Utah Softball Smashes UNLV 9-1

Friday, April 2

Salt Lake City, Utah

3:30 PM

University of Utah

UNLV * (Game 2)

4/2/2004 12:00 AM | Softball

April 2, 2004

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY--Utah's bats woke up in the second game of a twin bill against UNLV on Friday afternoon. The Utes drove in nine runs off nine hits to grab the 9-1 victory. Utah earned some redemption in the game as well, mercying the Rebels, when they had done the same to Utah in the earlier game. The win evens Utah's league record at 1-1, while its overall record improves to 9-20. The Rebels fall to 2-2 in conference play and 19-23 overall.

The Utes scored two in the first after Bryanne Durrence reached on a Rebel error and then crossed the plate off a home run by Glennis Donnelly. In the top of the next inning, UNLV scored one, using back-to-back-to-back singles.

With a 2-1 advantage, Utah would score four more in the fifth. Lynsey Wall led off the inning with a home run. After a Ute out, Glennis Donnelly would reach on an error. The next batter Melissa Stahnke drove a ball to the fence in left field. On the hit, Donnelly would charge for home, where the UNLV catcher dropped the ball to make it 4-2. Stahnke would go on to score next after Devina Quintero drove a ball to straight away center.

Then in the bottom of the sixth, Lynsey Wall would single and advance to second on another single by Bryanne Durrence. Both would then score on a walk-off home run by Glennis Donnelly to give Utah the 9-1 victory via the mercy rule.

Sophomore Brianna Gourdin was a main part of why Utah played so well. Gourdin picked up her seventh victory of the year after holding UNLV to one run after they smashed out 10 in the first game. Utah's defense backed up the hurler, committing no errors in the game.

Becky McDonald falls to 1-3 on the year after allowing three runs (two earned) in four innings.

"The difference between the two games was our pitching," said Head Coach Mona Stevens. "Brianna Gourdin went out in the second game anticipating the win. She threw well for us and we haven't even seen the best of her yet."

"It was nice to Lynsey Wall's bat come alive today. Melissa Stahnke has become so steady for us defensively and offensively. Glennis Donnelly is one of the best players in the league and in the country. Even with her errors she is that good," noted Stevens.