Utah softball coach Amy Hogue was beaming because of the play of her squad’s two-headed threat from the mound after sophomore Ashley Smuda and freshman Brittany Parker combined to allow six hits over two games against UNLV last weekend.
“Both of our pitchers have been great for us this season,” Hogue said. “It seems like whenever one of them has a down game, the other comes in and plays well. They each bring different looks for us to throw at the other teams.”
Hogue said both of her pitchers, who split starting duties nearly every other game, have worked on adding a variety of pitches to their games, and the improvements are translating into wins.
“I just added another high pitch,” said Smuda, who transferred to Utah this season after a freshman year at Temple University in Philadelphia. “It helps because it adds another pitch that batters have to worry about.”
Smuda started her career off earning a respectable nine wins with Temple and, with the season half over, has surpassed that number with 13 wins — her last one coming in the form of her second no-hitter of the season.
Hogue said she’s already seen Smuda make sweeping strides in the ace’s game.
“I think, before, Ashley would just throw so hard, and she has a lot of movement in her pitches, which is what you want in a pitcher,” Hogue said. “Now she’s started to relax and control her pitching. Before, it was tougher to get those strikes with all the ball movement, but sometimes you have to put the ball right down the middle and take that risk. She throws hard enough that she can do that.”
Parker has already earned her ninth win of the season as a freshman out of Murray High School, where she was a two-time 4-A MVP.
“Brittany has been incredible,” Hogue said. “She’s so strong mentally, and she just keeps getting better. Not many freshmen can do what she does.”
Parker has exhibited poise down the stretch during close games when opposing teams attempt to rally from behind, as UNLV tried — and failed — to do Friday.
Parker and Smuda will likely share pitching duties in today’s doubleheader against Utah State. Play is set to begin at 2 p.m. on the Ute Softball Field.
The two teams met in Logan for a doubleheader March 26 with the struggling Aggies (11-24) stealing a win from the Utes. Utah, who has a 22-19 record, quickly rebounded and took the second game, 9-4.
Smuda said she expects her team to keep its cool and gain control of today’s series early.
“I don’t think we’ll be looking for revenge or anything,” she said. “We know they’re capable of stealing one from us because they did it. We’re just not going to let it happen this time.”
Lennie MahlerWorking hard to add a variety of pitches into their games, pitchers Ashley Smuda and Brittany Parker are stepping up in the doubleheader against Utah State today.