Utes Go 1-1 on Second Day of Texas Classic

Saturday, March 1

Austin, Texas

7:30 PM

University of Utah

Wisconsin

3/1/2008 12:00 AM | Softball

March 1, 2008

Box Score

AUSTIN, Texas - The Utes split a pair of games on the second day of the Texas Classic, defeating Wichita State, 3-2, in the morning in the final round robin game, then falling to Wisconsin, 4-2, in the semifinals.

With the victory against Wichita State, the Utes became the No. 1 seed for the tournament semifinals by virtue of being the only undefeated team. After the loss against No. 4 seed, Wisconsin, Utah will face 22nd-ranked Texas in the third-place game at 9 am. The second-seeded Longhorns fell to third-seeded Wichita State, 6-2, in the other semifinal.

Down 2-1 against Wichita State in the sixth inning, Angie Boardman ripped the game-winning double into left center, scoring two to pull the Utes ahead, 3-2. Staci Hemingway started off the rally with a walk, while Meghan Crouse stole second as a pinch runner. Devina Quintero walked to put two on base before Crouse stole third, moving both runners over to set up the game-winning runs on Boardman's double.

Although the Utes got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning with an RBI double from Diana Phillips, Wichita State took advantage of a pair of Utah errors in the fifth inning to pull ahead.

The victory backed up a solid pitching performance from freshman Brittany Parker, who surrendered just three hits and one earned run, striking out 10 for her third win of the season.

Boardman was 2-for-3 with two RBI in the win.

Against Wisconsin, Utah took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Kristie Keller, Hemingway and Quintero led off the inning with three straight hits which would score Keller to give the Utes a 1-0 led.

Wisconsin answered in the fourth inning, taking a 3-1 lead off a pair of home runs from Lynn Anderson and Valyncia Raphael.

The Utes cut the lead to one, 3-2, in the bottom of the inning. Kara Foster, who reached base on a throwing error, moved to third on Fonoti's single and scored when Kelly Matthews hit a single up the middle.

Wisconsin added another run in the top of the fifth after a fielding error allowed Cassandra Wilkoscz to cross the plate, giving the Badgers a 4-2 lead.

Ashley Smuda got the start in the circle for the Utes, going four innings and allowing three runs. Parker entered in relief, pitching three innings with five strikeouts.

Phillips led Utah with two hits in the game, going 2-for-4. The Utes left eight runners on base during the course of the game.