run, Abby Settlemyre singled home another for a 3-0 lead.
In the fifth, Utah was able to mount a rally.
BreOnna Castaneda and
Julia Noskin singled ahead of
Ellessa Bonstrom, who ripped a double to plate the pair and make it a one-run game.
The Utes had a chance to draw even in the sixth when
Sydney Sandez walked and
Ally Dickman singled with two outs. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third but a strikeout ended the threat.
Unfortunately, five of the first six batters reached base for UNC in the seventh and four of them came around to score to break open a close contest.