Jones Blanks UCSB with Complete Game Shutout

Saturday, February 7

Irvine, Calif.

2 p.m.

University of Utah

3-0

UCSB

0-4

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

Tournament Information Box Score (PDF)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Utah	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2
UCLA	1	5	2	3	X	11	11	0

2/7/2026 10:27 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

Utes top Gauchos, 4-0, drop decision to UCLA

IRVINE, Calif. – Shelbee Jones twirled a complete game, four-hit shutout and the University of Utah softball team blanked the UCSB Gauchos, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine, Calif. In Utah's second game of the day, they fell to No. 7/No. 10 UCLA, 11-0.

Utah is now 3-1 in 2026.

"The win against Santa Barbara was a really important one for us," said coach Amy Hogue. "Getting off to a good start this season with a bunch of wins early is very important. Shelbee was very efficient and was in control of the game from start to finish. Reese [Lee] made a phenomenal catch to secure the shutout and honestly just made the ending really fun, which is something we are looking forward to having a lot more this year."

Utah vs. UCSB
In seven innings of work, Jones never allowed a UCSB player to reach third base. After stranding runners in scoring position in the first and fourth innings, the junior right-hander retired 10 of the final 11 batters she faced. Jones also walked just one and struck out four to improve to 2-0.

Utah's starter received a little defensive help for the final out, as a long fly from UCSB's Emily Carr looked like a two-run homer that would cut the Utes' lead in half. Instead, Reese Lee made a leaping grab at the fence, bringing the ball back and putting the Utes' third win on ice.

Reese ends it with a robbery!#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/KxdAWYtRiY
— Utah Softball (@Utah_Softball) February 7, 2026

Through the first four stanzas, neither side could break through, but Kayla Lyon changed that in the fifth. After a lead-off safety from Izzy Cruz, Lyon rocketed a 3-2 pitch over the wall in center for her second homer in as many days.

B5 | ??????

?? @FloCollegeSB pic.twitter.com/SsEFflea3b
— Utah Softball (@Utah_Softball) February 7, 2026

The Utes weren't done in the fifth, however, thanks to an error that put Sianni Sakai on first with two outs, followed by a Payton Crank infield knock and another UCSB miscue that sent Sakai across for a 3-0 advantage. When Kennedy Proctor then smacked a double into the gap in right-center, Crank touched home with the game's final run and Jones and Lee did the rest.

Utah vs. UCLA
UCLA's offense was at its best, striking for a run in the first thanks to a Rylee Slimp homer, followed by five more in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth.

The Utes managed to mount a couple threats on offense, starting in the fourth, when a walk and a hit batter put two runners on. In the fifth, Cian Noli lined a single off the wall in center and Reese Lee was hit by a pitch to again put two on, but UCLA's Taylor Tinsley worked out of both jams.

"Game two was rough," said Hogue. "We aren't ready to go toe-to-toe against a team like that but know what it will take to get there. We'll get back on the field tomorrow with a goal to leave California 4-1, which would be a respectable opening weekend for us."

Up Next
Utah will spend Sunday in Long Beach, Calif., where they'll square off with Long Beach State at 1:30 p.m. MT.

FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter: @Utah_Softball |Instagram: @utahsoftball | Facebook: Facebook.com/Utessoftball).