Aggie softball gets first win
The Utah State softball team earned their first victory of the season March 12 with a 3-2 win over St. Mary’s.
Starting pitcher Leslie Higley allowed only five hits in a complete game to lead the Aggies to a 1-8 record.
All three of USU’s runs came in the fifth inning. They only had two hits in the inning but were assisted by St. Mary’s three errors. The Aggies had 10 hits throughout the game. Haven Vance, Kelly Leos, and Jessica Garnett had two hits apiece.
The Aggies then lost two games on March 13 – both of which were by fewer than two runs, a 4-3 loss to Nevada and a 7-5 loss to St. Mary’s.
St. Mary’s actually trailed in that game 5-3 before shelling out a four-run seventh inning.
In the next game, Vance led off the sixth inning with a solo blast out of the park to propel Utah State to their second victory over St. Mary’s 2-0.
“That felt good, it got us fired up,” said Vance about her game-winning home run. “It’s a surprise when home runs come because you just aren’t thinking. That’s the worst thing you can do in the box is think.”
Later in the sixth inning, the Aggies added another run from a sacrifice fly to center field by Candice Hatch to send home Lauren Guzman. That gave USU a little padding for Higley, who pitched another complete game for their second win.
Utah State finished off the trip with an 11-1 loss to Nevada.
Nevada got off to an early start scoring nine runs in the first two innings and not letting the Aggies get any confidence or momentum.
The Lady Ags did pound out seven hits in the game but had trouble bringing the runs home. Utah State also committed three errors that contributed to the 11 runs Nevada scored.
With two wins under their belt, the Aggies went into a double header against Southern Utah with a little bit of confidence.
In the first game, Utah State scored first. An error by SUU’s right fielder allowed Garnett, who walked earlier in the inning, an easy trip home.
SUU scored the next two runs and took a 2-1 lead into the sixth inning when Vance stepped up to the plate and drove home Hatch, who singled earlier in the inning. That was Vance’s third hit of the game and only RBI.
Lacee Lepry hit the game-winning single for SUU in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead them to a 3-2 victory.
In the second game, SUU got off to a fiery start and jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Utah State’s bats came alive in the top of the sixth inning to take a 6-4 lead, but SUU countered with a seven-run seventh inning to cap an 11-6 victory.
“I certainly think that not being able to play at home for the first two months of the season plays a role in how well we are playing, but 80 percent of the country is in the same situation,” said Utah State Head Coach Debbie Bilbao.
The Aggies now travel to Sacramento, Calif. to compete in six games in the Capitol Classic Tournament Friday through Sunday.
“It’s easy to see the improvement that we are making,” Bilbao said. “We should have won three games out at Southern Utah, we had a chance to win more games in Reno and we’re really coming together as a team. I expect that this weekend will be a breakout weekend.”
-kcaustin@cc.usu.edu