TEMPE, Ariz. – Utah Softball allowed nine runs in the final inning, eight with two outs, and lost the finale at No. 18 Arizona State this afternoon, 18-17.
 
Despite scoring their most runs in a contest since joining the Pac-12, the Utes could not get out of the desert with a win. The 17 runs were also the most scored in a conference game since 2006 (18 vs. UNLV, MWC) and most ever scored in a league contest on the road in program history. Utah scored 17 runs on the road all of last season in Pac-12 play and its five home runs today were the most since 2012 (6 vs. SUU).
 
On the other hand, Utah pitching was hit hard all weekend, allowing 45 runs in three games to the most prolific offense in all of collegiate softball. The Sun Devils belted 12 home runs, five by Maddi Hackbarth, including three today.
 
The Utah bats started with a bang as Ally Dickman connected on her team-leading fifth homer in the first. The senior added another RBI in the second with a single that plated Makayla Hurst, but Dickman was thrown out trying to stretch for a double.
 
Maddi Hackbarth got ASU on the board, cranking a two-run shot that pulled the home side within one in the bottom half and later in the inning, her sister Kindra drilled a three-run homer to put the Sun Devils ahead 5-3.
 
Ellessa Bonstrom brought Utah back within a run by starting the third with her fourth dinger of the season. The inning continued as Alyssa Barrera was hit with a pitch and BreOnna Castaneda singled. Hurst came through with a two-run double that put the Utes back in front, 6-5.
 
In the third, Abby Robertson walked and Julia Noskin singled to load the bases for Dickman who continued to have an amazing day at the plate, slapping the first pitch for a two-run single that extended the Utah lead. With four hits on the day, she capped the weekend with a .455 batting average
 
Barrera singled and Castaneda was plunked, putting a pair on in the fourth. After a second out, Hurst was also hit with a pitch and the ball scooted away, allowing Barrera to come in for another run. Robertson singled through the left side pushing the Utes into double digits on the day.
 
Utah registered three hits in a row to start the fifth, as singles by Dickman, Bonstrom and Barrera loaded them up. Hailey Hilburn lifted a sac fly to bring in another run and after Castaneda was hit to re-load the bases, Katie Faulk laced a two-run double down the line for a 13-5 lead.
 
However, ASU was not done. Jade Gortarez delivered a two-run double and Maddi Hackbarth homered for a second time to bring the Sun Devils to within 13-9 at the end of five.
 
The Utes knew they had to continue their offensive onslaught as Robertson belted her first collegiate homer, Castaneda followed in the seventh with her third of the season, a two-run blast, and Faulk made it five dingers on the day to put them ahead 17-9 entering the bottom of the seventh.
 
Maddi Hackbarth started it off with a solo HR and with two outs, her sister Kindra, continued her strong play with a three-run drive, to make it 17-13. After a hit batter and walk, Jade Gortarez doubled to tack on another. A pair of walks brought ASU within two and the bases were loaded for freshman Ali Tatnall.  She came up clutch with a bases-clearing walk-off triple to secure the sweep for the Sun Devils.
 
The Utes have a non-conference game on Wednesday afternoon at Weber State before hosting No. 2 Oklahoma on Saturday and Sunday.