Softball Races Past Fairfield, 10-0

Sunday, March 18

San Diego, Calif.

2:00 PM

University of Utah

Fairfield (Aztec Classic)

3/18/2007 12:00 AM | Softball

March 18, 2007

Box Score

SAN DIEGO - A surge in the last four at-bats allowed the University of Utah softball team (17-7-1 overall) to easily do away with Fairfield, 10-0, here on the last day of the Aztec Classic on the campus of San Diego State University.

The game ended on bit of a high note as Hailey Davenport hit a grand-slam home run to boost Utah's lead from 6-0 to the final score of 10-0. With the loss, the stags slip to 3-10 on the year.

"I was disappointed that we didn't start today's game with more energy," said head coach Angie Jacobs. "But, we were finally able to pull things together, gather our focus and put a strong finish up on the board. We had one-, three-, and four-run innings to finish the game, so I was proud that we kept working hard all the way to the finish.

"I was especially proud of Hailey Davenport. She had a tough time at the plate today but she was patient in her last at-bat and hit a grand slam to end the game.

"Both of our pitchers got some innings in and had a great afternoon. We are getting closer to conference play and we are really looking forward to its start."

Utah hurler Karina Cannon got the start. She went four innings and allowed only two hits while fanning four. Meghan Dyer came on for two innings of work, allowing only one walk to two strikeouts.

The Utes finished the game with 11 hits, led by the 3-for-4 efforts of Diana Phillips and Davenport. Davenport plated four RBI while Phillips accounted for another two of the team's RBI total. In all, seven Utes had at least one hit on the day.

Phillips' two-RBI triple in the third and Andrea Hoffman's RBI single in the fourth gave Utah all it needed in the victory as the Utes led 3-0 after four frames.

However, the flood gates opened for Utah in the fifth and sixth innings. A three-run fifth was buoyed by Kristie Keller's RBI double while all four runs in the sixth came from Davenport's grand-slam swing.

Fairfield finished the day with only two hits, each from different batters. Cagney Ringnalda took the loss and stumbles to 2-7 for the Stags.

The Utes will have a day off before returning to action to play three pick-up games. The first such game is on Tuesday and pits Utah against No. 12-ranked Washington. First pitch from the softball field at Cal State-Fullerton is set for 3 p.m. (MDT).