Four-run seventh inning lifts Aggies over Nevada
Down 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning with a runner on second, senior catcher Gabby Jimenez received a called strike on a check swing that didn’t seem close to a swing. Two pitches later, Jimenez launched a ball over the left-field fence to tie the game. A 3-run Nevada entering the inning had been erased.
Moments later, a pinch-hit walk-off sacrifice fly by Taryn Edds lifted Utah State Softball to a 6-5 win over the Wolf Pack. The Aggies improve to 22-18 (13-8) and are second in the Mountain West standings.
“That was fantastic,” head coach Steve Johnson said about Jimenez’s home run. “Whether I agree with the call or not, it was called. That could have taken Gabby out of the at-bat completely. She took it one pitch at a time, it was veteran.”
“I was mad before, I’m not going to lie,” Jimenez said. “I just didn’t want to let one call dictate my whole at-bat. I took my mad out on the ball.”
The Aggies led 1-0 early in the game after a single from Bri Lerma brought Makenzie Macfarlane home. But like Thursday’s game, where the Aggies gave up a 7-run lead, the Wolfpack were unphased.
UNR strung together a four-run fifth inning, capped by a three-run home run, to lead 5-2.
But similar to Nevada’s late comeback Thursday, the Aggies would respond. Mazie Macfarlane hit a single to the pitcher and beat out the throw. Lopez hit a bloop single and advanced to second from an error by the right fielder, which allowed Macfarlane to score from first. Then Jimenez launched her eighth home run of the season into the road and tied the game up.
Following Jimenez’s home run, Zaia Castruita doubled to right field and was sacrificed over to third by Mazie Macfarlane.
Nevada opted to intentionally walk the next two batters, Lerma and Tidd, to load the bases with one out for the freshman pinch hitter Taryn Edds. Edds hit a sacrifice fly to right field and Thorton— pinch-running for Mazie — scored the game-winning run.
Last week, senior shortstop Lexi Orozco, who was out with a shoulder injury, said a team goal this year was to win close games. Head coach Steve Johnson reiterated that statement and the importance of winning one-run games.
“We lost nine one-run games last year that we had the lead in,” Johnson said. “We wanted to come back this year while doing it in the fall, just take it one inning at a time.”
The Aggies are 7-5 in one-run games this season, accomplishing their goal of winning those games.
Mazie went 3-4 and two runs, with her sister Makenzie going 1-3 with a run and a walk.
Jimenez was 2-4 with three RBI, including her clutch game-tying home run. Jimenez also threw a runner out stealing second in the seventh inning.
Starting pitcher Mia Reynolds went five innings, gave up six hits and five earned runs, striking out four.
Kapri Toone pitched two innings in relief giving up four hits and no runs, picking up the win and improving to 9-3 on the season.
USU faces UNR on Saturday at noon in the series finale.