The Huskies faithful in attendance at Husky Softball Stadium on Friday night had waited six weeks into the 2014 season to get their first look at the No. 5 Huskies. In the home opener and the first game of PAC-12 play, the Huskies did not disappoint.

Bryana Walker threw 6.0 solid innings to earn her 12th win of the season, and Kylee Lahners went 2-for-3 with her 10th home run, as the Huskies (20-4) defeated conference rvial Utah (9-9) by a final of 5-2 before a crowd of 799. 

“It’s always important to get the first win on your home field,” head coach Heather Tarrsaid. “I thought Bryana threw a good game tonight and kept her composure and found a way to stay tough.”
Walker made her 14th start of the season and held the Utes to two runs (one earned run) on four hits over 6.0 innings pitched, as she improved to 12-2 on the season.

Kaitlin Inglesby pitched 1.0 scoreless inning of relief to pick up her first save of the season.

The Huskies got the scoring started in the bottom of the 1st in familiar fashion. After a walk to Victoria Hayward leading off the bottom of the 1st, Lahners launched her 10thhome run of the season to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead. Lahners finished the game 2-for-3, with one run scored, one home run, and two RBI.
After the Utes tied the game at 2-2 with two runs in the top of the 2nd, the Huskies got the lead right back in the bottom of the inning. Marki Creger-Zier singled and scored on a double off the wall by Kelli Suguro, giving the Huskies a 3-2 lead.

“We’re very scrappy,” Lahners said. “All the way through the lineup, it’s not an easy out. We’re going to make the other team pay if they leave mistakes over the middle of the plate.”
The Huskies padded their lead in the bottom of the 4th. Ali Aguilar led off the inning with a single and scored on a base hit by pinch hitter Dani Braun, as the Huskies took a 4-2 lead.

In the bottom of the 5th, Hayward came all the way around from 1st base to score onHooch Fagaly’s 5th double of the season to extend the Huskies lead to 5-2. 

“Our mission is to respond,” Tarr said. “Anytime a team might attack us, we have to attack back. We found a way to chip away every inning. Utah is scrappy. They’re a tough team. We’re excited for another opportunity to play them.”

The Huskies continue their opening homestand against Utah on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.