Utes Show Tremendous Fight in Doubleheader Defeat

Friday, February 14

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

2:00 PM

University of Utah

6-1

Texas

8-0

Utah

Texas

Utes Show Tremendous Fight in Doubleheader Defeat

2/14/2020 10:18 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Utah loses on walk-off to No. 6 Texas, see two-run lead slip vs. No. 12 Tennessee

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Utah Softball suffered a pair of difficult setbacks on Friday, falling 3-2 to No. 6 Texas and 8-5 to No. 12 Tennessee. The Utes led in both contests but could not secure a win in either game.

No. 6 Texas 3, Utah 2
The Utes surrendered two-run lead in the bottom of the seventh and fell to No. 6 Texas, 3-2

Halle Morris seemed a little nervous at the onset, loading the bases in the first inning before getting a fly ball to Alyssa Barrera in center. The freshman, making her first collegiate start in the circle, allowed just one run in six innings of work.

Morris pitching allowed Utah to build a lead, starting in the fourth. Alyssa Barrera reached via fielder's choice and after a walk to Ellessa Bonstrom, BreOnna Castaneda grounded to short. The Longhorns tried to turn two but the throw to first went awry, allowing Barrera to score the game's first run. It was the first time all season that the Longhorns had trailed in a contest.

The Utes added to their advantage in the fifth when Morris was hit with a pitch and Alyssa Palacios laid down a perfect bunt, resulting in no play at any base. Jordyn Gasper came on to pinch-run for Morris and after a wild pitch, the sophomore scored on a Haley Denning ground ball.

Utah had another chance to tack on some support in the sixth when Destiny Quiles doubled and Morris walked. However, Texas was able to escape the jam. The Longhorns finally threatened Morris again in the bottom half of the inning but the Ute hurler was able to induce a grounder to Noskin at short

Morris ran out of gas in the final frame, allowing back-to-back-home runs to Kaitlyn Slack and Reagan Hathaway. After a pair of bunts, one that went for a single and another that worked as a sacrifice, Colleen Sullivan walked it off with a RBI double.

No. 12 Tennessee 8, Utah 5
Utah saw a two-run lead slip away again in the nightcap vs. the Volunteers as they used a five-run fifth to erase the deficit.

Bouncing back from an emotional opener, Utah took an immediate lead as Hayley Denning singled, stole second and third, then scored on a Madi Jacobus grounder back to the circle.

The Utes could have added to their lead the next two innings, but could not get the big hit. With two gone in the second, Destiny Quiles singled and Makayla Hurst reached base. A walk to Julia Scardina loaded the bases but UT escaped unscathed. Utah put pressure on the Tennessee infielders in the third and forced a pair of errors. With Jacobus on third and Alyssa Barrera at second, Ellessa Bonstrom walked to load the bases. Unfortunately, a double play kept anyone from scoring.

The Vols created their own havoc in the bottom half, loading the bases on a throwing error, single and catcher's interference. The next batter was hit with a pitch to tie the score, 1-1

Tennessee went ahead in the next frame as a pair of infield hits with two on and two out made the tally, 2-1

It was almost a carbon copy of the first inning for Utah in the fifth. Denning singled, stole second and third again and scored on another ground ball by Jacobus. Denning's four stolen bases were the most in a game since Trina Gomez swiped three bags vs. Southern Utah in 2013.

With the game tied, Barrera was hit with a pitch and Bonstrom singled. A wild pitch brought home Jacobus and a BreOnna Castaneda sacrifice plated Bonstrom for a 4-2 lead.

UT took the lead for good during its at-bat. An infield hit and hit batter were followed by a Kaili Phillips RBI double. After a pitching change, Ashley Morgan singled to tie the score and Kiki Milloy blasted a three-run homer f0r a 7-4 advantage.

Tennessee added another run in the sixth for an 8-5 lead but Utah was not done. Jacobus walked, Barrera singled and an error loaded the bases to start the seventh. Castaneda singled to bring the tying run to the plate, but the Vols turned a double play and recorded the final out to preserve the win.

Utah has one contest tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT vs. Colorado State