PROVO, Utah - In the first game of the final day at the 2002 Mountain West Conference Tournament, No 2. Utah defeated No. 6 Colorado State 4-2 to advance to the championship game to play No. 1 San Diego State in a single-elimination, winner-take-all game. Utah improves to 29-34 while the Rams finish the season 19-33.
The Rams struck first in the top of the first innings with Ricki Walker nailing an RBI double over the left fielder to bring in Steph Roberts. With runners on second and third and one out, the Rams were unable to extend the early damage and took a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Utes appeared to have a run scored but due to a mistake on the Utah line-up card, the run was nullified and the Rams were able to end the inning with no harm done.
The Rams capitalized off the Utah miscue in the third inning with a solo home run by Walker, her fifth of the season to give the Rams a 2-0 lead. The Utes struck in the same inning as Melissa Stahnke hit an RBI double to right center to bring in Masie Ota.
In the fourth inning, Utah tied the score off an RBI double by catcher Christie Pfeninger to bring home Tracy Keller. Senior captain Molly McLean slammed a two run double just over the diving centerfielder to clear the bases and bring home Angie Kenney and Pfeninger as the Utes tooke their first lead of the game 4-2.
With the rain pouring in the top of the seventh inning the Rams ran out two straight bunts and advanced the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. With a full count, Walker walked to load the bases with two outs. With the rain pouring down the game was delayed and the suspense held for about five minutes as Maren Christensen stepped up to the play to face relieve Jennifer Pursell. Christensen grounded out to Pursell to end the game.
Pursell (17-17) picked up the win allowing no runs in four innings on the mound. Maren Christensen picked up the loss in 3 1/3 innings on the mound.
