Utah Wins Nine-Inning Thriller Over BYU, 4-3

Saturday, May 3

Salt Lake City, Utah

1:00 PM

University of Utah

BYU

5/3/2008 12:00 AM | Softball

May 3, 2008

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - Staci Hemingway scored in the bottom of the ninth inning off a BYU error to score the winning run in a 4-3 thriller.

With the game tied, 3-3, Hemingway led off the ninth inning with a walk. A sacrifice bunt from Meghan Crouse advanced Hemingway to second. Diana Phillips had the game-winning hit, with the ball going through the BYU shortstop's legs allowing Hemingway to come around to score.

Four home runs were hit in the back-and-fourth affair. Utah (27-22, 10-6 MWC) took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Kara Foster hit her second home run of the weekend with a shot over the left field fence to give the Utes a 1-0 lead in the game. Angie Boardman singled up the middle to continue the rally. She was replaced on the base with Kelly Matthews, who stole second and scored when Andrea Hoffman reached on a throwing error.

A pair of home runs for BYU (38-17, 11-5 MWC) in the sixth and seventh innings tied the game. Daniela Snow led off the sixth with a round-tripper to left field while Kristin Delahoussaye also had one to lead off the seventh, tying the game, 2-2.

Caschjen Davis led off the eighth inning with a home run to left field for the Cougars, but Utah came back in the bottom of the inning to score a run of their own. Phillips led off the inning with an infield single, moving to second on a ground out from Sharee Fonoti. Foster walked to put runners on the corners before Phillips scored on an RBI single from Boardman to put the game 3-3.

Ashley Smuda pitched just over seven innings, allowing 10 hits with four strikeouts. Brittany Parker entered in the eighth inning, striking out two of the four batters she faced. She gets the win to go to 10-12 on the season.

Christie Zinanti pitched into the ninth for BYU. She was replaced on the mound by Christina Trice after Hemingway reached base to lead off the ninth. Trice gets the loss on the day, going to 16-7 on the year.

Boardman led the Utes with a 2-for-3 performance, including an RBI.

San Diego State downed New Mexico earlier in the day, giving the Aztecs a 12-5 record and a first-place standing in the conference. BYU is second with an 11-5 record, while Utah falls to third at 10-6. SDSU and New Mexico also play a single game on Sunday.

The game also marked the final Deseret First Dual softball game of the year. Although the two teams split the points for the games, the traveling softball trophy goes to BYU based on runs scored. BYU leads, 31-28.5 in the series, with three baseball games (each worth 1.5 points) remaining.

The day also marked senior day. Seniors Phillips, Devina Quintero, Matthews, Kristie Keller and Meghan Crouse were all recognized following the game.

Utah goes on the road for its last six games of the year, beginning with a doubleheader at Utah Valley on Monday, May 5, beginning at noon.