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Softball Wraps Up Four-Game Series at Washington

by Utah Athletics
May 9, 2021

SEATTLE – For the second day in a row, the Utah softball team scored the first run of the game at No. 5 Washington, but the Utes were unable to build on the 1-0 lead and succumbed to the powerful hitting of the host Huskies en route to an 11-4 loss at Husky Softball Stadium. Washington secured the four-game series sweep to improve to 39-9 on the season (16-4 Pac-12), pounding out seven extra-base hits, including six doubles.
 
Washington scored seven runs in the third inning to erase the 1-0 Utah lead, and added two more in the fourth to threaten to end the game early by run-rule. Utah, however, responded with three runs in the top of the fifth with their backs against the wall. With one out, a walk to Alyssa Palacios and a single by Elicia Espinosa put runners on first and second base. Aliya Belarde ran for Palacios and Makenna Calderon ran for Espinosa, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Haley Denning to move the runners to 2nd & 3rd.

Julia Noskin stepped up and tripled to score Belarde and Calderon, and Ellessa Bonstrom singled to bring home Noskin, trimming the deficit to 9-4.
 
Utah's opening run came in the second inning when Alyssa Barrera led off with a single and a bunt single by Destiny Quiles put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt by Jordyn Gasper moved the runners to second and third with one out. Sophie Jacquez ran for Quiles and AJ Militello stepped up and drove in Barrera with a single to left-center.
 
Utah used four pitchers in the ballgame, with starter Sydney Sandez (11-10) taking the loss.

STANDOUT STAT
Alyssa Barrera went 2-for-3 today and now has 239 career hits, just six hits away from entering Utah's top five all-time.
 
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Amy Hogue
"We brought everything we had today, but still fell short. I was proud of the grit we showed all the way through our lineup. Making them have to go back to their starting pitcher was a win for us, but none of us are OK with leaving here without a win. This group isn't done yet. One more home series to play. Lots more to still work on and some wins in front of us next weekend."

NOTABLE

  • The fifth-inning triple by Julia Noskin was the second of her career, and first since 2019. It was the 13th of the year for the Utes, led by the five of Haley Denning.
  • Ellessa Bonstrom RBI single in the fifth inning today was her 40th of the year, extending her team-leading total for the year
  • Utah's seven hits today were its most against a Pac-12 opponent since also recording seven at Cal on April 11.

ON DECK
The Utes return home for their final series of the 2021 regular season, and will honor their seniors with Senior Day recognition on Saturday, May 15. The series begins Thursday at 6 p.m., and the games will be televised by Pac-12 Networks.

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