Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Utah
Rams Drop Two At Home
4/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 14, 2006
Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score
Fort Collins, Colo. - The Colorado State University softball team (22-14, 3-5 MWC) dropped both home games of a conference double header with the Utah Utes (25-12, 4-2 MWC) on Friday. The Utes defeated the Rams by a final of 5-4 in game one, followed by a 7-4 loss in game two.
In game one, the Utes started the scoring when senior Jackie Wong doubled to left center. Freshman Jessica Shiery reached on a fielder's choice. Junior Devina Quintero hit a one-run double to score Shiery, putting the Utes on top 1-0.
The Rams answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Tara Harbert walked before stealing second base, her 25th stolen base of the season. Junior Jessica Strickland hit her second triple of the season to score Harbert to tie the game at one. Strickland scored the Rams' second run the next play on a wild pitch by Ute pitcher Meghan Dyer.
The Utes answered in the top of the second inning, tying the game 2-2. Freshman Andrea Hoffman singled and advanced to second base on a sac bunt by sophomore Meghan Crouse. Wong followed with a single through the right side and then stole second base. Sophomore Diana Phillips singled to third base to score Hoffman.
Utah added two runs in the top of the fifth inning with the help of a Ram error. Pinch runner sophomore Kelly Matthews scored on freshman Shannon Causgrove's error and Crouse singled to shortstop to score freshman Staci Hemingway and give the Utes a 4-2 advantage.
Harbert and Strickland led with singles in the bottom of the fifth inning and advanced on a sac bunt by Cusick. Harbert scored on another sac bunt by sophomore Julia Kloppe. Freshman Renee Welty walked and Strickland scored the last Ram run on a passed ball, tying the game at four.
Utah freshman Staci Hemingway hit a game-winning home run in the top of the seventh inning, closing the game up 5-4.
Junior Jessica Strickland falls to 9-10 on the season, pitching the complete game for the Rams. She allowed eleven hits and five runs while striking out two batters.
In the second game, Utah opened scoring in the top of the first with singles from Wong and Phillips. Wong scored on a single from Shiery to give the Utes a 1-0 lead. Phillips scored on a sac bunt by Quintero. Sophomore Sharee Fonoti doubled to left field before scoring on a single by Hernandez to close the inning up 3-0.
The Utes posted another run in the top of the third inning off of a home run by Shiery to push the lead to 4-0.
The Rams' offense responded with four runs in the bottom of the third inning when senior Katie Dean led with a double to left field. Senior Jennifer Gardner singled to third base before Strickland reached on a Ute error and Dean scored. Gardner scored on a double by sophomore Lauren Cusick to bring the Rams within two runs. Strickland and Cusick scored on a single by Kloppe and another Ute error to tie the game.
The Utes' offense bounced back to take the second game of the day in the seventh inning when Hemingway reached on a fielder's choice. Crouse singled up the middle and advanced on the throw. Wong singled up the middle to score Hemingway. Wong stole second base before Crouse and Wong scored on a double by Phillips, putting the Utes up 7-4.
Freshman Kim Klabough picked up the loss for the Rams, dropping to 12-4 this season. She allowed seven runs on nine hits and struck out two batters.
The Rams will continue Mountain West Conference play on their home field with a double header against BYU tomorrow. The first game of the double header is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. MT.
