STILLWATER, Okla. – No. 20 Utah Softball split another doubleheader at the Mizuno Tournament on Saturday, topping Mercer, 13-6, before losing under the lights to No. 11 Oklahoma State, 11-2.
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The Utes sit at 14-4 on the season with all their losses against teams that were ranked among the top 15 in the nation. For the weekend, BreOnna Castaenda paced the offensive attack, going 8-for-12 with a pair of homers, two doubles and a team-high seven runs batted in over the four games.
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No. 20 Utah 13, Mercer 6
Behind the strength of five home runs, Utah slugged Mercer to begin the afternoon.
Ellessa Bonstrom homered twice and
Charlee Pond,
Alyssa Palacios and Castaneda added round-trippers for the Utes.
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Utah got off to a fast start when Madi Jacobs safely reached on a bunt and
Alyssa Barrera followed with a single. After Bonstrom walked to load the bases, Castaneda delivered a base-hit that brought in a pair of runs.
Makayla Hurst tacked on another with a ball right back through the center of the diamond.
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The Utes added another in the second as
Haley Denning reached via a fielder's choice, stole second, advanced to third on an errant throw and came in on a Jacobus groundout.
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Mercer bounced back in a big way during the third. The Bears loaded the bases but Utah was able to get the second out of the inning at home during a rundown. Eventually, the Bears got the big hit as Danielle Castleberry singled to score two and a wild throw plated another. Allie Jones followed with a double that knotted the score, 4-4.
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Bonstrom blew up in the middle innings, homering to put her side in front and adding a two-run shot for a three-run lead.
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After Mercer started the fifth with a pair of singles and got one back, Pond went yard to push the lead back to three.
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Kenli Harvey added a RBI single for the Bears after a lead-off double in the sixth and Utah continued its onslaught with Castaneda crushing a two-run homer and Palacios hitting one over the wall in left, into oncoming traffic.
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Mary Beth Feldman notched her third win of the season and
Sydney Sandez was able to get her second save after entering in the top of the fifth.
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No. 11 Oklahoma State 11, No. 20 Utah 2
It was a promising start in the second game vs. the Cowgirls as Utah worked in a pair of runs to start. Jacobus singled, stole second and scored on a ball hit by Bonstrom that was dropped at first base. The freshman used an expert slide to avoid the tag at home for the game's first run. Castaneda followed with a single that scored Bonstrom, who had alertly taken second on the previous play.
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Sandez was in control until the fourth. OSU capitalized on an error that allowed the first batter to reach safely as Alysen Fabrey hammered a tying two-run homer. A double and fly to center put a runner on third and Palacios made a nice play on a ground ball that allowed them to catch the Cowgirl runner between the base and home plate. Unfortunately, one of the throws sailed awry and a run scored. From that point, things unraveled quickly for the Utes.
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Three straight hits, two doubles and a single, prompted a pitching change with Utah now trailing 6-2. After another RBI single, Fabrey added two more runs with a double. A walk and a single would cap a nine-run outburst for the Pokes.
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The Utes could not get anything going offensively after the first frame and Fabrey capped her night with a walk-off two-run bomb to right in the sixth
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Utah hits the road next week for a single game at Seattle before Pac-12 play begins Fri-Sun at No. 2 Washington
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