At a Loss: Softball team struggles at BYU
Going into the fifth inning of the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader against BYU, things were close.
After getting routed by Long Beach State by a combined 29-0 in in their three-game homestand last weekend, the Utah State softball team was holding on to hope against the Cougars, just down 2-1.
Quela Leonhardt was able to end the Aggies’ five-game scoring drought with a second-inning single to left field that drove in Sara Fleming.
But then the BYU bats got going.
Aggie pitcher Erica Hancock gave up a run in the fifth, her third earned in four complete innings.
USU Head Coach Lonny Sargent then made the call for Heather Straight to come to the mound.
But the Cougars pounded Straight for six earned runs in the seven-run seventh.
The game was called with two outs and one runner left on base.
BYU shortstop Jodia Norton finished the game 2-3 with a home run in the fifth. She recorded three RBIs in the game.
First basemen Ianeta L’ei went 1-for-1 with two RBIs and a walk for the Cougars. Centerfielder Jennifer Whitely went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs for BYU.
The Aggies finished with just two hits in the game.
In the second game, USU scored first when Amy Schaible singled to right, driving in Fleming. The 1-0 lead wasn’t safe for long, however, as BYU continued to dominate the Aggies.
The Cougars mounted a three-run second inning to recapture the lead.
A Leonhardt double in the third inning once again drove Fleming home, bringing the score to 3-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Cougars exploded again. This time BYU managed five runs before the Ags could get the third out.
USU was held scoreless for the rest of the game, while the Cougars drove in two more runners in the bottom of the sixth to cement the 11-2 victory.
Designated hitter Daniella Urincho went 2-3 for the Cougars in the second game. She drove in three runs and struck out once.
Whiteley was a hard out again for the Aggies, going 1-2 with a walk and driving in two during the second game.
USU pitcher Leslie Higley dropped to 4-10 on the year after allowing nine runs – seven earned – in 3.1 innings Tuesday.
Jessica Garnett allowed no earned runs in 2.1 innings of relief work.
USU notched two hits in the second game and left four stranded.
While the Aggies were coming off a weekend of zero offensive production against Long Beach, the Cougars were coming off 13-0 and 5-3 wins over the University of Utah last Saturday.
The Cougars improved to 21-8 on the season and 19-0 all-time against Utah State.
With the loss, the Ags dropped to 7-20 on the year.
BYU now heads out on a five-game road trip where they will face off with San Diego State and UNLV.
The Aggies will return home where they will look to bounce back against Northern Colorado Thursday.
The first game of Thursday’s doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. The second game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
-acf@cc.usu.edu
USU´s Roxanne Ritchie runs to help teammate Amy Schaible with a fly Saturday against Long Beach at the LeGrand Johnson field. (Photo by John Zsiray)