Upcoming Event: Softball versus UCSB on February 6, 2026 at 2 p.m.
2 p.m.
Softball
vs UCSB
The University of Utah Athletics
No Practice Made Perfect For Ute Softball Team
11/7/2002 12:00 AM | Softball
May 16, 2002
By Mike Sorensen, Deseret News sports writer
Everyone knows that the only way to get better in sports or almost anything is to practice. The more you practice, the better you'll perform.
With her team floundering earlier this season, Utah softball coach Mona Stevens decided on a different approach.
Right in the middle of the season, she told her team to stop practicing. To leave their bats and gloves alone. Not to even think about softball.
"I had them take a week off," she said. "I've never done that before. I made them take seven days off and get completely away from softball. I didn't want them practicing or picking up a bat or anything."
The unusual approach worked.
After going 10-26 in non-league games, the Utes came back with a strong effort once Mountain West Conference games began. The Utes have gone 20-8 since the layoff and with four victories in last week's MWC tournament, they earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Regionals this week.
The Utes (30-34), who have won 17 of their last 21, were paired up against host Oklahoma (45-14) Thursday at 1:30 p.m. MDT in Norman in the double-elimination tournament. The Sooners are ranked No. 13 in the nation and own three decisive victories over the Utes this season. Getting past Oklahoma and the other four teams won't be an easy task for the Utes, who are seeded fifth in the six-team regional. Only one team will earn a berth in the World Series the following week. Other teams in the tournament include top-seeded Texas, No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Arkansas and No. 6 Army.
The Utes have played all those teams except Army, and the experience of a tough early schedule may pay off for the Utes now.
"Those first six to eight weeks we struggled and so many things happened," said Stevens. "But those first few weeks also made us so emotionally and mentally tough." One of the big factors in the Ute turnaround has been the improved pitching of Jen Pursell, who transferred from Mississippi State. After starting 4-15, she has won 14 of her last 16 games to improve to 18-17. She won three of four games in the MWC tournament and was named tournament MVP after allowing just six runs.
"She's pitched exceptionally well," said Stevens. "She did a phenomenal job at the end. We started hitting the ball well and that took a lot of pressure off her. That brought out the best in her."
With the possibility of several games this weekend, the Utes may also need to rely on sophomore pitcher Heather Bowlin, who is 12-16, but actually has a better ERA at 2.88 compared to Pursell's 2.94.
The top Ute hitters are senior Molly McLean at .343, sophomore Melissa Stahnke at .313 and junior Niki Hayhurst at .298. Stahnke leads the team with 16 home runs and 46 RBIs, while Hayhurst leads the Utes with 16 doubles. When the Utes played Oklahoma back in February and March, they were probably playing their worst ball of the season. They lost 6-1, 8-1 and 8-0 as neither their hitting or pitching was very good.
"Their strength is in their hitting, so this will be a test for our pitching," said Stevens. One thing the Utes won't feel this week is a lot of pressure. After their early difficulties, playing well now and making the NCAAs "makes it that much sweeter," according to Stevens. "This is just icing on the cake," she said. "I told the team that we have nothing to prove and nothing to lose."
UTE NOTES: If the Utes lose to Oklahoma, they'll face the loser of the Texas-Army game at 6:30 p.m. MDT Thursday . . . The Utes are making their third NCAA appearance since 1995 and 11th overall . . . The College Softball World Series will be played May 23-27 in Oklahoma City . . . Texas A&M is coached by former Ute coach Jo Evans . . . The Utes have played every other team in their regional except Army. They lost twice to Texas and Texas A&M and defeated Arkansas 3-0 . . . Besides Utah, there are only two teams in the 48-team tournament with losing records -- Liberty (28-31) and Oakland (24-35-1), both No. 6 seeds.
E-mail: sor@desnews.com
? 2001 Deseret News Publishing Co.
Utah 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