Utes drop first game of NCAA Tournament, 2-1
DURHAM, N.C. (ABC4 Sports) – The Utah offense did not show up in its first NCAA Tournament game in a 2-1 loss to South Carolina Friday afternoon.
Utah will have to now win twice on Saturday and twice on Sunday to advance to the Super Regionals for a second straight season.
“We didn’t play our best today,” said head coach Amy Hogue. “We were prepared, yet had some second guessing and some uncomfortable at bats, and it carried too far into the game. Before you knew it, we were running out of outs. Pretty disappointing on day one to come out that flat.”
Mariah Lopez had one tough inning against the Gamecocks, allowing two runs in the third inning to get the loss.
The Utes scored the first run of the game in the top of the third. Aliya Belarde opened the inning with a double, and came around to score on a double to center by Abby Dayton. But that would be the only run of the game for Utah.
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In the bottom of the third, South Carolina put runners on second and third with nobody out. Jen Cummings lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring the tying run. Aniyah Black then singled home the go-ahead run with two outs to give the Gamecocks a 2-1 lead.
That was enough for South Carolina pitcher Alana Vawter, who tossed a complete game, giving up just one run on four hits, while striking out four batters. Utah had just one batter get past second base all game long.
“I think it was ourselves,” Dayton said. “We were in our heads a lot. I don’t think there’s a pitcher out there that can keep this offense from hitting. When we don’t hit, it’s definitely ourselves. We’re getting ourselves out. I think we just need to control the strike zone.”
Lopez also went the distance, giving up two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts.
Belarde went 2-for-4, while Karlie Davison had the other hit for the Utes, a single in the seventh inning.
Utah will now face Morgan State, who lost to #10 Duke 6-1, Saturday at 11:30 a.m. If Utah loses, they will be eliminated, but if they win, they will play the loser of the Duke-South Carolina game at 2:00 p.m.
“I’m just reminding the team that we didn’t play our best today, and that if we stick to who we are tomorrow we’ll be okay,” Lopez said. “No matter who we play.”
Last season, Utah advanced to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 1994.
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