Ags split doubleheader
After almost being rained out, the Utah State University softball team resolved to play a doubleheader against UC Santa Barbara, Saturday after good weather conditions arose.
The Aggies ended the day, splitting a double header with UCSB. The Ags won 9-2 in the first game and lost 9-4 in the second.
The series began head to head with the two pitchers not allowing runs for three innings.
The Gauchos got things started in the fourth inning, scoring two runs.
During the same inning, Utah State quickly shot the Gauchos down, with a nine-run-rally during their at-bat.
Head Coach, Lonny Sargent said he was very excited about how the offense performed and it picked up right where it left off from Thursday.
Sara Fleming began with a hit to left center field for a double, followed by Roxanne Ritchie with a walk.
Next up to bat came Quela Leonhardt, who hit a single out to left field, allowing Fleming and Ritchie to fill the bases.
A wild pitch allowed Fleming to score and two runners to advance.
Kelly Leos then walked, and was replaced by a pinch runner Shawn Bjarnson, the runners moved up and Ritchie scored on a catcher’s error.
Jessica Garnett quickly joined the base runners, with the help of a fielding error which also sent Ritchie home to tie it up.
Then, Heather Haak took a base on a fielding error and was replaced by pinch runner, Jenna McCartney. Leonhardt ran home but was unable to score and Amy Schaible struck out a bat. Candice Hatch hit a double out to right center, sending two Aggies home for a 4-2 lead.
Michell Vlahos then shot a ball down the left field line, bringing in two more Aggies for a 6-2 lead.
Fleming came back around, and hit a double to left field, bringing in Vlahos for another run.
After a UCSB pitcher change, Fleming advanced to third base and then home from two wild pitches.
Ritchie hit a triple down the left field line, and Leonhardt followed with a walk.
Leos then hit a single to left field, Ritchie scored, and with the help of a Gaucho left field error, Leonhardt and Leos moved up another base. Garnett followed with a walk.
Haak then hit a pop fly to second base, it was caught and the inning was over with three left on base and the Aggies won 9-2. Neither team scored another run the rest of the game.
“Our defense was solid,” Sargent said.
Aggie starting pitcher, Leslie Higley scored the win pitching her eighth complete game of the year.
“Higley pitched really good,” Fleming said.
In the second game of the double header, the Aggies lost 9-4. It was a push and pull battle in the second game with one run for the Gauchos in the first inning, none in the second and only one run for the Aggies by the third.
In the fourth inning the Aggies broke the 1-1 tie, with a single hit by Hatch, to left field. She was followed by a home run by Fleming to bring Hatch home for a 3-1 lead. But the Gauchos struck back with a home run in the fifth inning.
The Gauchos trampled over the Aggies with five runs in the sixth inning.
“They are a good hitting team,” Sargent said about UCSB.
If the ball is pitched right down the middle, UCSB will always hit it, Sargent added.
Utah State only scored one more run against the Gauchos on the day.
The game ended in the seventh inning, after UCSB scored two runs, from two Aggie errors.
Pitching five and one-third innings, Garnett was credited the loss by giving up four runs on four hits.
Sargent said the Aggies did score four runs in the second game.
“We just need to relax and get what the pitcher gives us,” he added.
-ranaebang@cc.usu.edu