SALT LAKE CITY – The bats were hot for both teams as Utah came out on top over Stanford, 9-6, Saturday in the second game of a doubleheader at Dumke Family Field.
Stanford (20-9) now stands at 1-1 in the Pac-12 Conference, while Utah (16-12, 1-4) earned its first win in Pac-12 play.
Second baseman Lauren Wegner led the Cardinal, going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. First baseman Whitney Burkes added a two-run double, while center fielder Hannah Howell scored two runs and notched two RBI.
Stanford utilized four pitchers in the game with freshman Maddy Dwyer earning the start. She gave up three runs on four hits in just 0.2 innings in the circle. Next up was Carolyn Lee, who allowed two runs on three hits in 0.2 innings.
Sophomore Kiana Pancino (6-3) took the loss as four runs scored on five hits in 2.0 innings. Sophomore Nikki Bauer closed out the game, allowing just one hit against nine batters faced in 2.2 innings of relief.
Utah's Hailey Hilburn (4-1), who started the game in right field, picked up the win. She gave up just one earned run and recorded two strikeouts for the Utes.
Stanford came out swinging in the top of the first as Teaghan Cowles led off with her third triple of the day. She scored when Hannah Howell, who reached on a fielder's choice, as Cowles slid home safely.
Cowles's 10th career triple moved her up to a tie for fourth place on Stanford's all-time list with Kira Ching ('03) and Jenna Rich ('13).
Utah answered, scoring three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning. Stanford put up a three-spot of its own in the top of the second as Wegner led off with a double to left center field. Howell brought her home on a single. Burks' two-run double then score Cowles and Howell.
The Utes evened the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the second before Pancino entered the circle and struck out Heather Bowen to end the inning.
Stanford scored its final run of the game in the top of the third inning. Right fielder Victoria Molina reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second base. A single by Wegner advanced Molina to third and she scored as Lauren Frost grounded out to second base.
Utah answered back in the bottom of the third with two more runs to take the lead. The Utes added two additional runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Stanford and Utah will meet again on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT for the rubber match. Should weather not permit play, game three would move to Monday.
