Aggies split Tuesday Twinbill
Women’s softball went 1-1 in their home opening games Wednesday at the LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field against Utah Valley State College.
Both teams began competition with nine wins each. Coming to meet on Aggie turf was a chance for both teams to launch into double digits on the season. Previous to this double header, USU held a 4-2 record on their series play against UVSC.
“We struggled a little bit in the first one. We came out a little slow,” junior outfielder and second base player Whitnie Ray said. “But we definitely came out to play in the second game.”
At the conclusion of the first game, the Aggies found themselves the victims of an 11-0 loss.
With only six hits and zero runs for USU, they could not hold UVSC back.
First base player and senior Jamie Fife got two shots off along with junior catcher Heather Haak’s two hits.
Sophomore Lindsey Benson and senior Jill Bruins shared the pitching responsibility for the first game, but in the end, the team was not able to stand up to the Wolverines.
“Disappointing in a lot of ways,” Head Coach Candi Letts said of the day of play. “It was great for us to have our first home win, and it’s good that we split but disappointing because we didn’t do the things we needed to do to win, too.”
The Aggies won game two late in the game. Inning four brought brought five players to home plate, giving USU the advantage it would need to hold on to through the remainder of the game.
Junior shortstop Tara Evans was first to make it home, starting off the five-run roll. Aggie pitcher and senior Lexy Perry managed to hold off UVSC hitters, keeping the Wolverines to 10 hits and only one score in the second game.
Coming into the bottom of the fifth inning, sophomore third base player Amy Schaible started things off with a base hit. Schaible was sent jogging for home after a home run from Evans.
“We came out swinging the second game, saying, ‘Let’s just swing away, have fun and go at ’em,'” Ray said. “It just took us a little while to catch up with the pitcher, I think.”
By the time the seventh and final inning rolled around, the Aggies found themselves sliding in for their 10th win of the season, bringing their record to 10-20.
Winning the second game of the day will give USU just the momentum they need as they head to face the University of Nevada Reno this Friday and Saturday, Letts said.
These lady Aggies backed each other up well on the field, Letts said.
The team needs to work on not being afraid of losing, and when they do that, wins can be contagious, she said.
“The kids did a lot of good things,” Letts said. “But we’re not hitting on all cylinders, just like we need an oil change. So we need to get things straightened up and then I will be happier with the way they will compete then.”
Following their stint in Reno, the Aggies will then travel to Pocatello, Idaho, to take on Idaho State University in a double header on April 10. They return home on April 13 to face off against Louisiana Tech University.
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