May 16, 2011
VERMILLION, S.D. - Josi Summers struck out 11 batters for Utah Valley in a Great West Conference Tournament elimination game Monday morning in Vermillion, S.D. but it wasn't enough as North Dakota came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Wolverines 3-2.
The loss ends UVU's (20-30) season while the win propels the Fighting Sioux (19-34) into Monday's GWC championship game against Houston Baptist.
"This game summed up our season quite well. Josi pitched very well again for us and a few kids like Russell and Robinson stepped up offensively at big times but overall it was a lethargic effort from a number of kids especially on the defensive end," UVU head coach Todd Fairbourne said. "And in the end it cost us."
With their backs against the walls in a must win game, the Wolverines put up an early run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 advantage. Deianna Russell got the big hit in the inning with an RBI double to left that scored Mandy Tapia who had previously reached on a fielder's choice.
The Sioux then threatened in the bottom half of the first with back-to-back singles with no outs. UVU starting pitcher Josi Summers then bore down and retired the next three hitters in order to keep her tournament scoreless inning streak alive and her team on top on the scoreboard.
In the second Kyli Flanary continued to swing her hot bat by leading off the frame with double. The Wolverines then manufactured her run by bunting pinch runner Sydney Miles to third and scoring her on a Meghan Yocom RBI-groundout to take a 2-0 advantage.
After striking out two UND batters in the first, Summers then went on to strikeout the side in the second and the third.
UND's pitcher Caralyn Chewning then settled down and matched Summers seemingly pitch-for-pitch from the circle for the next couple of innings as both starters put up zeros until the fifth.
The Sioux then finally got to Summers in the fifth. UND's Cami Bennett doubled and Brittany Baker followed with a two-run homer to tie the game at 2-all. The home run snapped Summers' tournament scoreless inning streak at 15 and a third frames.
Both pitchers continued the pitcher's duel by holding their respective opponents scoreless the sixth.
In the top of the seventh the Wolverines had a golden opportunity to score thanks to two dropped fly balls by UND but Chewning found a way to get out of it. With two outs and runners on first and third the Fighting Sioux threw out Julia Santiago trying to score on a double steal for final out of the frame.
In the last of the seventh a Wolverine error helped North Dakota load the bases with just one out. Summers then came threw by striking out the next hitter for the second out. With the game on the line Summers drew a high popup from UND's Brandee Ybarra in shallow center field. Samantha Telarroja, Tapia and Yocom all converged on the ball but it somehow dropped harmlessly in between them to give the Fighting Sioux the 3-2 walk-off win as Bennett scored.
Summers suffered the tough lost to finish her freshman season with a 14-15 record. The 14 wins is a school record. Chewning picked up the win for UND to improve to 5-7 on the year.
Summers' 11 strikeouts tied the school record for strikeouts in a game. She also shattered the single-season mark with 142 strikeouts in 2011, 34 more than the previous record. For the tournament Summers struck out 25 batters in two and a half games of work.
Offensively the Wolverines only picked up three hits off of Chewning. Flanary, Amanda Robinson and Russell each finished with 1-for-3 days.
The game marked the end of four departing seniors careers in Flanary, Tapia, Telarroja and Yocom.
"While we are losing some quality seniors, you can expect some great things from us next year with the competitive nature and skill set of Robinson, Russell and Summers returning," Fairbourne added. "Even though just a handful of kids will be back I am expecting next year to be our best season we've ever had as we've got a number of excellent newcomers coming in."
