Utah Softball Drops Two at Louisville Slugger Desert Classic

Friday, February 19

Las Vegas, Nev.

1:30 PM

University of Utah

Hawai'i

Utah Softball Drops Two at Louisville Slugger Desert Classic

2/19/2010 12:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 19, 2010

Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Senior center fielder Kara Foster and junior right fielder Jasey Jensen both went 4-for-7 at the plate but the University of Utah softball team suffered its first defeats of the season, 10-4 to No. 12/11 California and 11-8 to Hawai'i in the first day of the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic Friday at Eller Media Stadium.

Utah (5-2) scored nine runs combined in the first inning of both games but unfortunately could not turn its fast starts into victories.

"We hit the ball well today to win the ball games, but we didn't pick it up on defense," Utah head coach Amy Hogue said. "To beat good teams, you have to do both of those things well. I am proud of Joni [Cook] for getting the ball to our defense on the ground. We will bounce back and pick it up for her better tomorrow."

Foster went 4-for-7 with a home run and three RBI on the day. The Derby, Kan., native also scored two runs and had four putouts and an assist from her center field position in the Ute defense.

Jensen was 4-for-7 at the plate with a two-run home run against Cal. The Layton, Utah native also stole a base and was credited with a putout in right field.

Cook appeared in both games for 8.1 innings, allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts. In her first start of the season against California, the Eagle, Idaho native fell to 0-1 this season.

No. 12/11 California 10, Utah 4

Both Foster and Jensen went 2-for-3 with a home run apiece against the Golden Bears but Utah could not avoid the 10-4 loss to No. 12/11 California in the first game of the day.

The Utes struck early with three runs in the bottom of the first inning against the Golden Bears. Brooke Olson drew a leadoff walk then moved to second after a Clements groundout to shortstop. Holm got on board with another walk before Foster hit an RBI single up the middle of the Cal infield to plate Olson. Jensen followed with another RBI single, this time to left field to drive in Holm. Foster would later score to give the Utes a 3-0 edge after top of the first inning.

Cal scored its first run in the top of the fourth inning when Henderson singled up the middle and advanced to second base on a wild pitch and reached third base after a fly out by Lindsey Ziegenhirt. Jace Williams then singled to left field to score Cal's first run.

Unfortunately, Cal exploded for an eight-run fifth inning to take control of the game with a 9-4 advantage. The Golden Bears tacked on another run in the top of the sixth to set the final margin at 10-6.

In her first appearance of the season, Cook allowed five earned runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings of work. Junior Brittany Parker came on for the final 2.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts.

Hawai'i 11, Utah 8

The Utes struck early again with five more runs in the first inning against Hawai'i in the second game of the day. Olson singled past the Hawai'i shortstop and was driven in by a Hannah Clements double to left-center field for her third RBI of the season. Whitney Holm then got on base after an error by the UH shortstop before Foster cranked her 56th career home run over the left-center field wall. Jensen then backed up Foster's blast with one of her own, a solo shot that banked off the Eller Media Stadium scoreboard. Jensen, a Layton, Utah native, now has two home runs and three RBI this season.

The Rainbow Wahine came back with seven runs in their first three at-bats. And after a scoreless fourth inning, both teams' offenses came alive again.

Utah put up three runs in top of the fifth to assume the lead once again. Kelsi Hoopiiaina doubled to center field then Clements came up with her second hit of the game, a single to right field, to drive Hoopiiaina across the plate. Holm slapped a single back through the middle of the Hawai'i defense. Both advanced on a wild pitch before Foster reached base on an error by the UH second baseman to drive Clements in. Jensen then singled up the middle to load the bases to allow Holm to score.

Hawai'i promptly responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame to seal the victory.

Utah continues its Louisville Slugger Desert Classic schedule tomorrow against Cal State Fullerton (9 a.m. PT) and Indiana (3:45 p.m. PT).