Upcoming Event: Softball versus UCSB on February 6, 2026 at 2 p.m.
2 p.m.
Softball
vs UCSB
The University of Utah Athletics
Saturday, May 11
Provo, Utah
All Day
University of Utah
8
at
1
MWC Tournament
Utah Softball Claims MWC Tournament Championship
5/11/2002 12:00 AM | Softball
May 11, 2002
Provo, Utah - Utah defeated top-seeded San Diego State, 8-1 in the championship game at the 2002 Mountain West Conference Tournament held at Gail Miller Park, on Sat., May 11. The Utes earn an automatic bid to regional play with the win and improve to 30-34 on the season.
Utah scored first in the top of the second inning, loading the bases with a walk and two singles. San Diego State pitcher Bre DeSanta threw four straight balls to walk in Niki Hayhurst with no outs. Catcher Christa Pfeninger singled to send home Michelle Larsen. Masie Ota scored Tracy Keller with a sacrifice bunt. Senior Lynsey Trevis crushed a two-run double to finish off the five run inning.
Hayhurst smashed a solo home run, her seventh of the season in the top of the third inning to extend the Ute lead to 6-0.
San Diego State avoided the shutout in the fourth inning as catcher Amber Grahlman brought in Tiffany Goudy to diminish the gap, 6-1.
Utah tacked on a run in the fifth as Hayhurst hit an RBI single to bring home pinch runner Lauren Field, giving the Utes a7-1 lead.
Sophomore shortstop Melissa Stahnke broke the all-time career record for home runs in Utah softball history with a solo shot in the top of the seventh inning. She breaks the record of 37 held by Cyndee Bennett. She now has 16 home runs on the season and 38 total in her career.
Jennifer Pursell (17-16) picked up the win for Utah, striking out seven in seven innings on the mound. DeSanta (20-9) picked up the loss for the Aztecs giving up six runs in three innings.
"We have been waiting for a chance to play San Diego State since the conference opener," Utah head coach Mona Stevens said. "We were ready to play them today."
San Diego State drops to 41-22-1 and is also expected to earn a regional bid, with the announcements coming out Sunday evening.
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