Coach Heather Tarr and the Washington Huskies couldn’t muster enough offense to hang with the Utah Utes on Friday night, losing the opening matchup of their final series of Pac-12 play 5-4.
The Huskies got off to a hot start thanks to a two-run double from Brooklyn Carter, but Utah tied the game in the fourth inning with two unearned runs coming across on a single from Shonty Passy.
Brooke Nelson’s solo home run in the fifth inning was her twelfth of the season, tying her for the team lead and giving Washington a 3-2 advantage. The Utes responded with 3 runs in the bottom of the frame, two of which came on a double from Abby Dayton.
CRUSHED 💥
Brooke with her 12th home run of the season to re-take the lead!
T5 | 🐶 3 🔴 2
📺 Pac-12 Mountain
📲 https://t.co/wv8hMv2sTX
📊 https://t.co/bQO1uLhDcv pic.twitter.com/FbgolsbeoW— Washington Softball (@UWSoftball) May 4, 2024
Rylee Holtorf hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to cut the deficit to 5-4, but the Huskies couldn’t push another run across in the final frame.
Ruby Meylan took the loss for Washington, falling to 9-8 on the year after working 4 1/3 innings and allowing 5 hits, 3 walks, and 5 runs (3 earned) against 3 strikeouts. She was relieved by Sidne Peters, who went the final 1 2/3, allowing no baserunners and striking out 2 batters.
Mariah Lopez earned the win for Utah to improve her record to 20-10 on the season as she threw a complete game, allowing 9 hits, 2 walks, and 4 runs while recording 3 strikeouts.
With the loss, the Huskies fell to 31-11 on the season and 13-9 in conference play, while the Utes improved to 31-19 overall, and 9-13 against Pac-12 opponents. Tarr’s team has now lost 4 of its last 5 games and will look to get back on track in the second matchup of the three-game series, set to begin on Saturday morning at 11:00.