Softball Claims 10-0 Win Over Iona

Saturday, March 17

San Diego, Calif.

9:00 AM

University of Utah

Iona (Aztec Classic)

3/17/2007 12:00 AM | Softball

March 17, 2007

Box Score

SAN DIEGO - The University of Utah softball team (16-7-1 overall) hung its seventh straight victory on the board with an early morning win over Iona College here at the Aztec Classic. The Utes ran away with a 10-0, six-inning victory.

With the loss, Iona stumbles to 4-2 on the season as Utah held its second straight opponent scoreless. In fact, in the three games thus far this weekend, Utah has out-scored its rivals, 17-2.

"Pitchers Meghan Dyer and Karina Cannon split duties in today's game and I think that both pitched well for us this afternoon," said head coach Angie Jacobs. "Our pitching struggled at first, especially with speed and movement. But, they made good adjustments as the game went on and finished by pitching a solid game.

"I thought that we hit the ball well today too. We finished with 11 hits, including a home run by Kara Foster."

Meghan Dyer (12-4) got the start in the circle and held Iona scoreless, allowing only three hits on the day. She fanned five and walked one. Karina Cannon came on to pitch the final two frames. She didn't allow a hit in striking out four Iona batters.

The top four batters in Utah's lineup went 8-for-15 and had eight of the team's RBI. Leading that bunch was the 3-for-3, three-run effort by Meghan Crouse. Diana Phillips was 2-for-4 while Kara Foster and Staci Hemingway were 2-for-4 and 1-for-4, respectively.

A fielder's choice RBI by Hailey Davenport gave Utah the 1-0 lead after the first inning. But, the four-run second inning is what spelled doom for Iona. Two RBI triples and an RBI double in that frame allowed the Utes to race out to the 5-0 lead.

Phillips tripled to center field in the second, scoring Kelly Matthews to make it 2-0. That was followed by Foster's RBI double that would score Phillips. Now, with Foster at second and Crouse at third, Hemingway belted out a multi-base hit for herself. Her triple plated Foster and Crouse and upped the Utes' lead to 5-0.

Phillips would score the sixth run of the game in the fourth inning. A bunt single got her on base and crafty base running got her to third. She eventually scored by stealing home.

The Utes benefited from another four runs in the sixth. The four-run output was buoyed by the two-run home run from Foster's bat. It plated Crouse who singled to center field in the previous at-bat.

Lauren Spohn takes the loss for Iona as her record slips to 0-1 on the year. The three Iona hits came from three different batters.

Utah returns to action tomorrow, wrapping up play in the Aztec Classic against Fairfield. First pitch on the campus of San Diego State University is set for 3 p.m. (MDT).