SEATTLE –
Mariah Lopez twirled a complete-game three-hitter for her 13th win and
Halle Morris provided all the offense the No. 15 University of Utah softball team would need with a pinch-hit, two-run single in a 2-1 victory over the No. 9 Washington Huskies on Friday night in Pac-12 Conference action at Husky Softball Stadium.
This win snaps a seven-game Utah losing streak in Seattle and also ends Washington's run of nine consecutive home triumphs. The Utes have now rattled off seven-in-a-row and are 30-8 overall and 12-4 in conference.
"Mariah has continued to go out there, time after time, and beat good hitters," said head coach
Amy Hogue. "She has so many good pitches and has been using all of them. Coach Paige [Parker] has been calling a great game for her and together, they continue to put us in a position to win."
This pitcher's duel started with Lopez and Washington's Ruby Meylan both posting a pair of scoreless innings before the home side broke on top in the third. With one out, Baylee Klingler lifted a solo home run to left to break the scoreless tie and the Huskies later put two runners on the frame, but back-to-back strikeouts by Lopez ensured Utah's deficit would remain at one.
It wasn't until the fifth inning that the Utes put together a scoring threat against Meylan and they used that opportunity to take the lead. With one on and two out,
Kendall Lundberg bounced a hit into left that put runners on second and third and Morris then smacked a single through the right side that plated a pair and gave Utah its first lead of the night.
"Halle came off the bench with the biggest pinch hit of the year for us," said Hogue. "She hit that ball on a dime. I couldn't have been happier for her. She's worked so hard for that opportunity to help her team win."
Lopez was just as sharp after her team handed her the lead, holding the Huskies without a hit in the fifth and sixth. In the seventh, Washington managed to put the tying and winning runs on base, but Lopez retired Sami Reynolds on strikes for her fifth strikeout of the night and the Utes pushed their win streak to seven.
Up Next
The Utes will have a chance to secure another series win on Saturday, when they'll face the Huskies in a matchup scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. PT.
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