SALT LAKE CITY – Sophie Jacquez ripped a go-ahead, two-run double in the bottom of the sixth, Mariah Lopez fired seven innings of one-run ball and the University of Utah softball team eliminated a sixth-inning deficit to notch a 3-1 win over the BYU Cougars on Monday evening at Dumke Family Softball Stadium in Salt Lake City.
Utah's record improves to 16-11 through 27 games, while the Cougars drop to 16-10.
Two excellent pitching performances were the story through five innings, with BYU recording the only run on a Keila Kamoku RBI double in the second. That was all the visitors could get against Lopez, however, who benefitted from an Abby Dayton throw in the first that cut down a runner at the plate. She also wriggled out of a third inning jam, stranding runners on first and third by inducing a pair of lineouts.
Through five stanzas, the Utah lineup could manage only one hit off BYU's Gianna Mares, but the Utes came to life in the sixth. A lead-off walk to Hailee White was followed by a Haley Denning bunt hit and an error loaded the bases with nobody out moments later. Dayton plated the home team's first run of the evening with a sacrifice fly and, two batters later, it was Jacquez at the dish with runners on second and third. Utah's designated player worked the count to 1-1, then roped a line drive into right-center that sent both runners across and made the score 3-1.
B6 | The Utes. Have. The Lead.
That's a two-run double by @sophiejacqq!
?? https://t.co/1shkI2GVia
?? https://t.co/Op3jsxYo6I#GoUtes /// #SOTL pic.twitter.com/3UKPjN86ah— Utah Softball (@Utah_Softball) March 19, 2024
The Cougars put their lead-off hitter on in the seventh, but Julia Jimenez then snared a line drive and turned it into a double play for the first two outs of the frame. When Aliya Belarde squeezed a popup by the next hitter, the Utes had their second straight win over the team down south.
UTES WIN! @alibelarde1 hauls in the final out in a Utah win over the team down south!#GoUtes /// #SOTL pic.twitter.com/mVNOC2AIYU
— Utah Softball (@Utah_Softball) March 19, 2024
Up Next
Utah's next opportunity will come on Wednesday, when they'll host Boise State at 4 p.m.
Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2024 campaign are now available. Fans can purchase season tickets by calling the Utah ticket office at 801-581-8849 or visit www.utahtickets.com/softball/.
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