SALT LAKE CITY –
Shelbee Jones threw the 32
nd no-hitter in program history,
Mia Gomez knocked in seven runs and the No. 25 University of Utah softball team walloped the Abilene Christian Wildcats twice on Wednesday afternoon, winning the first matchup 13-3 followed by a 13-0 shutout in the second contest at Dumke Family Softball Stadium in Salt Lake City.
Utah's 13-game win streak ties a program record set in 1997 and the Utes now own a mark of 23-5.
GAME ONE
After a scoreless first, the Utes got on the board three times in the second, which started with singles from
Shonty Passi and
Payton Crank. Passi crossed the plate on an error, a bases-loaded walk to Gomez made it 2-0 and
Kennedy Proctor sent the third run across with a sacrifice fly. A sacrifice fly from
Cian Noli boosted the lead to 4-0 in the third.
In the fourth, the Utes went off for nine runs, their third nine-run inning of the season. It started with a triple from
Hailee White, who scored three pitches later on an error. A walk brought up
Danika Wilson, who belted a three-run homer over the wall in right for an 8-3 lead.
Consecutive errors kept the line moving and Noli tallied both runners with a double. An RBI two-bagger from Gomez and a run-scoring triple off the bat of Proctor capped the scoring in the fourth. In the circle,
Hailey Maestretti got all 15 outs, holding ACU to three runs to improve to 8-1
GAME TWO
For all five innings, Jones was in complete control. She retired the side in order in each of the first three frames and struck out the side in the second. A two-out walk in the fourth inning was the only baserunner the Wildcats would manage before Jones closed the afternoon in style. She added two more punchouts to her total in the seventh, including one for the final out, her ninth of the day.
Jones' no-no is the first by a Ute pitcher since Sarah Ladd's perfect game against Utah Tech on March 3, 2024.
Utah's offense was no less impressive, reaching double figures for the fourth straight game. An RBI single by
Izzy Cruz and another by White that, combined with an error, sent three runners across, put the Utes up by four after two innings. Noli added a two-run knock in the third to make the score 6-0.
Gomez started another offensive onslaught in the fourth with a two-run homer that extended her on-base streak to 28 games. Passi tacked on two more with an RBI double and later scored on a sacrifice fly courtesy of Crank. The final two runs of the day came across on singles by White and Gomez.
Up Next
The Utes and the Wildcats will meet again on Thursday at 12 p.m.
FOLLOW THE UTES!
Fans can follow along on social media (Twitter:
@Utah_Softball |Instagram:
@utahsoftball | Facebook:
Facebook.com/Utessoftball).