SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Softball dropped the second game of its series with No. 5 Arizona this afternoon, 22-1, as the Wildcats clubbed five home runs.
Â
UA loaded the bases to start the game after a single and a pair of walks. A heads up play by
Abby Robertson at first base resulted in a force at the plate and with two outs, a ground ball to the left side looked like the end of the inning. However, the throw ticked off the glove of Utah's third baseman and scored a pair of runs.
Â
The Utes responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning when
Ally Dickman hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season, a solo shot to left. The Utes put a pair of runners on and looked to add to their total, but Arizona was able to turn an inning-ending double play.
Â
Arizona's bats broke out in the second. After loading the bases, Jessie Harper hit her 21
st home run of the season, tops in the nation. Dejah Mulipola and Malia Martinez also connected to give Arizona back-to-back-to-back dingers.
Â
The Wildcats continued their onslaught when Jenna Kean slapped a RBI single to left. Alyssa Palomino pounded the first pitch she saw for a two-run triple and Reyna Carranco knocked her home with a single through the left side. The scoring stopped after Malia Martinez's two-run single, capping a 12-run inning.
Â
Kean continued her perfect day at the plate by roping a two-run triple at the onset of the third. Palomino provided another run with a ground ball to the right side and Mulipola pulverized her second homer of the game.
Â
Arizona hit its fifth and final home run of the game in the last inning when Izzy Pacho went deep. The 22 runs scored by Arizona were its most since a 2015 contest against Stanford.
Â
The Utes and Wildcats conclude their three-game series tomorrow at noon. Utah will be wearing pink tomorrow, representing its connection with Swing for Life, which is dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research.
Â