Utah Softball Stopped in Extras by Cal, 8-7

Sunday, March 17

Salt Lake City, Utah

12:00 PM

University of Utah

13-14, 0

California

19-9, 0

California

Utah

Photo by: Steve C. Wilson

3/17/2019 4:13 PM | Softball

Box Score Cal 8 Utah 7

SALT LAKE CITY – A pair of late homers hurt Utah Softball as it dropped the finale to Cal this afternoon, 8-7 in extra innings. Despite the defeat, the Utes have won four-straight series against the Golden Bears at Dumke Family Softball Stadium.

Utah scored the first run of the game when the Cal shortstop dropped a BreOnna Castaneda pop up and Alyssa Barrera followed with her third triple of the weekend.

Another day, another triple for Alyssa Barrera! She smokes this ball to RC and it brings home Bree, who had reached on an error

1-0 #GoUtes ???? pic.twitter.com/MXc6nTxyW9
— Utah Softball (@Utah_Softball) March 17, 2019

Cal went ahead in the second with a pair of runs. Makena Smith walked and moved up on a ground ball. After a wild pitch, starting pitcher Alexandra Perez helped her own cause with a single through the right side. The next batter, Destiny Blueford, tripled to put her side in front.

The Golden Bears added a run in the third as Lindsay Rood legged out an infield single. After a walk to Mikayla Coelho, Jordan Fines singled for a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom half of the inning, Julia Noskin singled up the middle and Castaneda walked. After a pitching change, Ellessa Bonstrom blasted a three-run homer, her second of the weekend, to put Utah back in front, 4-3. Bonstrom had two hits and drove in three runs, leading the team on the weekend with a .556 average and six RBI.

Ellessa Bonstrom SMASHES the Utes back in front!#GoUtes ???? pic.twitter.com/NbgPGUrnhL
— Utah Softball (@Utah_Softball) March 17, 2019

Noskin drew a two-out walk in the fourth and stole second. Castaneda sent a ground ball to third but the throw sailed to first and Noskin was able to add another run for a 5-3 Ute advantage.

Cal's bats came alive again in the fifth with four-straight singles, tying the game on hits by Fines and Smith. After an error loaded the bases, Sabrina Nunez grounded to the right side to push Cal ahead once more, 6-5.

Utah responded in its half as Alyssa Barrera singled and Makayla Hurst walked. After a wild pitch advanced both runners, Hailey Hilburn delivered a two-run double to get Utah a 7-6 edge.

Utes rally again! Hailey Hilburn delivers a two-run double that brings in Barrera and the pinch-runner Calderon!#GoUtes ???? pic.twitter.com/hz1JbGFXwI
— Utah Softball (@Utah_Softball) March 17, 2019

The lead was short lived when Coelho smacked her second homer of the series to tie the game heading to the final inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Utah had its chance to get the sweep. Ally Dickman reached on an error, Alyssa Palacios singled and Noskin walked to load the bases. However, Zoe Conley got a pop up on the next pitch to push the game to extras.

Cal received a home run from Blueford, her fifth of the season, to begin the eighth and salvage a game in the series.

Next weekend, the Utes are on the road in Tempe for a Pac-12 series at Arizona State