Upcoming Event: Softball versus UCSB on February 6, 2026 at 2 p.m.
2 p.m.
Softball
vs UCSB
The University of Utah Athletics
Friday, March 6
Norman, OK
11:00 AM
University of Utah
13-2
6
vs
5
Mercer
9-13
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Mercer
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10
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Utah
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Photo by: Steve C. Wilson
Barrera Blast Gets Utah Walk-Off Win in Mizuno Tournament Opener
3/6/2020 2:01 PM | Softball
Utes hit four homers in victory over Mercer, drop nightcap to No. 6 Oklahoma
NORMAN, Okla. - Utah Softball split a pair of games at the Mizuno Tournament, opening with a 6-5 walk-off win over Mercer before falling in the nightcap to the hosts, No. 6 Oklahoma, 10-2
Utah 6, Mercer 5
Alyssa Barrera Utah's first walk-off homer since 2017 as Utah relied on the strength of four dingers to supply all its offense in the opener.
Sydney Sandez picked up her 11th win as she eclipsed 100 pitches in a game for the second time this season (113). She also struck out a season-high four batters during her third complete game of 2020.
It was a shaky start for the Utes as Mercer took an early 1-0 lead behind a lead-off walk, infield hit and Utah error.
Utah had a chance to pull level in the third when Alyssa Palacios walked, moved up on a sacrifice bunt and took third via a passed ball, but Mercer was able to get a pop up.
The Utes managed just two hits through the first four innings but the bats came alive in the fifth. After Mercer left them loaded in the top of the fifth, Utah was able to take the lead thanks to the long ball.
Pinch-hitter Charlee Pond hit her first homer as a Ute to tie the score and after Haley Denning singled, Madi Jacobus belted her second of the season out of the stadium to right.
Utah seemingly had momentum on its side as the game switched to the sixth but Mercer responded. The Bears put their first two runners on base but again, Utah looked like it had weathered the storm after a runner left early for the second out.
The Ute lead was trimmed to one after an error, then Kenlie Harvey perfectly placed a double to center that rolled all the way to the wall and tied the score. She came home on Elisa Rosado's infield chopper that put Mercer back in front, 4-3.
BreOnna Castaneda, who hit Utah's last walk-off homer in 2017, led-off the sixth with a drive to straightaway center that quickly tied the score. Despite the dramatics at the plate, she was unable to track down a ball in right that led to a Mercer triple in the seventh. A perfectly executed squeeze play put the Bears back in the driver's seat, setting up Barrera's heroics.
No. 6 Oklahoma 10, Utah 2 (5 inn.)
The Utes fell behind early and No. 6 Oklahoma pounced on them, leading to a 10-2 loss.
Utah registered a quick two outs to start the game and Lynnsie Elam struck out, but the pitch was wild and the ensuing throw to first was wild, prolonging the inning. Grace Green followed with a two-run double before Nicole Mendes smashed a two-run homer.
The Utes broke through in the fourth as Barrera singles, Ellessa Bonstrom reached on an error and Castaneda smacked a RBI double. Despite two in scoring position and no one out, Utah could not make a bigger dent in the deficit.
Oklahoma blew the game open in its half as Kinsley Koeltzow crushed another two-run homer. The next three batters reached safely before Grace Lyons singled to center. After a Kinzie Hansen sac fly, Elam brought another run home with an infield single.
Utah added its second run in the fifth when Denning reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on an Oklahoma error.
The Utes are back in action tomorrow as they head to Stillwater for a rematch with Mercer and a contest with the host No. 11 Cowgirls
Utah 6, Mercer 5
Alyssa Barrera Utah's first walk-off homer since 2017 as Utah relied on the strength of four dingers to supply all its offense in the opener.
Sydney Sandez picked up her 11th win as she eclipsed 100 pitches in a game for the second time this season (113). She also struck out a season-high four batters during her third complete game of 2020.
It was a shaky start for the Utes as Mercer took an early 1-0 lead behind a lead-off walk, infield hit and Utah error.
Utah had a chance to pull level in the third when Alyssa Palacios walked, moved up on a sacrifice bunt and took third via a passed ball, but Mercer was able to get a pop up.
The Utes managed just two hits through the first four innings but the bats came alive in the fifth. After Mercer left them loaded in the top of the fifth, Utah was able to take the lead thanks to the long ball.
Pinch-hitter Charlee Pond hit her first homer as a Ute to tie the score and after Haley Denning singled, Madi Jacobus belted her second of the season out of the stadium to right.
Utah seemingly had momentum on its side as the game switched to the sixth but Mercer responded. The Bears put their first two runners on base but again, Utah looked like it had weathered the storm after a runner left early for the second out.
The Ute lead was trimmed to one after an error, then Kenlie Harvey perfectly placed a double to center that rolled all the way to the wall and tied the score. She came home on Elisa Rosado's infield chopper that put Mercer back in front, 4-3.
BreOnna Castaneda, who hit Utah's last walk-off homer in 2017, led-off the sixth with a drive to straightaway center that quickly tied the score. Despite the dramatics at the plate, she was unable to track down a ball in right that led to a Mercer triple in the seventh. A perfectly executed squeeze play put the Bears back in the driver's seat, setting up Barrera's heroics.
No. 6 Oklahoma 10, Utah 2 (5 inn.)
The Utes fell behind early and No. 6 Oklahoma pounced on them, leading to a 10-2 loss.
Utah registered a quick two outs to start the game and Lynnsie Elam struck out, but the pitch was wild and the ensuing throw to first was wild, prolonging the inning. Grace Green followed with a two-run double before Nicole Mendes smashed a two-run homer.
The Utes broke through in the fourth as Barrera singles, Ellessa Bonstrom reached on an error and Castaneda smacked a RBI double. Despite two in scoring position and no one out, Utah could not make a bigger dent in the deficit.
Oklahoma blew the game open in its half as Kinsley Koeltzow crushed another two-run homer. The next three batters reached safely before Grace Lyons singled to center. After a Kinzie Hansen sac fly, Elam brought another run home with an infield single.
Utah added its second run in the fifth when Denning reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on an Oklahoma error.
The Utes are back in action tomorrow as they head to Stillwater for a rematch with Mercer and a contest with the host No. 11 Cowgirls
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Saile (7-3)
L: Feldman, Mary Beth (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Castaneda, BreOnna 2
RBI: Bonstrom, Ellessa 1 ; Castaneda, BreOnna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Denning, Haley 1 ; Barrera, Alyssa 1
Batting:
2B: Green 1
HR: Mendes 1 ; Koeltzow 1 ; Flores, E. 1
RBI: Lyons 1 ; Hansen 1 ; Elam 1 ; Green 2 ; Mendes 2 ; Koeltzow 2 ; Flores, E. 1
SF: Hansen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lyons 1 ; Hansen 1 ; Elam 1 ; Green 1 ; Mendes 1 ; Pogue 1 ; Koeltzow 1 ; Flores, E. 2 ; Donihoo 1
SB: Elam 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
P
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