Utes Upset No. 19 Aztecs, 2-1, in Extra Innings

Saturday, April 26

Salt Lake City, Utah

1:00 PM

University of Utah

San Diego State

Utes Upset No. 19 Aztecs, 2-1, in Extra Innings

4/26/2008 12:00 AM | Softball

April 26, 2008

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - Senior Meghan Crouse scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Utah softball team to a 2-1 victory over No. 19 San Diego State.

Crouse led off the inning, reaching base when the Aztecs (37-15, 9-5 MWC) first baseman dropped a clean throw after hitting a ground ball to the pitcher. Diana Phillips beat out a bunt for a single, putting two on with no outs. Sharee Fonoti advanced both runners over with a bunt. Devina Quintero struck out to give Utah (26-21, 9-5 MWC) two outs before the wild pitch sent Crouse home to win the game.

Utah and San Diego State are tied for second in the Mountain West Conference with the two-game split. BYU (10-4 MWC) swept UNLV during the weekend to pull ahead to first in the league.

The game was a pitchers dual from the onset, with SDSU's Christina Ross (who leads the conference in wins, ERA and strikeouts) and Utah's Ashley Smuda going toe-to-toe for most of the game. Smuda had nine strikeouts, and with the win goes to 17-9 on the season. Ross recorded six strikeouts, falling to 24-12.

San Diego State scored a run in the first inning off Erin Floros RBI single. Utah would tie the game, 1-1, in the third inning. Phillips was hit by a pitch to reach base. She stole second and advanced on a ground out before scoring when Quintero singled down the right field line.

Both teams had numerous chances as the game went into the late innings. Brittany Knudsen led off the sixth inning for the Aztecs with a double, but Fonoti had two strong defensive plays at shortstop to hold her at second, including a diving stop to get an out at first. Smuda got Floros to strike out looking to end the inning.

In the seventh, Andrea Hoffman caught pinch runner Katy Erickson stealing for the third out in the top of the inning. She singled in the bottom of the inning but was stranded on first.

San Diego State's Dani Sidoti reached on an error to lead off the eighth, but Utah got the lead runner on a heads-up play following a bunt and forced the Aztecs into ground outs the rest of the inning before scoring in the bottom of the eighth.

Utah returns to the field on Friday, May 2, to face the team down south, BYU. The game is worth 1.5 points of the Deseret First Dual rivalry series.