Aggies drop two of three in heartbreak fashion
by tavin stucki
sports editor
The Aggies suffered a couple of road losses, losing both games in the doubleheader Friday and dropping a lead going into the seventh inning Saturday.
USU 6, BYU 15
The Aggies started things off right, but the Cougar bats proved too much to fight off.
In the top of the first, senior Lindsey Marquez doubled to right field, driving in freshman outfielder Hailey Froton and junior first baseman Christine Thomsen.
The lead lasted one inning.
Aggie pitcher Mandy Harmon walked two batters after BYU shortstop JC Clayton singled to right-center, loading the bases. Harmon hit second baseman Stacie Toney in the next at-bat, gifting a run to the Cougars.
It was the first of eight straight runs for BYU.
The Cougars scored three from a bases-clearing double by right fielder Delaney Willard, in the bottom of the second, to go up 4-2.
BYU’s Megan Arnold hit a two-run shot to center, extending the lead to 6-2.
Utah State got its turn in the top of the fourth. With runners on first and second, freshman Jolene Koons hit a sacrifice grounder to second, which allowed outfielder Amburlyn Orozco to score. In the next at-bat, sophomore Christina Cummings did the same for junior Katie Bowdidge to cut the lead to 8-4.
Froton homered over the center-field fence in the top of the fifth to give the Aggies two more runs.
“We had to move our lineup around because of an injury, so Hailey was moved into the number four slot and has done a good job,” said Aggie head coach Carissa Millsap-Kalaba said. “She has good power and speed and has been effective in moving the runners and getting runs across the plate.”
BYU answered back immediately in the next two innings.
First baseman Katie Manuma singled in Willard, and Toney hit a two-run homer to left field on the next at-bat. Those three runs invoked the mercy rule, and the umpires called the game with a score of 15-6.
Thomsen led Utah State offensively with three hits in as many at-bats and two runs scored.
“Christine is a tough out and has been consistent in her execution and adjustments at the plate,” Millsap-Kalaba said. “She proved that again this weekend.”
Harmon pitched two innings for the Aggies and was credited with the loss – her 14th of the season.
Hannah Howell pitched six innings for the Cougars in the win. She gave up six runs on eight hits and struck out three batters in 28 faced.
USU 0, BYU 2
Utah State looked to be in a position to score in the top of the first inning. Second baseman Allison Lenzora singled up the middle, and Froton singled through the left side, two batters later.
However, Marquez swung at strike number three, for the third out, and left her teammates stranded on first and second.
The Aggies held BYU scoreless through the first two innings of game two.
In the bottom of the third inning and with bases loaded, Manuma grounded out to second base but knocked in left fielder Tiffa Messerschmid and moved runners over to second and third.
Aggie pitcher Dani Chaplin walked Toney on four straight pitches in the next at-bat, again loading the bases. Arnold hit a grounder back to Chaplin, but the Aggies couldn’t turn the double play, and Clayton crossed the plate to put BYU up 2-0.
In the top of the fourth, Utah State had another chance to score when Froton singled to left and was bunted over to second by Marquez. Catcher Sam Miller watched strike three go past, and Koons grounded out to third on the next two at-bats to leave Froton on base.
Froton had two hits in three at-bats. Lenzora and Thomsen both went 1 for 3. The Aggies had four hits, three errors and six runners left on base.
Chaplin (3-5) struck out five batters, surrendered four hits and two runs, and walked four more in 29 batters faced.
“Dani pitched well,” Millsap-Kalaba said. “Her game on Friday night was impressive. She allowed us to stay close and kept us in the game. BYU is patient at the plate. Dani did a good job of being effective with her pitches and keeping BYU off balance. Overall, Dani did an excellent job against them in both of her outings.”
BYU’s Tori Almond improved to 9-2 on the season, as she pitched seven innings, struck out six batters and gave up four hits in 27 batters faced.
USU 4, BYU 6
The Cougars got started early in game three.
After a pair of walks in the bottom of the first, Willard doubled to right-center, scoring Dugas and Clayton, to go up 2-0. Willard scored two pitches later when Manuma popped Chaplin’s 1-0 pitch into right for an RBI single to extend the lead 3-0.
In the top of the third, Thomsen singled and was driven in by Froton, who doubled to right-center. Froton crossed the plate on an error by Toney, two batters later, to make it 3-2.
The next inning with runners on second and third, Lenzora reached on a fielder’s choice and was credited with an RBI as Day crossed the plate. Outfielder Annie Thomas ran home
when Manuma made an error on the play to put the Aggies up 4-3.
The lead lasted until the end of the seventh inning, when a pair of home runs by Willard and Toney put the Cougars up for good 6-4.
“I am proud of my team,” Millsap-Kalaba said. “I am especially proud of the way they came out to play today. To be honest, though, it is always disappointing to lose, especially to an in-state rival. We battled well against a good team this weekend and did a good job of putting ourselves in a position to succeed, leading most of the way 4-3, and came up just short in the bottom of the seventh.”
The losses drop USU down to 14-28. The Aggies will next face Idaho State at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Logan.
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu