Utah Softball Sweeps Doubleheader at Utah Valley

Thursday, May 13

Orem, Utah

2:30 PM

University of Utah

Utah Valley

Utah Softball Sweeps Doubleheader at Utah Valley

5/13/2010 12:00 AM | Softball

May 13, 2010

Box Score

OREM, Utah - Junior catcher and leadoff hitter Brooke Olson collected three hits and drove in three runs as the University of Utah softball team swept a doubleheader at Utah Valley, 11-8 in eight innings during game one and 5-4 in game two, Thursday at Wolverine Softball Field.

Utah (26-28, 4-10 MWC) had four players turn in multiple-hit, multiple-RBI performances in the two games, led by Olson who went 3-of-8 with a run scored. Joni Cook had two hits and three RBI, Lindsey Palmer wrapped two hits for two RBI, and Whitney Holm drove in two runs on two hits.

The Ute defense turned three double plays on the day.

Game 1: Utah 11, Utah Valley 8 (8 innings)

The Utes were down 7-1 after two innings of the first game but outscored the Wolverines 10-1 for the remainder of the game to improve to 2-0 in extra innings this season. Utah put four runs on the scoreboard in the eighth inning to capture the win.

Junior Brittany Parker came on in relief for the Utes, allowing one hit and only two walks in two innings of work with one strikeout. Ashley Smuda finished the game and earned her 20th win of the season, going four innings while not allowing an earned run on two hits with four strikeouts. When she entered the game, Smuda struck out the side in the fifth frame. Smuda, a Scottsdale, Ariz., native, is 20-14 in decisions this year.

UVU put runners on second and third base with one out in the first inning and the Wolverines managed to take a 1-0 lead when Shaylyn Varney grounded a fielder's choice to Holm, who temporarily held Meghan Woodworth from scoring, but scored the first run of the game as Olson tagged Megan Gardner at second base.

Hoopiiaina slammed her fourth homer of the year over the left-field fence with two outs to tie the score at one run apiece. The freshman from Riverton, Utah, has now driven 24 runs in this season.

The Wolverines opened the game up with a six-run second inning, but the Utes countered with a two-out rally in the top of the third as Hannah Clements drew a walk then Utah came up with a pair of two-run home runs in the third inning as Foster cranked her 11th home run of the season and the 64th of her career, which is second on the Mountain West Conference all-time home run list. Holm followed with her ninth home run of the season, another two-run shot, to bring the Utes within two runs, 7-5.

Utah completed its comeback by scoring two more runs to tie the game in their fourth at-bat, beginning when Hoopiiaina reached on an error by the Wolverine shortstop then advanced to third. After Lindsey Palmer rolled into a fielder's choice, Tori Medina singled up the middle of the UVU defensive alignment. A ground ball to third base hit by Olson allowed Hoopiiaina to score while Palmer took second base. Clements knocked an RBI single down the right-field line to tie the game at seven runs apiece.

The final three innings of regulation were scoreless but Utah seized the victory with four runs. Holm started the frame on second base via the international tiebreaker rule and Palauni was then hit by a pitch before Medina drew a walk. Both Holm and Palauni were driven in after Palmer laced a two-run single to left field. Medina eventually scored on a UVU passed ball and Jasey Jensen slapped an RBI ground ball to the Wolverine shortstop to push Palmer across the plate for Utah's 11th run of the game.

UVU manufactured one run in their half of the eighth inning to set the final margin at 11-8 in favor of Utah.

Game 2: Utah 5, Utah Valley 4

Game 2 Box Score

Utah struck first in its first at-bat as Olson connected on a single through the left side to start the game. Cook knocked an RBI through the left side to put Utah up 1-0.

The next two innings were scoreless before Cook came up with her first career home run in the top of the fourth inning to give Utah a two-run edge. The Utes tacked on another run in the fifth inning when Medina led off with a single, then was pinch ran for by Sandi Bowles. Bowles then advanced to third base after a throwing error by the Wolverine third baseman and was driven in by a sacrifice fly to left field by Holm.

Utah Valley (27-29, 13-7 PCSC) came back with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Freshman Alyssa Garcia looped a pinch-hit single through the left side of the UVU defense before Palauni re-entered the game to run the bases. A Laura Dahlberg bunt and a wild pitch moved Palauni to third base. Palauni then scored after Palmer pounded a triple to center field. Palmer plated Utah's fifth run as Olson drove an RBI single to left field.

UVU scored a pair of runs itself in its half of the seventh inning, but Utah held on to nail down its 26th victory of the season.

The Utes conclude their regular season by hosting BYU in a Deseret First Duel game Saturday at 1 p.m. The action will be televised live on The Mtn. with Anne Marie Anderson providing the play-by-play and Teri Goldberg serving as the color analyst.

Utah will also honor its four departing seniors in a postgame ceremony: Kara Foster, Tori Medina, Lindsey Palmer and Ashley Smuda.