Utes Fall to No. 25 Titans at UNLV Classic

Saturday, February 14

Las Vegas, Nev. (Eller Media Stadium)

1:30 PM

University of Utah

#25 Cal State Fullerton

2/14/2015 12:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 14, 2015

Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Utah softball team dropped a 4-3 decision to No. 25-ranked Cal State Fullerton in the first of two games in the UNLV Classic at Eller Media Stadium on Saturday.

The Utes opened the game with two quick runs, but a late solo home run from the Titans would eventually lead to the CSUF victory. Utah fell to 4-4 with the loss and CSUF moved to 7-2 overall with the win.

Hannah Flippen led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk and she moved over to second on a single from Kate Dickman. Flippen later scored on a throwing error from CSUF's third baseman and Dickman scored the game's second run on Anissa Urtez's RBI-ground out to give the Utes an early 2-0 lead.

After two innings of no-hit softball, Miranda Viramontes finally yielded her first hit in the top of the third inning and that would lead to another pair of hits, which included a bases-clearing double from Eliza Crawford that gave the Titans its first lead, up a 3-2.

Heather Bowen knotted things up with an RBI-double in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kristen Stewart, who led off the inning with a single, came around to score on the play to tie the game 3-3.

CSUF's Missy Taukeiaho countered Utah's tying-run with a solo blast in the top of the fifth inning, which put the Titans back on top, 4-3. The Utes would threaten with runners in scoring position over its last three at bats, but CSUF would end up coming unscathed to hand Utah its first loss in its last five games.

Viramontes (L, 2-3) gave up four runs on five hits, walked a pair and struck out two batters as well, while taking the loss to the Titans. Katie Donovan, who relieved Viramontes in the fifth inning, went the rest of the way and she did not allow a run and gave up just one hit in her 2.2 innings of duty.

CSUF's Christina Washington (W, 4-0) picked up her fourth win of the season after earning the victory in 2.2 innings of relief. She gave up just one hit and did not allow a run. CSUF starter Desiree Ybarra got the no-decision after giving up three runs on four hits in her 4.1 innings of work.

The Utes will be back in action later this afternoon, taking on Cal State Northridge at Craig Park in Henderson, Nev. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PT).