Softball Earns 7-4 Win at Dixie State

Tuesday, April 6

St. George, UT

3:00 PM

University of Utah

13-15

Dixie State

15-17

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Utah	2	0	1	2	0	0	2	7	9	2
Dixie State	0	1	1	0	1	1	0	4	6	3

Photo by: Rob Gray

4/6/2021 6:17 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score

Denning sparks offense with triple and two runs scored

ST. GEORGE, UTAH – Haley Denning went 3-4 with a triple and two runs scored to help lead Utah to a 7-4 non-conference win over Dixie State Tuesday at Karl Brooks Field. Starter Sydney Sandez (7-3) earned the win, pitching 5-2/3 innings, while Mariah Lopez earned the save by retiring all four batters she faced after entering the game with a 5-4 lead and two runners on in the sixth.

Utah improves to 13-15 with the win, while Dixie State falls to 15-17.

Denning led off the game with a triple and scored on a bouncer to second base by Julia Noskin to give the Utes a 1-0 lead. Noskin later scored from third while Ellessa Bonstrom was involved in a run-down between first and second base, but the Utes could not do more damage, leaving the bases loaded.

After a Dixie State run in the bottom of the second, Utah added one more in the third when Alyssa Barrera doubled and then scored from third during a run-down. In the fourth inning, Aliya Belarde singled home Alyssa Palacios and Denning to extend Utah's lead to 5-2.

Dixie State chipped away at the lead, scoring one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings to pull within one at 5-4, but pinch-hitter Elicia Espinosa came through with a two-out single to right in the top of the seventh to score Barrera and Belarde for the eventual final score of 7-4.

T7 | Clutch 2-out, 2-run single by @EliciaEspinosa adds some insurance, scoring Barrera and Belarde!

Utah 7
Dixie St. 4

WATCH: https://t.co/oi6qy0QXBd pic.twitter.com/PTUnBbvkrz
— Utah Softball ?? (@Utah_Softball) April 6, 2021

STANDOUT STAT
Today's three-hit effort was Denning's team-leading 12th multi-hit game of the season and her fifth with three hits.

A defensive gem by @julianoskin10!

B6
Utah 5
Dixie St. 4

WATCH: https://t.co/oi6qy0QXBd pic.twitter.com/MqrfIwH0tD
— Utah Softball ?? (@Utah_Softball) April 6, 2021

NOTABLE

Alyssa Barrera doubled and scored twice today, and is now tied for the team lead with four doubles on the season.
Freshman Aliya Belarde recorded the first two RBI of her career in the fourth inning
Denning's triple to lead off the game was her third of the year to take over the team lead (Barrera, 2).
Sandez increased her team-best win total to 7, and Lopez earned her first career save.

ON DECK
Utah and Dixie State will square off again at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Karl Brooks Field in St. George, followed by a neutral-site matchup with Southern Utah. Both games will be livestreamed.

Two-run single by @alibelarde1 to bring home Palacios & Denning!

T4
Utah 5
Dixie St. 2 pic.twitter.com/WO7L8p9jMm
— Utah Softball ?? (@Utah_Softball) April 6, 2021