Utah Softball Downs Florida State, 5-4

Saturday, March 5

Tallahassee, Fla.

3:00 PM

University of Utah

Florida State

3/5/2011 12:00 AM | Softball

March 5, 2011

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Junior first baseman Tia Palauni's game-winning home run in the top of the seventh inning gave the University of Utah softball team a 5-4 victory over Florida State Saturday in the second game of the first day of the Big 10/MWC/ACC Challenge at JoAnne Graf Field. The Utes fell to Wisconsin in the first game of the day, 5-3.

Utah (7-12) received solid pitching throughout the day from Generra Nielson, who threw 10.0 innings and allowed only four earned runs on eight hits. The Blanding, Utah native fanned 11 batters while only yielding one walk.

The Ute offense was led by a 2-for-4, three-RBI performance by Chalese Fankhauser, while Palauni went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs driven in.

Wisconsin def. Utah, 5-3
Wisconsin Box Score

Five different Utes had hits, including Fankhauser, who hit a two run double in the fourth inning. Fankhauser was 1-for-2 in the game, while Cheyella Myers, Palauni, Jackie Sweet and Hannah Clements also turned in hits for Utah.

Naomi Amu went 2.1 innings in her sixth start of the season and allowed two earned runs on four hits to go with a pair of strikeouts. Brittany Parker made her sixth appearance this season before Nielson came on to pitch the final three innings. She did not allow an earned run and only gave up five hits while striking out five Badger hitters. With the loss, Amu's record fell to 1-4 on the year.

Utah scored first for the 11th time this season after putting together a two-out rally in the top of the first inning. Myers singled to the left side of the Wisconsin defensive alignment then Palauni lined a double to center field that allowed Myers to score from second base.

Wisconsin took the lead for good in the third inning when it scored four runs, beginning with a solo home run to center by Kendall Grimm. UW's Karla Powell followed with a three-run home run to left-center field.

The Utes countered with two runs in the fourth as Myers and Palauni started things off by drawing walks. A groundout by Joni Cook advanced Myers and Palauni to second and third base before Fankhauser stepped to the plate with two out. Fankhauser quickly drove a 2-0 delivery down the left-field line to score Myers and Palauni for her seventh and eighth RBI of the season to bring Utah within a run, 4-3.

Unfortunately, Utah was unable to score for the remainder of the game and Wisconsin tacked on an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth to secure the 5-3 victory.

Wisconsin (5-2) starting pitcher Cassandra Darrah allowed three runs on five hits with six strikeouts in a complete-game effort that moved her record to 3-0 this season.

Utah def. Florida State, 5-4
Florida State Box Score

Brooke Olson was 2-for-4 at the plate against the Seminoles while five other Utes registered hits and five different Utah players were credited with an RBI apiece.

In her eighth start this season, Nielson picked up her seventh win in 2011 with her fourth complete game of the year against FSU. In 7.0 innings, allowed four earned runs on six hits to go with six strikeouts and only one walk. Nielson is now 7-8 on the year.

For the 12th time this season, Utah got on the scoreboard first when Tara Glover led off the third inning with a single then Fankhauser drew a walk. Myers was able to hit an RBI single to score Sweet and give Utah a 1-0 lead.

Utah pushed its advantage to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning as Sweet reached on a Seminole throwing error then Olson laid down a bunt single that allowed Sweet to advance to third base. Whitney Holm then slapped an RBI single to right field on a 3-1 pitch. Fankhauser then clocked a double to left field to score Olson and give Fankhauser her seventh RBI of the year.

FSU struck back with a pair of runs in their half of the fourth, but the Utes came back with a run in the sixth frame. Kelsi Hoopiiaina cracked her first home run of the season, the fifth of her career.

The Seminoles scored twice in the sixth to tie the game for the first time but the Utes added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Palauni's sixth home run of the season set the final margin at 5-4.

Florida State (10-8) was led by a 2-for-3, two RBI performance from Jen Lapicki. Sarah Hamilton threw a complete game, allowing three earned runs on eight hits, but fell to 4-5 this season.

The Utes conclude the Big 10/MWC/ACC Challenge tomorrow against Wisconsin at 9 a.m. ET and host Florida State at 11 a.m. ET.