Softball Announces Fall Schedule
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Softball program announced its 2021 Fall Ball schedule Friday, with nine of the 10 games to be played on campus at Dumke Family Softball Stadium. The first game is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 23 against Utah Valley University at 4 p.m.
The Utes will host Boise State for a doubleheader on Saturday, Oct. 2, beginning at 1 p.m., followed by a trip to UVU on Tuesday, Oct., 5, at 4 p.m. Utah will host Dixie State and Weber State on Oct. 9-10, with the Utes taking on both on Saturday, Oct. 9, and finishing with a single game against Dixie State on Sunday, Oct. 10. WSU and DSU will square off to open the weekend on Saturday, Oct. 9 at 10:30 a.m.
The fall schedule rolls on with a pair of Red-White scrimmages scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 12 (11 a.m.) and Wednesday, Oct. 13 (9 a.m.), and concludes with a home contest against Salt Lake Community College on Friday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m.
Head coach Amy Hogue, entering her 15th season and inducted recently into the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame, leads a talented Utes roster that features the return of second-team All-Pac-12 standout Haley Denning and third-team choice Ellessa Bonstrom. Denning also earned first-team NFCA All-Pacific Region honors, and was joined by third-team selection Halle Morris.
The roster is bolstered by two high-profile incoming transfers and two exciting additions to the coaching staff. Infielder Juliana Jimenez joins the Utes from Michigan where she earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore in 2021, and pitcher Shi Smith comes to Salt Lake City as a graduate transfer from Seattle University, where she was first-team All-WAC in 2021.
Joining Hogue and assistant coach D.J. Gasso on the coaching staff is new assistant coach Paige Parker, who will coach the pitchers after a stellar career at Oklahoma that included two national championships and a Big 12 Pitcher of the Year award. Former UCLA All-American Allexis "Chip" Bennett joins the staff as a volunteer assistant after playing professionally since the conclusion of her stellar career with the Bruins.