Softball Bags Two Wins

Sunday, March 4

Tampa, Fla.

11:30 AM

University of Utah

Maryland (USF Louisville Slugger Tourney)

3/4/2007 12:00 AM | Softball

March 4, 2007

Utah-Maryland Box Score
Utah- CMU Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. - The sun returned to Florida and shined on the University of Utah softball team (12-7-1 overall) as it topped the University of Maryland in the first game, 8-1, and edged Central Michigan, 3-1, in game two. Today's action marked the final day of the USF Louisville Slugger Tournament here in Tampa, Fla., as Utah went 3-1 this weekend.

The Terps fall to 7-8 on the season while CMU is now 2-7.

Pacing the Utes offense today was Hailey Davenport. She was 5-for-8 on the day with a home run and two RBI.

Meghan Dyer got win in the first game, holding the Terps to just three hits while fanning 11. Karina Cannon led the Utes in the circle in game two. She struck out nine batters and allowed one walk and five hits.

Utah has the week off and returns to action on March 13 when it plays at UVSC.

Utah 8, Maryland 1
A three-run second inning and a four-run sixth allowed the Utes to race past the University of Maryland today, 8-1.

While Utah's offense banged out 13 hits in the first game, defense was also tops as Dyer held the Terrapins to three hits and one run. She fanned 11 batters, walking one.

Utah's four-run sixth came on two swings. It started with Kara Foster's two-RBI double that scored Kelly Matthews and Diana Phillips. That was followed by Davenport's two-run home run on the very next at bat, scoring Foster. Utah led, 8-1, after the fourth frame.

An RBI-double in the first frame gave Maryland the brief 1-0 lead. But, the Utes responded in the top of the second with a pair of runs of their own. Cannon's RBI double over the center fielder's head allowed Kristie Keller to score. She led the second frame off with a double of her own. Utah captured the lead for good on Meghan Crouse's RBI double to right. It scored Matthews.

Davenport led the offense against Terrapins. She was 3-for-4 at the plate with a two-run homer in the sixth.

Meredith Nelles took the loss for UMD while Lindsay Klein's two hits led the Terps.

Utah 3, Central Michigan 1
Foster hit a seeing-eye ground ball through the right side with two runners on in the seventh inning to lift the Utes to victory in the nightcap. Her double to the fence in right-center scored Andrea Hoffman and Matthews as it broke a 1-1 tie. It gave Utah the 3-1 lead with three outs left in the game.

Cannon got the win, improving the 3-3 on the year. Davenport and Hoffman both had a pair of hits in the second game to lead Utah. Kari Seddon took the loss for CMU.

The two teams exchanged runs in the first inning. Meghan Crouse scored Utah's run when CMU's shortstop threw the ball away on Davenport's single. Crouse, who was on first at the time, rounded the diamond to make it 1-0. Central responded with Amy Hudson's RBI single to tie it up in the bottom of the first.

The Utes had the chance to take the lead in the sixth but a play at third and a play at the plate ended the inning with the score still knotted at 1-1.