Utah wins Pac-12 softball tournament championship
The success just keeps rolling in for the Utah athletic department.
In 2022-23, the Utes have won conference championships in football, gymnastics, women’s basketball, men’s tennis and lacrosse, and added another skiing national championship.
Add a softball conference championship to that list.
Utah won the inaugural Pac-12 softball tournament championship Saturday night, beating No. 1 seed UCLA 7-4 in Tucson, Arizona.
Tied 4-4 after the fourth inning, Utah took the lead for good with a three-run sixth inning.
Freshman Hailee White drove in a run on a double, then senior Halle Morris hit a two-run homer to give Utah a three-run cushion.
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It got dicey for Utah in the bottom of the sixth inning, as UCLA loaded the bases with two outs, but junior pitcher Mariah Lopez induced a flyout by Aaliyah Jordan to get out of the jam.
Lopez made quick work of the Bruins in the seventh inning with a 1-2-3 frame to secure the title for the Utes. She pitched a complete game and had five strikeouts.
The No. 3-seeded Utes took down Cal, Washington and then UCLA to claim the trophy. Entering the Pac-12 tournament, the Bruins were ranked No. 2 in the nation, while Utah was No. 17.
Next up for the Utes is a trip to the NCAA tournament.
