The University of Utah softball team announced on Apr. 27 that it will host the Utah Valley Wolverines on Tuesday at Dumke Family Softball Stadium, followed by a three-game series against No. 19/20 Arizona Wildcats as part of its final week of the regular season.
This stretch is important for the Utes as they compete for a spot in the Big 12 Tournament, with only the top eight teams qualifying. The tournament is scheduled to begin on May 7 in Oklahoma City.
Tuesday’s game against Utah Valley will feature Strike Out Cancer Day, where players will wear pink uniforms and representatives from Swing for Life will be present to support breast cancer awareness. The weekend series versus Arizona marks Senior and Alumni Weekend, during which seniors Kate Blunt, Emily Capobianco, Brooklyn Carreon, Taylor Jacobs, Kayla Lyon, Raci Miranda, Anna Reimers and Hailee White will be honored. Fans attending Friday’s game can receive Senior Rally Towels and sign posters for graduating players; Saturday includes postgame autographs while Sunday concludes with an on-field ceremony for all seniors.
Utah enters this week ranked seventh in the Big 12 Conference standings. The team holds a narrow lead over Arizona State and Iowa State as it aims to secure a postseason berth. Several players have been recognized for their performances: Mia Gomez was named to the NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 list after leading many offensive categories including batting average (.386), slugging percentage (.673), RBIs (41), and home runs (11). Fellow freshmen Payton Crank, Danika Wilson and Cian Noli are also candidates for All-Freshman Team honors due to their strong contributions at bat.
In pitching, Shelbee Jones, Hailee Maestretti and Raci Miranda have consistently started games throughout the season with earned run averages placing them among conference leaders. Maestretti’s six shutouts tie her for most in the Big 12 this year; Jones ranks fifth in strikeouts with ninety recorded so far.
The upcoming opponents include Utah Valley—who are set to finish with a winning record away from home—and Arizona Wildcats who hold one of the best records in conference play driven by high offensive output.
