FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The Utah softball team snapped its eight-game losing streak to Colorado State by upsetting the top-seeded Rams 2-1 Friday to advance to the Mountain West Tournament Championship.
Today's 2 p.m. championship game will feature No. 4 Utah (22-31) and No. 2 San Diego State (37-22).
U. pitcher Brianna Gourdin (17-7) picked up two victories Friday. 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.
Glennis Donnelly and Melissa Stahnke ripped back-to-back two-out doubles to put Utah up 1-0 in the first inning. The double for Donnelly tied the Ute single season record of 17.
After the Rams tied the game in the second inning, Donnelly's 19th home run of the season in the top of the third proved to be the game-winner.
Utah beat UNLV 1-0 Friday in the first round — a pitchers' duel through five innings between Gourdin and UNLV's Jacqueline Kerrigan. Gourdin stifled would-be Rebel rallies in the first and fifth innings.
The Utes scored in the sixth, with Ivette Hernandez hitting a two-out double and Lynsey Wall's single bringing in pinch-runner Amy Alvord.
NEW MEXICO 1, BYU 0 (10): In the tournament opener, No. 6 seed New Mexico (30-34) upset No. 3 BYU (34-18) in a 10-inning marathon.
The Lobos scored its lone run in the top of the 10th off a Cougar fielding error.
After rain delay canceled the first day of MWC play, the tournament then turned from double elimination to single-elimination style.
"We're still hoping for an NCAA at-large bid and feel we deserve consideration," said BYU coach Gordon Eakin.
The NCAA Tournament selection show is scheduled to be televised on ESPNews between 5 and 6 p.m. on Sunday.