Utah Softball Splits Opening Day Double Header
Opening day has come and gone as the Lady Utes began their quest to replicate and improve upon their magical 2023 season.
Utah is participating in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida, kicking off the season with a five-game slate. The first of two doubleheader days saw the Utes face off against Army and Missouri which they split, winning against the Black Knights and losing a close one to Mizzou.
Utah vs Army
It was 71 degrees and sunny for Utah's first game of the 2024 season and the Utes started off the campaign on the right foot, beating the Army Black Knights 7-2. Army scored first after a double down the right field line drove in a run, but the Utes quickly answered in the bottom of the inning as Leilani Melendez singled up the middle, allowing Julia Jimenz to cross home plate.
The Utes added to their total in the second inning after Haley Denning and Shonty Passi reached home on an Army error. Aliya Belarde also scored in the second after Jimenez grounded out to short, making the score 4-1 Utah.
Army closed the gap in the third inning after an error by Utah allowed a run in.
However, that was the last time the Black Knights would cross home plate as Denning reached home on an error and Belarde scored on a Karlie Davison single, bringing the Utes run total to 6 at the end of the fourth.
Denning reached home for a third time in the sixth after a successful double steal, giving the Utes a 7-2 lead and the victory, while Sarah Ladd grabbed her first win on the mound.
Utah vs Missouri
After a comfortable win to begin the year, the Utes attempted to tame the Tigers and end opening day undefeated, but lost a close one 3-4 as Mizzou snatched the win in the seventh.
Utah opened the scoring in the bottom of the first after Jimenez scored on a Davison single however, Mizzou leveled the score in the top of the second as a single to third brought in a run.
Denning stole home in the bottom of the fifth, giving the Utes a 2-1 lead. The Tigers answered right back in the top of the sixth after a single sneaked through the left side and drove in a run.
Missouri scored twice in the top of the seventh after two left-center doubles drove in a run-a-piece, making the score 4-2 going into the last half inning.
Jimenez doubled to right-center driving in Shelbi Ortiz, closing the gap to a run while moving Melendez to third however, that's where Melendez would remain as she was left stranded, ending the game and giving Mariah Lopez a loss on the mound.
Next up for the Utes is another doubleheader against Notre Dame and North Carolina Central as they'll look to go into the final day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic with only one loss under their belt.