Utah Softball Loses Two at Lopes Up Classic

Friday, March 1

Phoenix, Ariz.

11:30 AM

University of Utah

5-11

Iowa State

7-7

Iowa State

Utah

Photo by: Steve C. Wilson

3/1/2019 6:43 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 ISU 7 Utah 4 GCU 8 Utah 6

Utes plate 10 runs but can't get victory

PHOENIX – Utah dropped a pair of games at the Lopes Up Classic on Friday. The Utes relinquished leads in a 7-4 loss to Iowa State and 8-6 setback to hosts Grand Canyon.

Ally Dickman went 4-for-5 while BreOnna Castaneda had three hits, homered, drove in three runs and pushed her on-base streak to eight games in a row. Abby Robertson also had a solid afternoon, reaching base four times and doubling twice

The Utes have another doubleheader tomorrow with Northern Colorado at 9 a.m. and South Dakota at 11:30 a.m.

Iowa State 7, Utah 4
Katie Faulk's first collegiate homer gave the Utes a lead in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Ellessa Bonstrom worked a walk and Alyssa Barrera followed with a single through the right side. With a chance to extend the lead, Hailey Hilburn looped one to right for a RBI and 2-0 advantage.

In the fourth, four straight Cyclones reached and they cut into the lead on a Kaylee Bosworth single to left. ISU had the bases loaded with just one out but Sydney Sandez limited the damage, getting a pair of ground balls to keep the Utes in front.

In the bottom half, Faulk walked and Dickman singled before Julia Noskin laid down a perfect slap to the left side. The throw was rushed and sailed wide of first, allowing pinch runner Makenna Calderon to score.

Barrera followed with a single up the middle to plate Dickman and make it 4-1. Unfortunately, the Utes could not add to the lead as runner's interference on an infield fly call by the umpire turned into an inning-ending double play

ISU opened the fifth with a pair of extra base hits as Taylor Nearad tripled home Sami Williams. Sydney Stites and Kasey Simpson followed with RBI singles and ISU had erased a three-run deficit. After a pitching chance, Kirsten Caudle's fly to left was lost in the sun and fell for a two-run triple. She would then score on a sacrifice fly to make it 7-4.

In the sixth, Dickman singled up the middle, Noskin legged out another infield hit and Bonstrom smashed one past the first baseman to load the bases. Despite all the momentum, a grounder to first turned into a force at home and the next Utah batter lined to short which turned into another inning –ending double play.

Grand Canyon 8, Utah 6
Two batters in, Grand Canyon took the lead when Lilly Bishop smoked a double to the left-center gap. The home team added to its lead in the second. A lead-off walk and single was followed by a three-run homer off the bat of Madelyn Dowdle, her first of the year

Faulk walked to start the third and Dickman followed with a single to center. Castaneda, batting in the leadoff spot, clobbered a three-run homer to get the Utes back in it. The inning continued when Robertson smoked a double off the wall in center. Bonstrom would smack another double into the left-center gap that tied the game.

In the fourth, Hilburn walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and Dickman roped a ball off the left field wall to put the Utes in front. With two down, Robertson ripped a ball to left center that also went for extra bases and extended the lead to 6-4.

Savannah Tourville hit GCU's second homer of the night to begin the fourth and trim the gap to 6-5. The Lopes got the tying run to third with two outs and a pitch home went to the backstop. Luckily, Faulk alertly gathered the ball and made a diving tag at the plate to keep Utah in front.

With one out in the fifth, GCU got a player on base and a seeing-eye single put runners on the corners. Sierra Smith lifted a sacrifice fly to left that tied the game and pinch-hitter Kaylee Dietrich smashed a third round-tripper for the home team to put it back on top to stay, 8-6.