Utes Cap Nutter Classic with 8-7 Win over Fullerton

Saturday, February 22

Palm Springs, CA

6:00 PM

University of Utah

10-2

Cal State Fullerton

6-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Utah	0	6	0	0	0	0	2	8	10	0
Cal State Fullerton	0	1	1	0	0	5	0	7	13	1

Photo by: Steve C. Wilson

Utes Cap Nutter Classic with 8-7 Win over Fullerton

2/22/2020 11:43 PM | Softball

Box Score Utah 8 CSF 7

Utah Softball goes 3-0; falls in exhibition to US National Team

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - Katie Faulk delivered a tie-breaking hit in the seventh, Alyssa Palacios turned an amazing unassisted double play in the bottom half and Sydney Sandez gutted out her eighth win of the season as Utah capped a perfect run at the Mary Nutter Classic with an 8-7 win over Cal State Fullerton.

Sandez threw her second complete game of the year, finishing with a season-high 115 pitches, and was helped out immensely by a key defensive play in the final frame.

Working with a one-run lead, she put the leadoff hitter on in the seventh but Palacios snared a liner and dived back to the bag ahead of the Titan baserunner for a double play.

After a scoreless first, Utah blew up in the second, scoring six runs against the Titans. The Utes loaded the bases as Alyssa Barrera and Ellessa Bonstrom singled ahead of a walk to BreOnna Castaneda. An error by Fullerton on a Destiny Quiles grounder brought home the game's first run and Faulk continued her hot streak with a two-run single.

After a sacrifice bunt, Haley Denning singled and Julia Noskin reached on a fielder's choice to fill the sacks once more for Madi Jacobus. The freshman delivered a bases-clearing double for a 6-0 lead.

Bases loaded situation for Madi Jacobus

Bases UNloaded ??

WATCH: @FloSoftball
https://t.co/cHJKQFxjn1 #GoUtes ???? pic.twitter.com/LqnOD9M4Ow
— Utah Softball (@Utah_Softball) February 23, 2020

Fullerton started to chip away with a Julia Valenzuela RBI single in the second and after Utah left the bases loaded in the third, Zoe Richard also added a run for the Titans.

Sandez escaped damage in the fourth but her luck seemed to run out In the sixth. Alyssa Hernandez got Fullerton going with a RBI groundout before leadoff hitter Megan Delgadillo crushed a two-run homer that trimmed the Utah lead to 6-5. After a walk and a double, Daisy Munoz added another two-bagger that put the Titans in front for the first time.

Down to their final outs, the Utes rallied for the second night in a row. Jacobus took a walk and Barrera singled before another free pass to Bonstrom. With the bases loaded, Quiles drove in the tying run with a RBI groundout and with two down, Faulk delivered again with a RBI single to left.

Utah hops back on the bus and heads to San Diego for a doubleheader on Monday, starting at noon.