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 10
Salt Lake City, UT
4 p.m.
University of Utah
vs
Oregon State
Photo by: Eli Rehmer/Utah Athletics
Utah Softball is Ready to Start Home and Pac-12 Schedules Against Oregon State
3/8/2023 5:01 PM | Softball
Dumke Family Softball Stadium to open for first time in 2023
SALT LAKE CITY – Owners of a 16-4 record and currently riding a seven-game win streak, the University of Utah softball team is gearing up for its first chance to play at home in 2023, as the Utes' home opening series, as well as their first Pac-12 series, will occur from Friday through Sunday against the Oregon State Beavers, with Friday's contest beginning at 4 p.m., Saturday's meeting schedule to start a 2 p.m. and the Sunday finale set for a noon first pitch at Dumke Family Softball Stadium.
This Week's Schedule
How to Follow
Fans can tune in to all three games on Utah Live Steam 2 and the links to each broadcast can be found on the Utah Softball schedule page, as well as the links to live stats.
Game Day Promotions
The first 100 fans through the gates for Friday's home opener will receive a free Utah Softball hoodie and there will also be a hot chocolate bar at the park on both Friday and Saturday. Fans can stick around after the final pitch on Saturday for postgame autographs with the entire team.
Last Time Out
The Utes run of seven consecutive victories is their longest since 2018 and more than half of those victories have been recorded by Sydney Sandez. In six appearances during her team's win streak, Sandez has thrown 19 1/3 innings without permitting a single earned run and she's also given up only nine hits. Utah's right-hander has already racked up eight wins in 2023, tied for fourth in the Pac-12.
In her last start, Sandez combined with Sarah Ladd and Halle Morris to toss the program's first no-hitter since 2017. Sandez allowed only one baserunner on a walk in two innings before turning things over to Ladd, who threw two perfect frames, then Morris retired the side in order in the fifth to complete the 29th no-hitter in program history.
At the plate, the top-of-the-lineup-trio of Haley Denning, Aliya Belarde and Ellessa Bonstrom have been the main catalysts for the Utes on offense. Denning has hit .591 over her last seven contests, stolen nine bases without being caught and scored 14 times, putting her total for the season in that statistic at 26, second-highest in the conference.
Belarde has hit .583 and knocked in 12 runs during Utah's hot streak and also scored nine times. She's also been the team leader in total bases with 20 and doubles with four. Bonstrom's been the team leader in homers during the current win streak, blasting four long balls and matching Belarde's RBI total with 12. Bonstrom has stolen 11 bases so far in 2023, already matching her career-high.
Scouting the Opposition
The Beavers have gone 9-11 over their first 20 games and will be attempting to shake off a difficult ending to their most recent non-conference tournament, which saw them drop their final three games. Two of those defeats were by a single run, including a 3-2 defeat to Idaho State that saw Abby Doerr tie the game on a sixth-inning homer before the Bengals tallied the go-ahead run one inning later.
Doerr is one of three OSU players with an OPS over .800 and her 12 RBIs are the most on the roster. In a win over Cal State Northridge on Feb. 24, Doerr cracked two four-baggers, including a grand slam and was responsible for all five of her team's runs. Kaiea Higa has been the Beavers' best hitter through 20 games, posting a .286 average to go with three round-trippers and her 25 total bases are tied Doerr for a team-high.
On the OSU pitching staff, no one has thrown more innings than Sarah Haendiges, who has gone 4-4 with a 2.76 ERA through 12 appearances, including eight starts. She had her best outing against Illinois State on Feb. 16, firing a complete-game shutout and allowing only four hits with six strikeouts in a 1-0 win. Haendiges is a familiar foe for the Utes, who faced her in all three games of the teams' series in 2022.
Team Stat Leaders (as of 2/22/23)
National Rankings - Individual
National Rankings – Team
Utes Receive Votes in National Polls
The Utes continue receiving votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Poll and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll earning 15 in total. Utah is attempting to break into the top 25 for the first time since 2020, when they rose as high as No. 20.
U Stands For Unhittable
The nine shutouts recorded by Utah's pitching staff are more than they posted in all of 2022 and only three times in 20 games have the Utes permitted an opponent more than two runs. Opponents have only managed a .189 batting average against Utah so far in 2023.
Starting Fast
For 10 straight games, from Feb. 19 to March 6, the Utes put together a consecutive games streak of scoring the first inning. Utah has outscored its opponents 34-5 in the first inning and that run total is the team's highest in any frame.
Setting the Table
One of the most important reasons for Utah's success on offense has been the work of Haley Denning and Aliya Belarde at the top of the order. Denning and Belarde own the team's top two batting averages and are in the top 10 in the conference in runs scored. Belarde has also driven in 19 runs, surpassing the combined total from her freshman and sophomore years.
Milestone Watch
Ellessa Bonstrom and Haley Denning both entered the year with significant milestones within their reach and they've continued to close in those accomplishments. Bonstrom, who has driven in 23 runs so far in 2023, is 29 away from becoming the program's all-time leader in that statistic and she's also 15 walks and three sacrifice flies from reaching the top of the Utah leaderboard in those categories.
Denning has swiped 21 bases through her team's first 20 games and those thefts have pushed her into third-place all-time in school history with 88 steals. She needs 12 more to become only the third Ute to ever reach 100 career stolen bases.
More History for Hogue
One season after becoming the all-time wins leader in the history of Utah softball, head coach Amy Hogue has already surpassed two more milestones in 2023. With her team's win on Friday over Northern Colorado, Hogue became the first coach to reach 400 wins in program and two days later, she picked up the 600th victory of her head coaching career.
Lopez Named First Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week
For the first time since 2017, a Utah pitcher was honored with a weekly award. Mariah Lopez earned the title of Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week after starting the season with 14 1/3 scoreless innings and three straight victories. The last Utah pitcher to receive a weekly award was Miranda Viramontes, who was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week in 2017.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @Utah_Softball |Instagram: @utahsoftball | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utessoftball).
This Week's Schedule
| Date | Game | Live Stats/Watch |
| March 10 | Utah vs. Oregon State | Live Stats / Watch |
| March 11 | Utah vs. Oregon State | Live Stats / Watch |
| March 12 | Utah vs. Oregon State | Live Stats / Watch |
How to Follow
Fans can tune in to all three games on Utah Live Steam 2 and the links to each broadcast can be found on the Utah Softball schedule page, as well as the links to live stats.
Game Day Promotions
The first 100 fans through the gates for Friday's home opener will receive a free Utah Softball hoodie and there will also be a hot chocolate bar at the park on both Friday and Saturday. Fans can stick around after the final pitch on Saturday for postgame autographs with the entire team.
Last Time Out
The Utes run of seven consecutive victories is their longest since 2018 and more than half of those victories have been recorded by Sydney Sandez. In six appearances during her team's win streak, Sandez has thrown 19 1/3 innings without permitting a single earned run and she's also given up only nine hits. Utah's right-hander has already racked up eight wins in 2023, tied for fourth in the Pac-12.
In her last start, Sandez combined with Sarah Ladd and Halle Morris to toss the program's first no-hitter since 2017. Sandez allowed only one baserunner on a walk in two innings before turning things over to Ladd, who threw two perfect frames, then Morris retired the side in order in the fifth to complete the 29th no-hitter in program history.
At the plate, the top-of-the-lineup-trio of Haley Denning, Aliya Belarde and Ellessa Bonstrom have been the main catalysts for the Utes on offense. Denning has hit .591 over her last seven contests, stolen nine bases without being caught and scored 14 times, putting her total for the season in that statistic at 26, second-highest in the conference.
Belarde has hit .583 and knocked in 12 runs during Utah's hot streak and also scored nine times. She's also been the team leader in total bases with 20 and doubles with four. Bonstrom's been the team leader in homers during the current win streak, blasting four long balls and matching Belarde's RBI total with 12. Bonstrom has stolen 11 bases so far in 2023, already matching her career-high.
Scouting the Opposition
The Beavers have gone 9-11 over their first 20 games and will be attempting to shake off a difficult ending to their most recent non-conference tournament, which saw them drop their final three games. Two of those defeats were by a single run, including a 3-2 defeat to Idaho State that saw Abby Doerr tie the game on a sixth-inning homer before the Bengals tallied the go-ahead run one inning later.
Doerr is one of three OSU players with an OPS over .800 and her 12 RBIs are the most on the roster. In a win over Cal State Northridge on Feb. 24, Doerr cracked two four-baggers, including a grand slam and was responsible for all five of her team's runs. Kaiea Higa has been the Beavers' best hitter through 20 games, posting a .286 average to go with three round-trippers and her 25 total bases are tied Doerr for a team-high.
On the OSU pitching staff, no one has thrown more innings than Sarah Haendiges, who has gone 4-4 with a 2.76 ERA through 12 appearances, including eight starts. She had her best outing against Illinois State on Feb. 16, firing a complete-game shutout and allowing only four hits with six strikeouts in a 1-0 win. Haendiges is a familiar foe for the Utes, who faced her in all three games of the teams' series in 2022.
Team Stat Leaders (as of 2/22/23)
| Batting Avg. | Haley Denning | .469 | |
| Slugging % | Julia Jimenez | .712 | |
| On Base % | Sophie Jacquez | .491 | |
| Runs Scored | Haley Denning | 26 | |
| Hits | Aliya Belarde | 31 | |
| RBI | Ellessa Bonstrom | 23 | |
| Doubles | Sophie Jacquez | 7 | |
| Home Runs | Ellessa Bonstrom | 5 | |
| Stolen Bases | Haley Denning | 21 | |
| ERA | Mariah Lopez | 1.28 (54.2 IP) |
| K's | Mariah Lopez | 66 |
| Wins | Sydney Sandez | 8 |
National Rankings - Individual
- Haley Denning currently ranks 29th in the nation in hitting with a .469 average.
- Denning is tied for second in Division I in steals with 21 and she's also tied for third in the country in runs scored with 28.
- Aliya Belarde's 31 hits have her tied for the ninth in the country and second in the Pac-12, while Haley Denning has stacked up 30 hits, tying her for 15th nationally.
- Ellessa Bonstrom is tied for 22nd in the nation with 22 RBIs and she's driven in 12 runs in her last six games.
- Julia Jimenez has been credited with four sacrifice flies through 20 games, tied for fourth-most nationally.
- In 52 at-bats in 2023, Bonstrom has been struck out just once. That at-bat total ranks eighth in the nation among players with who've only been struck out once.
National Rankings – Team
- The Utes are hitting .343 as a team and that average is good enough to place them 14th in the nation. Their runs-per-game average of 6.85 is 18th-best in the NCAA and Utah's on-base percentage of .405 places them 30th.
- Utah's staff ERA of 1.42 is 11th-best in the nation and they are also tied for sixth nationally with nine shutouts and their strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.17 ranks 17th.
- Utah's 61 stolen bases are the NCAA's fifth-highest total and are almost twice as many as any other squad in the Pac-12. They are also most than halfway to the program's single-season record of 92 steals set in 1994.
Utes Receive Votes in National Polls
The Utes continue receiving votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Poll and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll earning 15 in total. Utah is attempting to break into the top 25 for the first time since 2020, when they rose as high as No. 20.
U Stands For Unhittable
The nine shutouts recorded by Utah's pitching staff are more than they posted in all of 2022 and only three times in 20 games have the Utes permitted an opponent more than two runs. Opponents have only managed a .189 batting average against Utah so far in 2023.
Starting Fast
For 10 straight games, from Feb. 19 to March 6, the Utes put together a consecutive games streak of scoring the first inning. Utah has outscored its opponents 34-5 in the first inning and that run total is the team's highest in any frame.
Setting the Table
One of the most important reasons for Utah's success on offense has been the work of Haley Denning and Aliya Belarde at the top of the order. Denning and Belarde own the team's top two batting averages and are in the top 10 in the conference in runs scored. Belarde has also driven in 19 runs, surpassing the combined total from her freshman and sophomore years.
Milestone Watch
Ellessa Bonstrom and Haley Denning both entered the year with significant milestones within their reach and they've continued to close in those accomplishments. Bonstrom, who has driven in 23 runs so far in 2023, is 29 away from becoming the program's all-time leader in that statistic and she's also 15 walks and three sacrifice flies from reaching the top of the Utah leaderboard in those categories.
Denning has swiped 21 bases through her team's first 20 games and those thefts have pushed her into third-place all-time in school history with 88 steals. She needs 12 more to become only the third Ute to ever reach 100 career stolen bases.
More History for Hogue
One season after becoming the all-time wins leader in the history of Utah softball, head coach Amy Hogue has already surpassed two more milestones in 2023. With her team's win on Friday over Northern Colorado, Hogue became the first coach to reach 400 wins in program and two days later, she picked up the 600th victory of her head coaching career.
Lopez Named First Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week
For the first time since 2017, a Utah pitcher was honored with a weekly award. Mariah Lopez earned the title of Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week after starting the season with 14 1/3 scoreless innings and three straight victories. The last Utah pitcher to receive a weekly award was Miranda Viramontes, who was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week in 2017.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @Utah_Softball |Instagram: @utahsoftball | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utessoftball).
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballUtah Softball's Hailee White Feature
Tuesday, April 15
Utah Softball's Jolie Mayfield Feature
Friday, March 28
Utah Softball - The Inaugural 1976 Team
Wednesday, March 19
University of Utah Athletics - A Storied History
Friday, August 02