Most visitors to Sin City hope for a little luck to make themselves winners. As it turned out, the U softball team did just fine without it this weekend.
The Utes (22-19, 5-3) swept both games against UNLV (21-25, 1-5) on Friday and Saturday, winning in two separate fashions. Utah held off a Rebel rally for a 4-3 decision Friday and then blanked the home team, 4-0, Saturday behind pitcher Ashley Smuda’s no-hitter.
Utah racked up 12 hits Friday, led by Devina Quintero’s 4-for-4 outing.
“I don’t remember the last time I did that — I think it was during my freshman year,” Quintero said. “I was kind of in a zone and even though some of them weren’t pretty, I just wanted to help my team get going and get on base.”
At least one of Quintero’s four hits was pretty — a solo shot over the centerfield fence in the second inning to give the Utes a 1-0 lead.
Utah’s Kara Foster imitated Quintero in the next inning by hitting another home run to the same spot. Teammate Angie Boardman was on base for Foster’s shot, effectively pushing the Utah lead to 3-0.
Quintero hit a double on the next at-bat and scored a run moments later when Kristie Keller hit a single past second base.
“Devina has become one of our go-to hitters,” Utah head coach Amy Hogue said. “She’s really understanding how to be patient and pick her pitches.”
The Rebels made things interesting in the sixth inning when Caitlyn Paus scored the Rebels’ third run, but that was as close as they would get. Ute pitcher Brittany Parker earned her ninth win of the season by striking out five and staving off a steady UNLV rally.
Smuda stole the show Saturday, tossing her second no-hitter of the season. Smuda first accomplished the feat back on March 11 against SUU.
“She was amazing,” Hogue said. “She’s so strong. Our team as a whole played very well, and that was the first time in a long time that we’ve swept UNLV at their place.”
None of the current Utes had swept the Rebels since the last time it was done was in 2003.
“Our seniors were like, ‘We’ve never done this to them. This is so cool,'” Quintero said. “It was huge for us to get those two conference wins.”
Smuda, who contributed to the shutout by striking out five and walking just three, agreed.
“Those wins were big for us,” Smuda said. “I mean, we had confidence, we could do it, but it gives us that much more. They could make a difference when it comes down to the end and we’re fighting for a playoff spot.”
Utah scored three of its four runs in the third inning. Quintero hit a single to left field to score her second RBI of the weekend when Sharee Fonoti crossed the plate.
UNLV catcher Laura Briones gave the Utes a freebie when she overthrew third base and allowed Boardman to get home. Quintero also scored.
The Utes added one more run in the fifth for good measure when Staci Hemingway singled to bring in Meghan Crouse.
The team resumes action Tuesday when it plays host to Utah State for a double-header. The first game is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be followed by a second at 4 p.m.