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Murray • On paper, Murray's softball team could have been considered a first-round favorite as any top region seed would be against a fourth-seeded squad.

But Uintah entered this year's Class 4A state softball tournament as strong as a fourth-place team could be. And the Utes proved their mettle by knocking off the host Spartans 8-4 on Tuesday.

"We knew coming in that we were better prepared this year just because of having to play in the toughest region," said Uintah coach Jamey Smuin, whose team jumped up a classification from 3A.

Uintah (19-7) actually tied for second in Region 8 with Springville and Maple Mountain. The Utes beat both of those teams one time each, but lost a three-way coin flip to end up with the fourth seed.

Springville, Maple Mountain and region champ Spanish Fork were three of the final four teams at the 4A state tourney last year with Spanish Fork winning it all.

"We had no luck (with the coin flip). We got that four seed, but you know, you've got to beat them all anyway," Smuin said.

In the double-elimination state tournament, Uintah continues play in the championship bracket on Thursday at East, which beat Timpanogos on Tuesday. Murray (17-7-1) will play in an elimination game against Timpanogos on Thursday.

The Utes scored in the first inning on an RBI-double by Summer Stensgard. Starting the game at shortstop, Stensgard was quickly summoned to pitch in the bottom of the first inning after Spartans' leadoff hitter Cassidy Howe slugged a home run and Murray loaded the bases.

Stensgard was playing with a leg brace on her right leg because of a partially-torn ACL. That is also her push-off leg while pitching, but Stensgard got out of the bases-loaded, no-out jam with a double play and then a groundout.

With Uintah up 2-1 after a pair of innings, Stensgard got her team off to a solid start in the third when she hit a triple off the left-centerfield fence. The next hitter, Jaden Lance, also found the fence in right for a double.

In an inning that also included two squeeze bunts for runs, Whitney Alexander also had a double in Uintah's three-run rally.

Murray got two runs back in the bottom of the third when Preslee Jensen doubled down the left field line. But the Utes countered with three more in the fourth as Kennedy Elmer registered a two-run single.

"We left 10 on that game. Not fun," said Murray coach Lisa Parker of numerous failed opportunities with runners on base. "We actually hit the ball well, but we just couldn't push them around." —

Schedule

4A softball

First round, Tuesday

• Maple Mtn. 3, Kearns 2

• Alta 12, Woods Cross 11

• Box Elder 6, Provo 0

• Springville vs. Cyprus

• Bountiful 9, Corner Canyon 1

• Spanish Fork 10, Olympus 0

• Uintah 8, Murray 4

• East 8, Timpanogos 3

Second round, Thursday (all games 4 p.m.)

• Maple Mountain at Alta

• Springville/Cyprus at Box Elder

• Bountiful at Spanish Fork

• Uintah at East