Utah Softball Clipped by Syracuse, 4-3

Friday, February 25

Palm Springs, Calif.

5:30 PM

University of Utah

Syracuse

2/25/2011 12:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 25, 2011

Box Score

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - For the third time in its last five games, the University of Utah softball team lost in eight innings, this time to Syracuse 4-3, Friday in the second day of the Cathedral City Classic at the Big League Dreams Sports Complex.

Facing a 3-0 deficit after three innings, Utah (5-9) came back with three runs of its own in the fourth and fifth frames to send the game to extras. Unfortunately, Syracuse was able to push its international tiebreaker runner across the plate for the game-winning score in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Junior pitcher Generra Nielson went 5.0 innings in her 10th start of the year while allowing one run on three hits with a season-high 12 strikeouts and only one walk. Unfortunately, the Blanding, Utah fell to 4-7 this season.

Senior catcher Brooke Olson, hitting from the leadoff position, was the only Ute to come up with multiple hits after going 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Three other Utah players, Hannah Clements, Cheyella Myers and Naomi Amu all registered a hit as well.

Syracuse got off to a quick start offensively with three runs in their first two at-bats, but would be held scoreless until the eighth frame.

Utah started its comeback with a pair of runs in the fourth inning as Ute runners were on second and third base with one out and Myers stepping to the plate. Myers then hit a timely two-run single to right-center field for her ninth and 10 RBI of the season.

In its fifth at-bat, Amu led off with a single to center field. With Sandi Bowles entering the game as a pinch runner for Amu, the Utes were able to advance her to third base after a groundout and fly out. Bowles came around to score the game-tying run after Olson singled through left side.

After holding Utah scoreless in the eighth inning, Syracuse started by laying down a sacrifice bunt to move the international tiebreaker runner to third base. A one-out single on a 1-1 pitch then allowed the Orange to plate the game-winner.

The Utes continue its Cathedral City Classic schedule by taking on No. 4/5 Florida tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. PT.