Softball Bags Fifth and Sixth Straight Wins

Friday, March 16

San Diego, Calif.

4:30 PM

University of Utah

Fordham (Aztec Classic)

3/16/2007 12:00 AM | Softball

March 16, 2007

Utah vs. Miami (OH) Box Score
Utah vs. Fordham Box Score

SAN DIEGO - The University of Utah softball team (15-7-1 overall) extended its winning streak to six games with a pair of victories here on the first day of the Aztec Classic in San Diego. The Utes got the day started with a 4-2 win over Miami and also grabbed a 3-0 triumph over Fordham in the nightcap.

Miami falls 7-17 overall while Fordham slips to 9-11.

"We came out today and I don't think we were playing at our best," remarked head coach Angie Jacobs. "But, this team kept plugging away, working hard and made the necessary adjustments at the plate. Once we finally were able to put the numbers up on the board, we were able to hold our opponents back and earn two victories.

"I was happy to see us come from behind in the win over Miami and Hailey Davenport's home run in the fifth against Fordham also sparked a late rally for us.

"I'm glad that we didn't lose focus today. In fact, I think that the focus got better as the day went on. We worked hard and we didn't settle. We were aggressive. Now, we have to take what we did today and carry that momentum into tomorrow's game against Iona."

Hailey Davenport's 3-for-6, two-RBI effort led the Utes' offense today. Four other Utes had a two-hit day, including Kara Foster's 2-for-4, one-RBI stat line.

Pitchers Karina Cannon (4-3) and Meghan Dyer (11-4) both got wins today. Cannon went the distance against Miami in picking up the eight-K, seven-hit victory. Dyer got the nod against Fordham and had a 10-strikeout, three-hit gem of a performance.

Utah continues its play in the Aztec Classic when it plays Iona College at 10 a.m. (MDT). The final game of the round-robin tournament is on Sunday. It pits Utah against Fairfield at 3 p.m. (MDT).

Miami 2, Utah 4
The Miami RedHawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Breanna Robinson's two-RBI single in the top of the first inning. But, that was all the Miami bats had as it watched the Utes plate four unanswered runs.

The Utes responded in the bottom half of the first frame. Hemingway, who was 2-for-3 against MU, hit a two-RBI double. It scored both Diana Phillips, who led the inning off by reaching on an error, and Kara Foster, who was hit by a pitch.

Insurance for Utah came in the form of a run in each the second and third innings. A throwing error in the second allowed Tori Medina to score. She led the frame off with a double of her own.

The fourth and final tally came as a result of some crafty offense. With the bases juiced, Kelly Matthews laid down a bunt single, scoring Kristie Keller and upping Utah's lead to the eventual final score of 4-2.

Utah finished with eight hits while its rivals scattered seven. Utah pitcher Cannon got the win going all seven innings. She fanned eight RedHawk batters, allowing seven hits, two walks and two earned runs.

Utah 3, Fordham 0
All of the damage came late in the game as the Utes plated a run in the fifth and two in the sixth, bagging the three-run, shutout victory.

Davenport proved to be too much for Fordham as she had two of the three RBI in the win. She had a leadoff home run by in the fifth to give Utah a 1-0 lead. She also had a bases-loaded single in the sixth that scored Foster to make it 3-0.

Foster was the one who made it 2-0 in the sixth. Phillips led the inning off with a double. While Meghan Crouse sacrificed her over to third, it was Foster's RBI single to right field that allowed Phillips to score.

Dyer held Fordham to just three hits all from three different bats. Utah banged out six hits, buoyed by Davenport's 2-for-3 effort at the plate.