Aggies go yard for easy win
On paper, Wednesday’s doubleheader at Johnson Field didn’t exactly appear to be the battle of the titans as both teams had a combined record of 11-40.
Even so, the USU softball team gave fans something to cheer about as they hit four home runs and swept the Utah Valley Wolverines, 9-4 and 10-1.
USU has now won five of its last eight games, and improves to 8-20 on the season. UVU has lost five straight-four of those thanks to the Aggies.
The Aggies found themselves down 4-0 in the second inning of the first game. USU pitcher Kayla Dunn responded with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second, sending herself and second baseman Jeanine Hernandez to home plate.
The third inning was the kicker as USU put in six runs. Hernandez started the rally with a one-out double. Center fielder Emily Reilly later had a two-run double to right. Two batters later, Reilly scored on an error.
USU third baseman Amy Schiable rounded out the rally with an RBI-single. The Aggies ended the inning with three stranded runners.
The Aggies’ final score came in the fourth. Reilly doubled to right and scored on after teammate Mikey Price hit a single and UVU committed an error.
USU was aided by pitcher Lindsey Benson. She compiled seven strikeouts and allowed nine hits to help keep the Wolverines scoreless for the final five innings. Benson now has 228 Ks in her USU career, one shy of tying former teammate Leslie Higley for seventh on USU’s career strikeout list.
The Aggies tallied 11 hits, seven RBIs, and left 10 on base.
USU 10, UVU 1
The five-inning run rule ended this game.
USU shortstop Kelley Kaneshiro got her team on the scoreboard first with a single to left with two outs. Dunn then walked, and freshman right fielder Megan McDonald ripped an RBI-double to center field.
The Wolverines scored in the top of the second. The Aggies got on the board again in the third on a two-run home run by Dunn. The Ags added two more in the fourth as Tara Evans got on base with a two-out single. Rupp got Evans to third thanks to a double off the left-center fence. Reilly then hit a single to bring them both home and give the Aggies a 6-1 advantage.
In the fifth, Kaneshiro walked and Dunn singled to center before UVU made a pitching change. McDonald then walked to load the bases, and Schiable then brought everybody home with a grand slam over the left-center fence.
The game ended there.
USU sophomore Stacey Ellingsworth pitched the second game, striking out three and allowing five hits. She got the win to improve to 1-2 on the season.
The Aggies were able to collect 10 hits and 10 RBIs.
Overall, the Aggies are 9-5 against the Wolverines.
USU’s nine-game homestand concludes Friday and Saturday at Johnson Field. The Aggies host the San Jose State Spartans. Friday’s game begins at 3 p.m. Saturday’s doubleheader starts at 1 p.m.
The Spartans come in with a 20-20 record-including a 2-1 mark in Western Athletic Confernce action.
-samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu
Aggie pitcher Lindsey Benson winds up the day’s first game. Benson threw seven strikeouts.