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Utah will face San Diego State in the MWC Championship tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.
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May 14, 2004
FORT COLLINS, Colo.--The Utah softball team snapped its eight-game losing streak to Colorado State by upsetting the No. 1 seed 2-1 on Friday to advance to the Mountain West Tournament Championship. The championship will feature No. 4 Utah (22-31) and No. 2 San Diego State (37-22) on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
It was another strong outing in the circle for hurler Brianna Gourdin, who moves to 17-7 on the season after picking up her second win of the day. After allowing four hits and no runs to UNLV in the earlier game, Gourdin held the fourth-best hitting team in the country, Colorado State, to three hits and a run in the second game. The sophomore also struck out four, while allowing just one walk.
At the plate, Utah didn't take long to put a run on the board. After the first two Utes were retired, Glennis Donnelly and Melissa Stahnke ripped back-to-back doubles to put Utah up 1-0. The double for Donnelly tied the Ute single season record of 17.
The Rams would tie the game up in the second using the formula of a single, sac bunt, single and sac fly. But, Utah's Donnelly would respond in the top of the third with her 19th long ball of the season to put Utah back on top 2-1.
Gourdin would retire 15 of the next 16 Rams, with the exception being a Ram who reached on an error in the fourth, before Jennifer Gardner knocked a single up the middle in the seventh. Gourdin would retire the next two batters to hold off a Ram rally.
"I really felt like we played loose and relaxed today," said Gourdin. "I had good control of my pitches and didn't feel like I ever lost sight of my focus. I kept within my."
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