Utah Softball Starts Season at Kajikawa Classic

Friday, February 8

Tempe, Ariz.

11:00 AM

University of Utah

Western Michigan

Utah Softball Starts Season at Kajikawa Classic

2/5/2019 4:18 PM | Softball

2019 Utah Softball Game Notes

2019 Kajikawa Classic
Friday, February 8	Utah vs. Western Michigan @ 11 a.m \| Utah vs. Missouri @ 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 9	Utah vs CSUN @ 12 p.m. \| Utah vs Kansas @ 5 p.m.
Sunday, February 10	Utah vs Bradley @ 11:30 a.m.
LOCATION	Tempe Sports Complex (Fri./Sun.) \| Farrington Stadium (Sat.)
TV/LIVE STREAM	Pac-12 Network (Saturday games)
LIVE STATS	UtahUtes.com
GAME INFORMATION	Complete Game Notes

ON DECK
Utah opens the 2019 season at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Utes begin with games on Friday against Western Michigan and Missouri before playing CSUN and Kansas on Saturday. The tournament closes Sunday with a contest against Bradley.

NOSKIN A NAME TO REMEMBER
Julia Noskin was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshmen Team in 2018. She hit .310 and led the team in runs (31), walks (15) and on-base percentage (.395). Her numbers increased in conference play as she led Utah in total hits and batted .333 with a .455 on-base percentage.

The Calabasas, California native played every game for Utah, starting 47 in left field, and moved into the leadoff spot for the final 27 games of the season where she hit .473. Noskin had 11 multi-hit games this year and reached base in 11 straight Pac-12 games.

HILBURN HITTING HER STRIDE
Hailey Hilburn was selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Pacific Region Team in 2018.

She had her best offensive season for Utah, starting 49 games and hitting .311. She finished third on the team in doubles, home runs, runs batted in, slugging percentage and walks. She also paced the squad in stolen bases.

In the circle, she made a career-high eight starts and picked up five wins with a career-high 42 strikeouts. She also limited opposing batters to a .237 average, tops on the team. In Pac-12 play, she racked up the most wins and limited left-handed batters to a .165 average

The jack-of-all-trades for Utah started at six different positions this season; first base, third base, left field, right field, pitcher and designated player.

As a sophomore, she ranked sixth in the Pac-12 with a 1.56 ERA and 5.5 hits allowed per seven innings.

BARRERA BACK FOR UTES
Alyssa Barrera, named to the 2018 USA Softball Player of the Year "Watch List", also made the short list of finalists for the 2017 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award.

Last season, she hit .322 in 2018, the second-best average on the team. As a freshman, she ranked sixth in the Pac-12 and led the Utes with 46 runs scored. She was also named to the All-Pac-12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team.

CRUSHING CASTANEDA
Junior BreOnna Castaneda came on strong at the end of her freshman season with some big performances in the NCAA Tournament.

This season, she is the leading returning home run hitter (7) and run producer (36) for the Utes.

UTES STICK SIX ON PAC-12 ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMS
The Utah softball program placed six student-athletes on the Pac-12 All-Academic teams with Ally Dickman taking first team honors.

Dickman was a member of the second team last season and moved up to the top tier in 2018. She became the seventh different Ute to earn Pac-12 First Team All-Academic accolades.

First-time selections Alyssa Barrera, BreOnna Castaneda and Hailey Hilburn were all honorably mentioned.

Utah has had 22 student-athletes earn 36 Pac-12 All-Academic honors since joining the conference in 2012.