Softball sweeps Fullerton
In its first home stand of the year, the Utah State softball team swept a three-game series with Cal State Fullerton, the defending Big West champs improving to 7-22 overall and 3-0 in conference.
“It’s really great having all the fans supporting you, helps you play and have more fun,” said Quela Henderson.
Leslie Higley started two games; winning both while Jill Bruins was able to save both of those games.
“She really has been a horse. She worked her butt off,” said Aggie Head Coach Debbie Bilbao. “Leslie has done a great job for us, we’re really proud of her.”
Bruins also had one win this weekend when she came in for relief for Jessica Garnett in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday.
“We’re really proud of Jill,” Bilbao said. “She probably gets the least amount of innings and she’s our big closer, she comes in and shuts things down.”
The third game of the home stand was full of timely hits and crucial pitching. Both teams combined for 18 hits in the game, the Titans having 13 of them.
While USU didn’t have a lot of hits, they had timely hits with people on base to extend a victory 5-4 over CSF.
In the bottom of the fourth inning with the bases loaded, Michelle Vlahos walked to push home Kelly Leos while Garnett came up to the plate. Garnett ripped a double down an alley in right center field to bring home Amanda Carlson and Haven Vance, capping off a three-run fourth inning.
Higley was in a jam in the top of the fifth inning with the bases loaded and only one out. Motivated by her teammates, she was able to force an infield pop up and a ground out to the third baseman for the second and third outs. The Titans stranded three runners that inning, scoring none.
“It helps out a lot when you have someone constantly there, it’s motivation, that’s what I try to do,” said Haven Vance.
With the Aggies up 5-4 going into the seventh inning the Bruins came in to close out the win while allowing only one hit with a strike out, ground out, and pop out to end the inning and the game.
The second game of the doubleheader was fueled by a big win 15 minutes earlier.
Garnett started at the mound for the Aggies, pitching five innings while allowing five hits and five runs.
Vance fought off an early 0-2 count, bringing it to 3-2 before smashing a double to left field to give Utah State its first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Vance later scored that inning on a past ball.
CSF scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning to take the lead in the game 5-4. Utah State didn’t score again until the bottom of the seventh.
Sara Fleming led off the inning with a walk. Henderson then doubled to right center field advancing the pinch runner Tayler Chapin to third base. Casey Smith reached base on a fielder’s choice. Leos then reached on an error by the Titans second baseman scoring Chapin.
After the run the Aggies had tied up the score 5-5 with zero outs. Candice Hatch was next up to bat and she blooped a single into shallow left field to score Henderson with the winning RBI. 6-5 was the final score in favor for the Aggies.
Higley also started this game, pitching six innings allowing eight hits and three runs, while the Bruins pitched an inning allowing only one hit. Utah State pulled out this close 4-3 win with a clutch hit from Vance in the bottom of the seventh inning.
“We got a whole team win today,” Bilbao said.
The score was tied 3-3 when Carlson singled to left field to bring Vance up. She doubled into right center scoring Carlson and winning the game.
-kcaustin@cc.usu.edu