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Catcher Andrea Hoffman and the Utes take on Utah State and Utah Valley this week at Ute Softball Field.
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Utah State/Utah Valley Game Notes 
March 23, 2009
SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah softball team completes its season-opening four-game homestand with a pair of weekday games against in-state rivals, Utah State (Wed. at 4 p.m.) and Utah Valley (Thur. at 4 p.m.), at Ute Softball Field.
The Utes have won three of their last four games and sport a 13-19 overall record after splitting a doubleheader with Boise State on Mar. 18, their first home date of the season.
Live Audio and Live Stats Available This Week: Nate Terry will provide play-by-play coverage of Utah's doubleheader against Utah Valley on Tuesday and the single game against Utah State on Wednesday. Fans can also follow live stats on Gametracker. Links to both can be found on utahutes.com.
Boise State Review: Utah split its home-opening doubleheader with the Broncos taking the first game, 1-0, then falling 7-5 to the Broncos in the second contest.
Senior centerfielder Angie Boardman (Spokane, Wash.) led the way offensively with a 5-for-7 effort at the plate on the day while driving in a run with an RBI double. Sophomore Brooke Olson (Bluffdale, Utah) went 3-for-6 in the two games and also scored two runs and stole a base.
The Utes threatened to score the first run of the game in the fifth inning when freshman Tia Palauni (Taylorsville, Utah) led off with a double to right-center field then Jasey Jensen (Layton, Utah) hit a single before Andrea Hoffman (West Valley, Utah) reached on a Bronco error to load the bases.
Unfortunately, BSU got a lineout and a fielder's choice to cut down Palauni at home plate and a groundout to end the frame.
Utah's offense kept the pressure on offensively in the sixth inning when Boardman led off with a single before Jensen came up with an RBI single to right field that drove in what turned out to be the game-winning run.
In the second game, the Utes pounded out 13 hits in the second game, but could not overcome six runs by the Broncos in the first two innings. A three-run shot by Christina Capobianco highlighted the Broncos' early-inning offensive output. Boardman posted a 3-for-4 effort that also included an RBI single to left field in the fifth inning. Despite the loss, Utah managed to outhit BSU, 13-11.
Utah chipped away at the deficit with run in the bottom of the first inning. Kara Foster (Derby, Kan.) led off with a single then Boardman looped an RBI single to left field for the Utes' first score.
The Utes put together a three-run fifth inning thanks in large part to a lead-off home run by freshman Hannah Clements (Poway, Calif.). The shot to right field was the first home run of her career.
Olson followed in the inning and was hit by a pitch, then Foster singled and advanced after a wild pitch. Olson was promptly driven in by a single by senior first baseman Staci Hemingway (West Valley, Utah) to complete the Utah scoring in the frame.
Smuda Tosses Third Career No-Hitter: Junior right-hander Ashley Smuda (Scottsdale, Ariz.) pitched her third-career no-hitter to lead Utah to a 1-0 victory over Boise State. On the mound for Utah in game one, Smuda did not allow a hit while striking out four and walking one in seven innings as she faced 22 Boise State batters. Smuda is just the second pitcher in school history to have thrown at least three no-hitters in her career. Ali (Andrus) Sagas holds the school record with six no-hitters over her career from 1994-97.
Coming Up Big in the Clutch: Utah has accumulated a 5-4 record in games decided by one run this season, including their last three victories.
Quick-starting Utes: Utah has scored first in 11 of its 13 victories this season. The Utes are 11-3 this year when managing to score the first run of a contest. Conversely, when the opponents take the first lead of a game, the Utes own a 2-16 mark.
Foster Bids to Become Utah's All-time Home Run Leader: Foster led the Utah offense with a two-run game-winning home run in a 2-1 victory over Wisconsin on March 13. She leads the Utes with 12 round-trippers and 23 RBI this season. Foster is now just three home runs away from passing Melissa Stahnke (2001-04) for the school record. Foster has hit 47 home runs in her career and leads the Mountain West Conference in home runs, is tied for second in runs, ranks third in slugging percentage, and is fourth in RBI, and is tied for sixth in hits.
Utah's Career Home Run Leaders:
1. Melissa Stahnke (2001-04) 49
2. Kara Foster (2007-present) 47
3. Cyndee Bennett (1994-97) 37
Utah Goes Long: Utah is second in the Mountain West Conference with 28 home runs. Seven different Utes have notched round-trippers this year, led by Foster (12), followed by Holm (7), Boardman (3), Hemingway (2), Sharee Fonoti (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) (1), Jasey Jensen (Layton, Utah) (1), and Bonnie Muir (West Jordan, Utah) (1). and Clements (1).
Scouting the Competition:
Utah State (6-19): Sophomore Megan McDonald continues to lead the Aggies at the plate. McDonald is hitting .333 and is one of two USU players hitting over .290 along with Jasmine Harris. Junior Nicole Rupp leads the Aggies with 13 RBI so far this season. Simone Hubbard is second with 11 RBI. Rupp also has 18 hits which is second behind Harris, who leads the squad with 19 hits this year.
Utah Valley (9-14): The Wolverines have upped their batting average to .319 on the season after banging out 31 hits and 31 runs in a doubleheader on Mar. 15 against Eastern Oregon. Senior second baseman Magan Niemann leads the way batting near .500 at .472 currently and leads the team in RBI (22), and total hits (34). Junior third baseman Jessica Anderson bats .385 and leads the team with three home runs. Freshman pitcher Jessica Martin is 5-6 on the mound and had an outstanding weekend for the Wolverines in Idaho against the College of Idaho and Boise State Mar. 13-14, picking up four victories. Martin's ERA is currently at 4.83. Freshman Amanda Perez has four wins with a 4-2 record with a 4.85 ERA.
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