Photo by: Eli Rehmer/Utah Athletics
Ladd, Lopez Lead No. 13 Softball to Shutout of San Diego
2/18/2024 12:40 PM | Softball
Utes close out weekend in Puerto Vallarta with 5-0 win
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Sarah Ladd and Mariah Lopez combined to allow only six singles across seven innings while shutting out the UC San Diego Tritons in a 5-0 victory for the No. 13 University of Utah softball team on Sunday afternoon on the final day of the Puerto Vallarta Challenge at Nancy Almaraz Field in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
This triumph improves Utah's record to 5-4, while the Tritons fall to 1-7.
Utah very quickly seized the initiative from the Tritons, pushing across a run in the first inning thanks to an Aliya Belarde single, a stolen base and a Karlie Davison double. The Utes increased their lead to 3-0 in the second, when Julia Jimenez and Kaylah Nelsen started the frame with back-to-back doubles and Nelsen later touched home on a Belarde sacrifice fly.
That edge proved to be more than enough for Ladd, who retired the side in order in the first, then stranded runners in scoring position in the second, third and fifth innings. She ended UCSD's rally attempt in the fifth herself, inducing a bouncer back to the mound. In 5 1/3 innings, Ladd gave up only five singles and one walk and recorded her second scoreless start of 2024.
Some extra Utah insurance came courtesy of a Triton throwing error in the fourth that plated Haley Denning and a Leilani Melendez sacrifice fly in the sixth. Lopez secured her team's second shutout of the year by logging the final five outs, including a 1-2-3 seventh.
Up Next
The next stop for the Utes is Cathedral City, Calif., where they'll play five times in three days at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2024 campaign are now available. Fans can purchase season tickets by calling the Utah ticket office at 801-581-8849 or visit www.utahtickets.com/softball/.
Follow the Utes!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @Utah_Softball |Instagram: @utahsoftball | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utessoftball).
This triumph improves Utah's record to 5-4, while the Tritons fall to 1-7.
Utah very quickly seized the initiative from the Tritons, pushing across a run in the first inning thanks to an Aliya Belarde single, a stolen base and a Karlie Davison double. The Utes increased their lead to 3-0 in the second, when Julia Jimenez and Kaylah Nelsen started the frame with back-to-back doubles and Nelsen later touched home on a Belarde sacrifice fly.
That edge proved to be more than enough for Ladd, who retired the side in order in the first, then stranded runners in scoring position in the second, third and fifth innings. She ended UCSD's rally attempt in the fifth herself, inducing a bouncer back to the mound. In 5 1/3 innings, Ladd gave up only five singles and one walk and recorded her second scoreless start of 2024.
Some extra Utah insurance came courtesy of a Triton throwing error in the fourth that plated Haley Denning and a Leilani Melendez sacrifice fly in the sixth. Lopez secured her team's second shutout of the year by logging the final five outs, including a 1-2-3 seventh.
Up Next
The next stop for the Utes is Cathedral City, Calif., where they'll play five times in three days at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2024 campaign are now available. Fans can purchase season tickets by calling the Utah ticket office at 801-581-8849 or visit www.utahtickets.com/softball/.
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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