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The University of Utah Athletics
Photo by: Michael Christy
No. 12 Utah Softball Returns Home for NCAA Regional
5/17/2023 3:41 PM | Softball
Utes open with Southern Illinois on Friday at 1:30 p.m. MT
SALT LAKE CITY – For the 17th time in program history, the University of Utah softball team is preparing for the NCAA Tournament and the Utes will start the tournament by playing a regional on their home field and clashing with the Southern Illinois Salukis on Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. MT at the Dumke Family Softball Stadium.
Utah will play its second game on Saturday, either at 1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m., with a third Saturday contest taking place at 6 p.m. Sunday will consist of either one or two games for the remaining two teams, with the first pitch being thrown at 12 p.m.
Utah vs. Southern Illinois
How to Follow
Fans can catch Utah's Friday matchup on ESPN+ and every game at the Salt Lake City regional will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.
Last Time Out
The Utes earned the right to host this regional by closing the season with six straight wins, five of which came at the expense of ranked opponents and that last three led to the Utes claiming the first-ever Pac-12 Tournament Championship.
Nobody has played a more critical role in Utah's run than pitcher Mariah Lopez, who, after shutting down Oregon in back-to-back starts, one of which was a no-hitter, tossed a pair of complete games in the Pac-12 Tournament to earn most outstanding player honors. In her last 17 appearances in the circle, only No. 5 Washington has tagged Lopez for more than three runs and she's lowered her ERA from 3.00 on April 8 to 2.33, which puts her in the top 10 in the Pac-12. Her 166 strikeouts for the season are also the most by a Utah pitcher since 2012.
Utah's lineup was led by all-tournament selections Sophie Jacquez, Ellessa Bonstrom and Julia Jimenez, all of whom hit over .300 in Tucson and Bonstrom and Jimenez both went deep in Utah's semifinal win over the Huskies. Jacquez had a hit in all three contests and got the tournament started by going 3-for-3 with two RBIs as Utah knocked off California. The Utes hit .352 as a team in the Pac-12 Tournament.
Another red-hot bat was swung by freshman Karlie Davison, who homered in two of Utah's three matches and is now tied for the team-lead in four-baggers with nine. Davison has hit safely in six consecutive contests.
Scouting the Opposition
Friday's festivities will mark the first time ever the Utes and the Salukis have locked horns and it comes after SIU rolled through four straight opponents to capture the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. Madi Eberle started and won all four games while pitching to a 1.22 ERA, earning her the tournament MVP award. Eberle has piled up 19 victories so far in 2023, more than doubling her previous career-high and she's looking to become her program's first 20 game winner since 2021.
SIU's list of all-conference performers included MVC First-Team selections Jackie Lis and Elizabeth Warwick. Warwick has hit .377 while playing in all 54 games for the Salukis, is tied for third in the league in hits with 60 and also owns a .482 on-base percentage that ranks second in the MVC. No one in the conference hit more home runs in 2023 than Lis and her 17. The freshman from Newburgh, Indiana has five multi-homer games to her credit, including two performances in which she's gone deep three times.
Utah's other two guests in Salt Lake City are the No. 18 Baylor Bears and the Ole Miss Rebels, who will clash on Friday morning. The Bears are the only team that has defeated No. 1 Oklahoma in 2023 and they capped the regular season by sweeping Texas, permitting the Longhorns only four runs across three games. Two of Baylor's hurlers have thrown over 100 innings this season and their staff has been led by junior Dariana Orme, who has fired six shutouts and owns a 1.92 ERA.
The Rebels are in the tournament for the seventh consecutive year and boosted their resume with an SEC Tournament win over No. 10 LSU on May 10, helping them lock in an at-large bid. One of the heroes for Ole Miss in that triumph was pitcher Aynslie Furbush, who twirled 5 1/3 innings of scoreless, hitless relief to hold the Tigers at bay until the Rebels took the lead in the 10th inning. Furbush owns an ERA of 2.00 for the season has not allowed more than three earned runs in any appearance.
Team Stat Leaders (as of 5/17/23)
Pac-12 Rankings - Individual
Pac-12 Rankings - Team
National Rankings – Individual
National Rankings – Team
NCAA Tournament History
This is Utah's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2017 and the Utes own an all-time record 28-36 in the national postseason, including a 26-24 mark at regionals. The Utes have reached super regionals in each of their last two NCAA Tournament trips. They are also aiming to reach the College World Series for the first time since 1994.
For Openers
In 16 previous NCAA Tournament Appearances, the Utes are an even 8-8 in their regional openers.
Undisputed
The Utes captured the first-ever Pac-12 Tournament Championship on Saturday, their first title since entering the Pac-12. It also goes down as the 10th tournament title in program history and the first since the Utes won the Mountain West Tournament in 2006.
Mariah's Making Good
Mariah Lopez's trophy case has gotten very full in 2023. In addition to being named First-Team All-Pac-12, Lopez was twice named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week, twice picked as the Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week and earned the Pac-12 Tournament's Most Outstanding Player award.
Putting the U in Eugene
The Utes had never before won a series at Jane Sanders Stadium or swept the Oregon Ducks at any site until they spent the weekend of May 5-7 sweeping the No. 13 Ducks on the road. That accomplishment gave Utah multiple sweeps of ranked opponents for the first time since 2017, when they swept No. 10 UCLA and No. 2 California.
Lopez No-Hits Ducks
Mariah Lopez fired the 17th seven-inning no-hitter in program history, the first since 2012, on May 7 in a 2-0 triumph over Oregon. After encountering a pair of threats early, Lopez allowed only a single baserunner over the final five frames, setting down 15 of the 16 hitters she faced to finish with a spotless final line that included six strikeouts. The junior Arizona finished her masterpiece with a perfect sixth, followed by a seventh inning in which she struck out the side.
Player of the Week History
For their efforts against Oregon, Karlie Davison was recognized as the Pac-12 Freshman and Player of the Week and Mariah Lopez won Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honors. Lopez, who was also named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week on April 17, is the first Ute to ever snag that award twice in one season, while Davison is the first Utah player to ever win both player and freshman of the week simultaneously.
Piling Up Ks
Mariah Lopez has racked 166 strikeouts in 2023, more than twice as many as she collected as a sophomore. That total is also the highest by a Utah pitcher in more than a decade, since Generra Nielsen piled up 294 punchouts in 2012.
By the Numbers with the Bases Loaded
Utah's pitching staff has been at its best with the sacks packed, holding opponents to a .171 clip in 37 bases-loaded at-bats. By contrast, Utah's hitters are batting .408 when the bases are full.
Vanquishing the Ranked
The Utes sweep in Eugene was their third series victory of the year over a ranked foe, as they previously took series from No. 17 Arizona and No. 5 Stanford. The last time the Utes took three series from ranked teams was in 2017, when they accomplished that feat four times.
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 50 runs so far in 2023, is two away from becoming the program's all-time leader in that statistic and she's also one walk and one sacrifice fly from reaching the top of the Utah leaderboard in those categories.
Denning has swiped 28 bases through 50 games and those thefts have pushed her into third-place all-time in school history with 95 steals. She needs five more to become only the third Ute to ever reach 100 career stolen bases.
As a team, Utah has amassed 90 stolen bases, meaning they need only three more to reach a new program-best in that statistic. The current school best of 92 was set in 1994.
Conquering the Cardinal
The Utes home sweep over the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal represents the highest ranked team Utah has ever swept in a series. In game one, the Utes pounded out 12 hits, the most Stanford had allowed in a game to that point. The five runs Utah scored in game three represented the second-highest run total for any team against the Cardinal in 2023.
Three is a Charm
Utah's hitters have piled up 19 three-hit games through 29 contests in 2022, already putting them far ahead of last season's total of eight in that statistic. No Ute had more than two three-hit performances to their credit a year ago, but so far in 2023, Aliya Belarde has accomplished that feat five times and Haley Denning and Ellessa Bonstrom have each done it thrice.
Starting Fast
The Utes have a higher run-differential in the first inning that in any other frame, outscoring opponents 57-16 in that stanza. The 57 runs are also more than Utah has scored in any inning except the fourth, where 59 Utes have crossed the plate. For 10 straight games, from Feb. 19 to March 6, the Utes put together a consecutive games streak of scoring the first inning.
Two-Out Utes
So far in 2023, the Utes have hit .335 with two outs and piled up 115 two-out RBIs, improving on their numbers from a year ago. In 2022, Utah's average with two outs stood at .266 and they finished the season with 95 two-out RBIs.
Seeing Double-Digits
Utah's 10-run outburst against Weber State on April 11 was the sixth time they've tallied 10 or more runs in 2023, already surpassing their total from 2022, when they accomplished that feat four times.
Opportunistic Offense
In 20 of their games in 2023, the Utes have forced their opponents into multiple miscues in the field and Utah is currently a perfect 20-0 in contests where the opposition makes multiple errors.
Dynamic Duo
Both Syndey Sandez and Mariah Lopez have reached double-digit wins for the Utes in 2023, the first time since 2017 two Utes have topped the 10-win threshold. Lopez's 18 triumphs the most by a Ute since Katie Donovan won 18 in 2017, while Sandez's 13 top her previous career-high of 12, which she set in 2021.
Give Mariah a Medal
On April 17, Mariah Lopez earned her second Division I Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week award after a 3-0 week in which she posted a 0.89 ERA. Lopez is the first Ute to ever earn this honor twice in one season after she was named national player of the week for the first time on Feb. 14.
Dayton Does it Again
On April 10, Abby Dayton was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the second time. Dayton, who went 7-for-8 at the plate during the week, is the third Ute to receive multiple freshman of the week awards in a single season and the first since Ally Dickman in 2016. Katie Donovan accomplished this feat as well, doing so in 2015.
Bonstrom, Dayton Recognized with Pac-12 Weekly Awards
Ellessa Bonstrom and Abby Dayton were recognized by the Pac-12 on March 20. Bonstrom received her second Pac-12 Player of the Week award in two weeks, while Dayton became the first Ute in six years to be named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week. Bonstrom is only the second Utah softball player to ever collect two player of the week awards in one season, matching a feat accomplished by Hannah Flippen in 2015.
Turn It Up to an 11
From Feb. 26 to March 17, the Utes strung together an 11-game win streak, their longest since they also on 11-in-a-row in 2017. Six of the victories during that run belonged to Sydney Sandez, who crafted a 0.49 ERA. At the plate, the Utes hit .369 as a team, led by Aliya Belarde's .500 average and Ellessa Bonstrom's six homers and 20 RBIs.
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 Feb. 10 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.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @Utah_Softball |Instagram: @utahsoftball | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utessoftball).
Utah will play its second game on Saturday, either at 1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m., with a third Saturday contest taking place at 6 p.m. Sunday will consist of either one or two games for the remaining two teams, with the first pitch being thrown at 12 p.m.
Utah vs. Southern Illinois
| Date | Game | Watch |
| May 19 | Utah vs. Southern Illinois | Watch / Live Stats / Tickets |
How to Follow
Fans can catch Utah's Friday matchup on ESPN+ and every game at the Salt Lake City regional will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.
Last Time Out
The Utes earned the right to host this regional by closing the season with six straight wins, five of which came at the expense of ranked opponents and that last three led to the Utes claiming the first-ever Pac-12 Tournament Championship.
Nobody has played a more critical role in Utah's run than pitcher Mariah Lopez, who, after shutting down Oregon in back-to-back starts, one of which was a no-hitter, tossed a pair of complete games in the Pac-12 Tournament to earn most outstanding player honors. In her last 17 appearances in the circle, only No. 5 Washington has tagged Lopez for more than three runs and she's lowered her ERA from 3.00 on April 8 to 2.33, which puts her in the top 10 in the Pac-12. Her 166 strikeouts for the season are also the most by a Utah pitcher since 2012.
Utah's lineup was led by all-tournament selections Sophie Jacquez, Ellessa Bonstrom and Julia Jimenez, all of whom hit over .300 in Tucson and Bonstrom and Jimenez both went deep in Utah's semifinal win over the Huskies. Jacquez had a hit in all three contests and got the tournament started by going 3-for-3 with two RBIs as Utah knocked off California. The Utes hit .352 as a team in the Pac-12 Tournament.
Another red-hot bat was swung by freshman Karlie Davison, who homered in two of Utah's three matches and is now tied for the team-lead in four-baggers with nine. Davison has hit safely in six consecutive contests.
Scouting the Opposition
Friday's festivities will mark the first time ever the Utes and the Salukis have locked horns and it comes after SIU rolled through four straight opponents to capture the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. Madi Eberle started and won all four games while pitching to a 1.22 ERA, earning her the tournament MVP award. Eberle has piled up 19 victories so far in 2023, more than doubling her previous career-high and she's looking to become her program's first 20 game winner since 2021.
SIU's list of all-conference performers included MVC First-Team selections Jackie Lis and Elizabeth Warwick. Warwick has hit .377 while playing in all 54 games for the Salukis, is tied for third in the league in hits with 60 and also owns a .482 on-base percentage that ranks second in the MVC. No one in the conference hit more home runs in 2023 than Lis and her 17. The freshman from Newburgh, Indiana has five multi-homer games to her credit, including two performances in which she's gone deep three times.
Utah's other two guests in Salt Lake City are the No. 18 Baylor Bears and the Ole Miss Rebels, who will clash on Friday morning. The Bears are the only team that has defeated No. 1 Oklahoma in 2023 and they capped the regular season by sweeping Texas, permitting the Longhorns only four runs across three games. Two of Baylor's hurlers have thrown over 100 innings this season and their staff has been led by junior Dariana Orme, who has fired six shutouts and owns a 1.92 ERA.
The Rebels are in the tournament for the seventh consecutive year and boosted their resume with an SEC Tournament win over No. 10 LSU on May 10, helping them lock in an at-large bid. One of the heroes for Ole Miss in that triumph was pitcher Aynslie Furbush, who twirled 5 1/3 innings of scoreless, hitless relief to hold the Tigers at bay until the Rebels took the lead in the 10th inning. Furbush owns an ERA of 2.00 for the season has not allowed more than three earned runs in any appearance.
Team Stat Leaders (as of 5/17/23)
| Batting Avg. | Aliya Belarde | .393 | |
| Slugging % | Julia Jimenez | .656 | |
| On Base % | Ellessa Bonstrom | .470 | |
| Runs Scored | Aliya Belarde | 49 | |
| Hits | Aliya Belarde | 66 | |
| RBI | Ellessa Bonstrom | 50 | |
| Doubles | Julia Jimenez | 14 | |
| Home Runs | Ellessa Bonstrom | 10 | |
| Stolen Bases | Haley Denning | 28 | |
| ERA | Mariah Lopez | 2.33 (159.1 IP) |
| K's | Mariah Lopez | 166 |
| Wins | Mariah Lopez Mariah Lopez |
18 |
Pac-12 Rankings - Individual
- Aliya Belarde's name can be found in the top five in the Pac-12 rankings in five different statistics, including runs scored, where her total of 49 places her second. She also owns the league's second-highest totals in hits, with 65, and third-highest in steals, with 15, while ranking sixth in batting average, at .393.
- Much like her teammate, Ellessa Bonstrom is among the league leaders in several categories, posting the Pac-12's fifth-highest total in steals with 12 and ranking fifth in RBIs, with 50, and sixth in on-base percentage, with a .470 clip. Bonstrom's 26 walks have her in sixth and her 42 runs are tied for the conference's seventh-most.
- Haley Denning's total of 28 swipes continues to remain unchallenged atop the Pac-12 leaderboard and she can also claim a tie for seventh in runs scored with 42 and is sixth in the league in hits with 58.
- Julia Jimenez has pounded out 14 two-baggers in 2023 tied for the most in the Pac-12. Jimenez also owns the eighth-highest RBI total with 44.
- Jordyn Gasper has legged out three triples so far in 2023, tying for the third-most in the league.
- Mariah Lopez continued to be one of the conference's leaders in strikeouts with 166, a number that places her fourth. She's also climbed into a tie for second in the league in wins, third in complete games, sixth in strikeouts per seven innings and eighth in ERA.
Pac-12 Rankings - Team
- Utah's bats have remained dangerous throughout the year, as evidenced by their 34 doubles in 24 Pac-12 contests, the most in the league. Overall, the Utes have pounded out 75 doubles, second-most in the conference, and their 12 triples are tied for second. Utah also owns the Pac-12's third-highest totals in hits, third-best batting average at .321 and third-best total in runs scored at 308.
- No one in the Pac-12 has been up to more shenanigans on the base paths than Utah, as evidenced by their 90 steals, 16 more than second-place Washington.
- No team in the league has been more difficult to strike out, as Utah has amassed only 169 punchouts, while Oregon State owns the second-lowest mark at 200.
National Rankings – Individual
- Aliya Belarde's named can be found in the top 50 nationally in two different stats, as she continues to cement herself as one of the nation's best players. She ranks 24th in the country in runs score per game and is tied for 43rd in hits.
- Haley Denning has not stopped piling up thefts on the base paths, with her 28 swipes tying for 25th-most in the nation.
National Rankings – Team
- The Utah lineup remains one of the most dangerous in the nation, as evidenced by the fact they sit in top 50 in seven different categories, led by batting average, where they carry a .323 clip that ranks 11th. The Utes average 6.16 runs per game, 18th nationally, they've churned out doubles at a rate of 1.50 per contest, landing them in a tie for 25th and they've stolen bases at the 28th-best rate in Division I. Utah is also in the top 50 in on-base percentage and slugging.
NCAA Tournament History
This is Utah's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2017 and the Utes own an all-time record 28-36 in the national postseason, including a 26-24 mark at regionals. The Utes have reached super regionals in each of their last two NCAA Tournament trips. They are also aiming to reach the College World Series for the first time since 1994.
For Openers
In 16 previous NCAA Tournament Appearances, the Utes are an even 8-8 in their regional openers.
Undisputed
The Utes captured the first-ever Pac-12 Tournament Championship on Saturday, their first title since entering the Pac-12. It also goes down as the 10th tournament title in program history and the first since the Utes won the Mountain West Tournament in 2006.
Mariah's Making Good
Mariah Lopez's trophy case has gotten very full in 2023. In addition to being named First-Team All-Pac-12, Lopez was twice named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week, twice picked as the Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week and earned the Pac-12 Tournament's Most Outstanding Player award.
Putting the U in Eugene
The Utes had never before won a series at Jane Sanders Stadium or swept the Oregon Ducks at any site until they spent the weekend of May 5-7 sweeping the No. 13 Ducks on the road. That accomplishment gave Utah multiple sweeps of ranked opponents for the first time since 2017, when they swept No. 10 UCLA and No. 2 California.
Lopez No-Hits Ducks
Mariah Lopez fired the 17th seven-inning no-hitter in program history, the first since 2012, on May 7 in a 2-0 triumph over Oregon. After encountering a pair of threats early, Lopez allowed only a single baserunner over the final five frames, setting down 15 of the 16 hitters she faced to finish with a spotless final line that included six strikeouts. The junior Arizona finished her masterpiece with a perfect sixth, followed by a seventh inning in which she struck out the side.
Player of the Week History
For their efforts against Oregon, Karlie Davison was recognized as the Pac-12 Freshman and Player of the Week and Mariah Lopez won Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week honors. Lopez, who was also named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week on April 17, is the first Ute to ever snag that award twice in one season, while Davison is the first Utah player to ever win both player and freshman of the week simultaneously.
Piling Up Ks
Mariah Lopez has racked 166 strikeouts in 2023, more than twice as many as she collected as a sophomore. That total is also the highest by a Utah pitcher in more than a decade, since Generra Nielsen piled up 294 punchouts in 2012.
By the Numbers with the Bases Loaded
Utah's pitching staff has been at its best with the sacks packed, holding opponents to a .171 clip in 37 bases-loaded at-bats. By contrast, Utah's hitters are batting .408 when the bases are full.
Vanquishing the Ranked
The Utes sweep in Eugene was their third series victory of the year over a ranked foe, as they previously took series from No. 17 Arizona and No. 5 Stanford. The last time the Utes took three series from ranked teams was in 2017, when they accomplished that feat four times.
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 50 runs so far in 2023, is two away from becoming the program's all-time leader in that statistic and she's also one walk and one sacrifice fly from reaching the top of the Utah leaderboard in those categories.
Denning has swiped 28 bases through 50 games and those thefts have pushed her into third-place all-time in school history with 95 steals. She needs five more to become only the third Ute to ever reach 100 career stolen bases.
As a team, Utah has amassed 90 stolen bases, meaning they need only three more to reach a new program-best in that statistic. The current school best of 92 was set in 1994.
Conquering the Cardinal
The Utes home sweep over the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal represents the highest ranked team Utah has ever swept in a series. In game one, the Utes pounded out 12 hits, the most Stanford had allowed in a game to that point. The five runs Utah scored in game three represented the second-highest run total for any team against the Cardinal in 2023.
Three is a Charm
Utah's hitters have piled up 19 three-hit games through 29 contests in 2022, already putting them far ahead of last season's total of eight in that statistic. No Ute had more than two three-hit performances to their credit a year ago, but so far in 2023, Aliya Belarde has accomplished that feat five times and Haley Denning and Ellessa Bonstrom have each done it thrice.
Starting Fast
The Utes have a higher run-differential in the first inning that in any other frame, outscoring opponents 57-16 in that stanza. The 57 runs are also more than Utah has scored in any inning except the fourth, where 59 Utes have crossed the plate. For 10 straight games, from Feb. 19 to March 6, the Utes put together a consecutive games streak of scoring the first inning.
Two-Out Utes
So far in 2023, the Utes have hit .335 with two outs and piled up 115 two-out RBIs, improving on their numbers from a year ago. In 2022, Utah's average with two outs stood at .266 and they finished the season with 95 two-out RBIs.
Seeing Double-Digits
Utah's 10-run outburst against Weber State on April 11 was the sixth time they've tallied 10 or more runs in 2023, already surpassing their total from 2022, when they accomplished that feat four times.
Opportunistic Offense
In 20 of their games in 2023, the Utes have forced their opponents into multiple miscues in the field and Utah is currently a perfect 20-0 in contests where the opposition makes multiple errors.
Dynamic Duo
Both Syndey Sandez and Mariah Lopez have reached double-digit wins for the Utes in 2023, the first time since 2017 two Utes have topped the 10-win threshold. Lopez's 18 triumphs the most by a Ute since Katie Donovan won 18 in 2017, while Sandez's 13 top her previous career-high of 12, which she set in 2021.
Give Mariah a Medal
On April 17, Mariah Lopez earned her second Division I Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week award after a 3-0 week in which she posted a 0.89 ERA. Lopez is the first Ute to ever earn this honor twice in one season after she was named national player of the week for the first time on Feb. 14.
Dayton Does it Again
On April 10, Abby Dayton was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the second time. Dayton, who went 7-for-8 at the plate during the week, is the third Ute to receive multiple freshman of the week awards in a single season and the first since Ally Dickman in 2016. Katie Donovan accomplished this feat as well, doing so in 2015.
Bonstrom, Dayton Recognized with Pac-12 Weekly Awards
Ellessa Bonstrom and Abby Dayton were recognized by the Pac-12 on March 20. Bonstrom received her second Pac-12 Player of the Week award in two weeks, while Dayton became the first Ute in six years to be named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week. Bonstrom is only the second Utah softball player to ever collect two player of the week awards in one season, matching a feat accomplished by Hannah Flippen in 2015.
Turn It Up to an 11
From Feb. 26 to March 17, the Utes strung together an 11-game win streak, their longest since they also on 11-in-a-row in 2017. Six of the victories during that run belonged to Sydney Sandez, who crafted a 0.49 ERA. At the plate, the Utes hit .369 as a team, led by Aliya Belarde's .500 average and Ellessa Bonstrom's six homers and 20 RBIs.
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 Feb. 10 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.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @Utah_Softball |Instagram: @utahsoftball | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utessoftball).
Players Mentioned
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