The University of Utah softball team lost to the top-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders, 7-1, on Sunday afternoon in a Big 12 Conference game at Dumke Family Softball Stadium in Salt Lake City, according to an April 12 announcement.
This game was significant as it matched the Utes against the No. 1 ranked team and provided a test for their pitching and defense. The result brings Utah’s overall record to 27-15-1 and their conference record to 5-9-1 for the season.
Starting pitcher Shelbee Jones held Texas Tech to one run through five innings, with her only early blemish being a home run by Taylor Pannell in the second inning. Jones allowed just one hit until the sixth inning and had a stretch where she retired six of seven batters during the fourth and fifth innings. However, Texas Tech expanded its lead with two more home runs in the sixth inning, making it 4-0.
Utah managed to score once in the bottom of the sixth after Kennedy Proctor led off with a double and advanced on an error before Cian Noli drove her home with an RBI single. Despite this effort, Utah could not close the gap further as Texas Tech added three more runs in the seventh inning while keeping Utah scoreless for the remainder of the game.
Looking ahead, Utah will host Montana for a doubleheader at home on Wednesday starting at 3 p.m., giving them another opportunity to improve their record.
