Junior third baseman Peyton Holland swings at the ball during a game against Utah Tech University on May 6 at the Tarleton State University Softball Complex in Stephenville, Texas. Holland had two hits.
STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS – No. 3 seed UTA (24-22) softball was upset by No. 6 seed Utah Tech University (19-32) 7-4 in its first game of the Western Athletic Conference Softball Tournament on Wednesday at the Tarleton Softball Complex.
The Mavericks went 3-0 against the Trailblazers in the regular season, sweeping them in the only series they played, but Utah Tech got the best of them when it mattered most. Now, UTA will traverse the single-elimination losers’ bracket for the remainder of the tournament in hopes of keeping its season alive.
“They came out swinging and scored early on us and it took us a while to make adjustments offensively, and that’s not typical of our offense; usually we adjust pretty quickly,” head coach Kara Dill said. “Had we done it a little bit earlier, or if we had more innings to play, I think we come out on top in that game.”
The team’s offense struggled to get anything going against Utah Tech’s starting senior pitcher Sauren Garton. She pitched five innings, allowing only two runs on five hits before getting pulled.
Senior infielder Mallory Stone throws a ball before a game against Utah Tech University on May 6 at the Tarleton State University Softball Complex in Stephenville, Texas. UTA will play in the loser’s bracket in hopes of remaining in the tournament.
While UTA spent the first four innings adjusting to Garton, Utah Tech spent no time adjusting to UTA starting sophomore pitcher Madi McDonnell. In 3.1 innings pitched, McDonnell allowed five runs, almost matching her eight runs from the regular-season series against Utah Tech.
“It just gets tougher as they face me,” McDonnell said. “It’s gonna happen. I was throwing the same sequences, and they figured it out.”
By the top of the fifth inning, Utah Tech’s lead had grown to seven, but UTA wasn’t done.
UTA loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning but only scored one run on a walk from junior third baseman Peyton Holland. The next inning was the team’s best offensive showing of the night.
The Mavericks loaded the bases again, thanks to a pair of singles and a walk, bringing junior catcher Mia McNulty to the plate. McNulty hit a two-run walk-off home run in the final game of the regular season against Southern Utah University, so all eyes were on her.
Junior third baseman Peyton Holland dives for second base during a game against Utah Tech University on May 6 at the Tarleton State University Softball Complex in Stephenville, Texas. UTA lost 7-4.
She delivered again and gave UTA a fighting chance with a single up the middle that drove in two runs and made it 7-4 heading into the final inning.
“Struggled a little bit earlier in the game, just trying to make an adjustment, do something for the team,” McNulty said. “We’re always in it. Just keeping it going, no matter what.”
After taking over for McDonnell, sophomore pitcher Maddie Furniss only gave up two runs and held Utah Tech scoreless through the final three innings of play, but the lead was too large to overcome. The Mavericks went three up and three down to end the game.
Though the Mavericks dropped their opening game, adversity is nothing new for the team. Dill said she’s seen this team come out on top of many pressure-filled moments all season long.
“We have been in a lot of situations, back against the wall that we have come through,” Dill said. “It hasn’t been luck, it’s been talent, it’s been preparation, so I feel confident that they’re able to do that.”
The Mavericks will play No. 4 seed Utah Valley University at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Tarleton Softball Complex in Stephenville, Texas.
@diegocllazo