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Softball Splits a Pair at Kajikawa Classic Utes fall to No. 13 Texas A&M, top Nevada.
Feb. 11, 2007 TEMPE, Ariz. - The University of Utah softball team rebounded from a rough start here at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., this afternoon. After dropping an error-riddled game one to Texas A&M, 10-3, the Utes rebounded to top Nevada, 10-6. With the split this afternoon, the Utes improve to 1-2-1 on the year. Texas A&M improves to 4-0 while Nevada slips to 0-4 on the year. "We started the night out tentative," said head coach Angie Jacobs. "We faced an A&M team that was aggressive, powerful and speedy and they caught us on our heels. But, Karina tossed a good game against the Aggies. We had a lot of errors but that happens sometimes this early in the season. "However, we were able to put A&M behind us, learn from that experience, and beat Nevada in the second game. Our challenge now is to become consistent with our effort and our focus and to finish the tournament strong against Texas." Utah gave up nine unearned runs in chalking up eight errors in the seven-run loss to the Aggies. The Utes returned to plate a run in all but two innings, scoring six in the sixth frame, in rallying from a 2-1 deficit to best the Wolfpack. Cannon took the loss in the first game while Dyer got the nod and the win in game two. Leading the offense today was Diana Phillips (3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and three walks), and Kara Foster (3-for-6, with two home runs and seven RBI). There's still one more game left in this, the season-opening tournament. In a re-match of one of the NCAA Regional Finals from last season, Utah will play Texas at 9 a.m. No. 13 Texas A&M 10, Utah 3
The Aggies built a 5-0 lead in the first innings thanks to five Ute errors. Utah battled back to within two with one swing of the bat. Kara Foster's homer in the third was a three-run shot over the fence in right-center field. It plated Diana Phillips and Meghan Crouse, both of whom legged out infield hits. But the error bug continued to plague the Utes who would surrender five more runs in the ensuing four innings. Only one of those runs were earned. A&M scattered 10 hits across the diamond while Utah banged out four. Three of Utah's hits came from the top of the order. Utah 10, Nevada 6 Foster's homer was just one of 11 hits for the Utes during the game as five of them had a pair of hits in the game. Phillips went 2-for-2 with two walks against Nevada. Foster, Staci Hemingway, Kristie Keller and Tori Medina all were 2-for-4. In addition to the stellar offensive performance, Dyer tossed a gem in the circle. She gave up six hits but fanned 16 Wolfpack batters. She only walked one batter. Nevada scored two unearned runs in the first and Brittany Puzey doubled that with a two-run shot in the sixth. A sac fly and infield single scored the final two runs of the game for Nevada. |
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