Utah Tech split a pair of pitcher's duels on Friday during the second day of play at the San Diego Torero Classic at USD Softball Diamond. The Trailblazers were blanked by Wichita State in their first game of the day, but managed to bounce back with a 2-1 triumph over FDU.
In the opener against Wichita State, Trailblazer pitcher
Kate Dolinski retired nine of the first 10 batters she faced over the first three innings. The fifth-year hurler set down nine-straight after she surrendered a lead-off single to Sydney McKinney, but the Shocker baserunner was thrown at second base trying to stretch hit into a double.
Meanwhile, WSU pitcher Lauren Howell was just as effective, as she limited Utah Tech to just one hit and two total baserunners through her first three innings of work.
However the Shockers (5-2) would solve Dolinski in the home fourth, striking for both their runs on a Sami Hood two-out, two-run triple.
UT (4-4) had a chance to tie or take the lead in the sixth, which started with a
Tanya Windle lead-off single.
Lauren Almeida followed with a base hit of her own with two outs in the frame, but Howell managed to end threat with a pop up on the infield. The Trailblazers were then retired in order in the seventh to end the game.
The Trailblazers tallied four hits in the loss, with Windle collecting two of the four safeties. Dolinski (L, 0-2) struck out two, but was saddled with the hard-luck loss despite only allowing four hits over six innings.
In the FDU win, the first four Utah Tech batters of the game reached base, with Windle starting the rally by getting hit by a pitch.
Carly Eldredge followed with a triple to right field to chase Windle home, while
LB Kahahawai-Kekona singled up the middle to plate Eldredge.
Then after Kahahawai-Kekona stole second, Almeida singled to put runners on the corners with no outs. However the Blazers could not push across another run as the Knights induced a groundout and an inning-ending double play.
Sophomore pitcher
Attlyn Johnston (W, 2-0) made the early lead stand as she retired the first 10 FDU hitters she faced with six strikeouts, including striking out the side in the third inning, and held the Knights to just one hit over five innings.
The Knights (3-3) managed to put together a two-out rally in the sixth when after an FDU single, Courtney Mahoney spoiled the shutout bid with an RBI-double to center to cut the Blazer lead in half. However Utah Tech avoided further damage when Mahoney was thrown out trying to steal third.
Johnston then worked around a one-out FDU double in the seventh to close out the complete game win. The sophomore finished with a season-high nine strikeouts and surrendered just one run and four hits to earn her second victory of the season.
Utah Tech pounded out four hits in game two, with Eldredge leading the way with two hits to go with her RBI and a stolen base.
Utah Tech concludes tournament play on Saturday with two more games, beginning with a rematch against Boise State at 12:30 p.m. (MT). The Trailblazers will then close out their weekend against host San Diego at 5:30 p.m. (MT).
