Softball Wins First-Round Game

Thursday, May 11

Las Vegas, Nev.

12:30 PM

University of Utah

New Mexico (MWC Tournament)

5/11/2006 12:00 AM | Softball

May 11, 2006

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - The University of Utah softball team (35-19 overall) remained in the winner's bracket of the Mountain West Conference Tournament this afternoon, banging out a 9-1 win over the No. 6-seeded New Mexico Lobos (23-30) this morning.

With the win, the No. 3 Utes return to the diamond today to play rival Brigham Young at 4:30 p.m. (PDT). Fans can listen to live Internet radio broadcasts by going to www.themwc.com.

All-conference honorees Diana Phillips and Jackie Wong didn't waste any time in extending their impressive hitting streaks. They both got hits in the bottom of the first inning, extending their runs to 22 and 21 games, respectively. Phillips' 22-gamer is the longest such streak in the conference this year.

Karina Cannon got the start in the circle and retired first nine batters. She improves to 18-7 on the year, giving up only two hits in the game. In fact, UNM didn't register a hit until Ryanne Hodgins hit a bloop single in the top of the fourth.

The Utes didn't procrastinate when it came time to put some runs on the board. In the bottom of the first, with runners on second and third, Devina Quintero laid down the perfect suicide squeeze to score Jackie Wong. Wong got on board with a leadoff double down the left field line. Utah went up two thanks to a funny hop on second baseman Christina Schmallen. Sharee Fonoti hit a bounding ball to the Lobo middle-infielder, and the ball took a mad hop over her head into right field. The fielder's miscue allowed Diana Phillips to score all the way from second.

The Lobos didn't respond until the top of the fourth. They got their first two hits off Cannon in that inning, scoring a runner from third on a Schmallen's groundout to second.

Insurance for the Utes came in the fourth inning when they put a five-spot on the board, all on two outs. Jessica Shiery had a two-RBI triple, Staci Hemingway had a two-RBI double and Devina Quintero tallied an RBI single.

UNM's Jen Mendenhall takes the loss for the Lobos and is 7-13 overall.

Colorado State and UNLV play in the 2:30 p.m. (PDT) game and San Diego State will play the winner of that game at 7 p.m. (PDT).