Utah Softball Splits on Day One of Kajikawa Classic

Friday, February 10

Tempe, Ariz.

6:30 PM

University of Utah

Western Michigan

Utah Softball Splits on Day One of Kajikawa Classic

2/10/2012 12:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 10, 2012

TEMPE, Ariz. - Senior third baseman Whitney Holm hit her first two home runs of the season and the University of Utah softball team split a pair of games on the opening day of the 2012 season Friday at the Kajikawa Classic.

The Utes (1-1) opened 2012 with a 14-2 loss to former Mountain West Conference foe San Diego State Friday in the Kajikawa Classic at the Tempe Sports Complex, but bounced back with a 5-0 shutout win over Western Michigan in the nightcap.

Holm went 3-for-6 at the plate on the day with two home runs and three RBI. Holm, a Spanish Fork, Utah native, is now two home runs short of moving into fifth place on the school's all-time list.

In her Ute debut, freshman Kate Dickman posted a team-high four hits, including an RBI and a double. Senior Hannah Clements and junior Shay Wallace both also came up with a pair of hits on the day as well.

On the mound, senior Generra Nielson took the decision in both games. She pitched 12.0 innings on the day, allowing a total of five earned runs on nine hits with 12 strikeouts, compared to just three walks. The Blanding, Utah native now owns 210 career strikeouts as a Ute.

Utah def. Western Michigan, 5-0
Box Score

In the second game of the day, Nielson threw her first complete games this season and the 12th of her career in a 5-0 complete-game shutout effort. In 7.0 innings in the circle, she allowed only three hits while striking out seven and only walking one Bronco.

Utah scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second frame when Holm drew a one-out walk then took second base after a Bronco passed ball. Holm scored her second run of the day when Dickman hit an RBI single past the WMU first baseman to put the Utes ahead 1-0.

Tia Palauni drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the third frame to push Jackie Sweet across the place for Palauni's first RBI of the season and the 63rd of her career.

Holm blasted a two-run shot to right-center field to push Utah's lead to 4-0. Junior Katelyn Elliot connected for her second career home run, and her first this season, in the bottom of the sixth inning to set the final score at 5-0 in favor of the Utes.

In the top of the seventh inning, Holm also flashed some leather as she robbed WMU of a line drive base hit to secure the first out of the frame.

San Diego State def. Utah, 14-2
Box Score

Holm was the lone Ute with multiple hits as she went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the opener. Kelsi Hoopiiaina, Joni Cook, Palauni, Dickman, Hannah Clements, Shay Wallace and Sweet all collected one hit apiece for the Utes against the Aztecs.

All three Utah pitchers appeared in the game as Nielson made the first start of her senior year. She allowed only one hit through the first three innings and kept SDSU scoreless through four. In five innings of action, Nielson allowed five earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Sophomore Naomi Amu and freshman Mariah Ramirez spelled Nielson in relief.

After two scoreless innings to start the game, Utah broke through and scored the first run of the contest in the bottom of the third when Sweet led with a single up the middle then advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a pop out and a fly out for two outs, Sweet crossed the plate after a pop fly was dropped by SDSU's first baseman.

The Utes kept their momentum going as they started their fourth-inning at-bat with Holm ripping a single to center field then Dickman came through with her first career hit, a ground-rule double to left-center field. Unfortunately, Utah could not push a run across the plate.

SDSU took the lead for the first time with a two-run home run over the left-center field fence to give the Aztecs a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. They added a third run in that frame then scored six more in the sixth.

Holm then cracked her first home run of the season and the 29th of her career in bottom of the sixth.

The Aztecs were able to put five more runs on the board to push their lead to 12 and make the final margin, 14-2.

The Utes next take on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos tomorrow at 8:30 p.m.