Utah Softball Extends Win Streak to Five

Saturday, February 25

Greensboro, N.C.

11:00 AM

University of Utah

Rider

2/25/2012 12:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 25, 2012

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Senior first baseman Tia Palauni had four hits in five at-bats, including her first home run of the season, to help the University of Utah softball team defeat Rider (14-2 in six innings) and UNC Greensboro (3-1) Saturday at UNCG Softball Field.

Utah (9-3) has won five straight games and eight of its last nine. The Utes outscored their opponents on the day, 17-3, and outhit their opponents, .340 to .163.

Palauni hit a home run, one double and two singles, while scoring a run and driving in one. Palauni, a Taylorsville, Utah native, has 10 home runs over her career.

Senior pitcher Generra Nielson struck out a career-high 16 hitters in the second game of the day against the UNC Greensboro Spartans.

Utah def. Rider, 14-2 (6 innings)
Box Score

Junior second baseman Jackie Sweet had three hits in three at-bats and three runs scored, while she also drove in four runs.

Junior shortstop Kelsi Hoopiiaina drove in four runs on one hit and three walks against the Broncs.

Sophomore Naomi Amu went 3.0 innings, while allowing only one hit and striking out three. Freshman Mariah Ramirez picked up her first career win after pitching the final three innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits to go with five strikeouts. The Hawaiian Gardens, Calif., native is now 1-1 this season.

Utah opened up the scoring with five runs in the top of the second. The first two Ute hitters drew walks before Shay Wallace smacked an RBI single to center, her second RBI of the year. Sweet followed with another RBI single up the middle, before Hoopiiaina cracked a 1-0 pitch to left-center field for a three-run homer.

The Utes tacked on two runs as Hoopiiaina drew a bases-loaded walk for her fourth RBI of the game, and Naomi Amu scored the second run of the frame off a Spartan wild pitch to put Utah ahead 7-0.

Rider got on the board with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning, before Utah got one back in the top of the fifth. Sweet led off with a single to center field and would score when Kendal Bergman drew a bases-loaded walk.

Utah put the run-rule into effect after it exploded for a six-run sixth inning, beginning with walks drawn by Hannah Clements and Desaray Akins. Freshman Mariah Ramirez knocked in Clements for Utah's first run with a single to left-center field for her second RBI of the season. Sweet cleared the bases with a three-run home run on a 3-1 pitch, which was her first round-tripper this season and the fourth of her Utah career. Junior Katelyn Elliott reached base on a passed ball with two out then advanced to second base after Bergman drew a walk. Elliott scored on a single by senior third baseman Whitney Holm, her 20th RBI of the season, and Bergman scored Utah's 14th and final run on a Rider wild pitch.

Utah def. UNC Greensboro, 3-1
Box Score

Nielson threw her sixth complete-game of the year and the 17th of her career. In 7.0 innings against the Spartans, Nielson allowed only one earned run on three hits, while striking out 16 and only walking three.

Palauni went 3-for-3 at the plate to bolster the Utah offense.

UNCG struck first when Katelyn Bedwell led off the second inning with a solo home run over the left-field fence for the Spartan's only score of the game.

In the bottom of the third inning, Sandi Bowles, Hoopiiaina and Palauni each singled to load the bases. Senior Joni Cook launched a sacrifice fly to center field to push Bowles across the plate for the equalizer.

The Utes seized control of the game with two runs in the top of the fifth, which began with junior catcher Shay Wallace's second double of the year. Freshman Kate Dickman came on to pinch run and scored off another sacrifice fly by the Utes, this one was hit to right field by Hoopiiaina. Palauni followed by homering a 3-1 pitch over the left-center field fence for her first round-tripper of the season.

Utah concludes the Spartan Classic with two more games tomorrow, starting at 10 a.m. ET against Drexel and then against Rider at 12 p.m. ET.