Utah Softball Loses To No. 15 Fresno State, 3-2

Saturday, March 13

Fresno, Calif.

3:00 PM

University of Utah

Fresno Tournament (Fresno State)

Utah Softball Loses To No. 15 Fresno State, 3-2

3/13/2004 12:00 AM | Softball

March 13, 2004

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif.--The Utes failed to hold onto a victory on Saturday afternoon at the Clovis Auto Row Softball Classic, as they fell to No. 15 Fresno State, 3-2. Utah outhit the Bulldogs 6-3 and jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but defensive mishaps cost them the ballgame. The Utes, who conclude the tourney tomorrow against North Texas at 9:00 a.m. (PT), have now lost 10 straight.

Utah, the visiting team, didn't take long to mark up the scoreboard. After the Utes' leadoff batter was retired, Jackie Wong singled and advanced to second and third on an error by the Bulldogs. Wong would then cross the plate after Glennis Donnelly laced a single to left field. The Utes' next batter was retired but Ivette Hernandez would come through, driving a two-out double to the gap in right center to score Donnelly (2-0).

Freshman hurler Samantha Schroeder got herself into some trouble in the second inning. She walked the first Bulldog and let the next hitter reach base after committing an error on the fielding attempt of the sac bunt. Schroeder would retire the next two before walking another batter to load the bases. But, she then got the Bulldogs' Jamie Southern to pop up and leave them loaded.

Utah threatened again in the third inning after Melissa Stahnke reached on an infield single and then advanced to third after teammate Devina Quintero knocked another one-bagger with two outs. Fresno State would swap out pitchers, as Laura Ferriera replaced starter Amanda Wolf. Ferriera made quick work of Utah's next batter, striking her out with three straight pitches and forcing the Utes to strand two.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the third, scoring three unearned runs. Schroeder would walk the first Bulldog hitter before the next one would reach on an error. After Schroeder struck out the next two, Mitzi Ing drove a bases clearing triple to the gap in left center to tie it at two apiece. Fresno State's next batter Veronica Green hit a fly ball to left field that was misplayed by Utah, allowing Ing to score and giving the Bulldogs the 3-2 advantage.

Schroeder gets the loss, despite throwing a strong game. The freshman scattered three hits, struck out two and allowed no earned runs. Ferriera picks up the win after shutting down Utah's offense, allowing just one hit in the final three and a third innings.