Seniors Power Aggie Softball to Extra-Inning Win Over Louisiana Tech Saturday
Getting production from all three of its seniors on Senior Day, the Utah State softball team powered its way to an eight-inning 11-10 win over Louisiana Tech in its Western Athletic Conference regular-season finale. Seniors Megan McDonald, Joreigh Landers and Shasta Tyteca, who batted 1-2-3 in the lineup, collectively had five hits and scored six of USU’s 11 runs after being honored in a pre-game ceremony.
Utah State improves to 15-40 overall and 8-13 in WAC play, while Louisiana Tech falls to 15-37 overall and 6-15 in league action. The eight WAC wins for the Aggies is the most since joining the WAC in 2006. It is also the most conference wins since USU went 8-16 in the Big West in 2002.
The Aggies earn the fifth seed in the upcoming tournament which runs May 11-15 in Fresno, Calif. USU will take on fourth-seeded Hawai‘i on Wednesday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m. (MT) at Bulldog Diamond. Louisiana Tech will be the sixth seed and will face third seed and host, Fresno State in Wednesday’s late game.
Freshman second baseman Kassy Uchida laced a one-out single to left to plate infielder Kelley Kaneshiro for the winning run in the bottom of the eighth. Kaneshiro led off the inning with her second double of the game, a shot to center, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman infielder Allison Lenzora.
Utah State built up a 6-0 lead, scoring four in the first and two in the second frames. In the first inning, McDonald led off with a walk with fellow senior Landers moving her to second on a sacrifice bunt. The third senior, Shasta Tyteca, drove in McDonald with a single to right center. Tyteca followed with her team-leading sixth stolen base of the season. Sophomore designated player Tina Ferguson then traded places with Tyteca doubling to left center. Kaneshiro reached on a Louisiana Tech error, moving to second on the play with Ferguson advancing to third. Lenzora followed with a single to left to score Ferguson and give USU a 3-0 lead. Starting pitcher Janna Frandrup was replaced in the circle by Erin Kipp. Before the inning was over, Kaneshiro would cross the plate to put the Aggies up 4-0.
USU added two more runs in the bottom of the second. Tyteca smacked a one-out single to left to score both McDonald and junior infielder Ashely Ventura who both reached on walks. Tyteca now has 21 RBI this season. Later, the Aggies loaded the bases with only one out, but Kipp was able to get out of the jam to keep the score 6-0.
Louisiana Tech responded with three runs in the top of the third, putting together four hits and taking advantage of one Aggie error. Utah State got out of the jam with solid defense, getting one of three double plays on the day which is the most in a game this season, as USU now has 19 double plays on the season.
The Aggies bounced back with four more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 10-3 lead. Landers provided one of the big blows of the inning with a two-run double to center for her 12th two-bagger of the season. Later Ferguson laced a triple down the right field line to drive in two more runs. The sophomore is now hitting .311 this season which is third on the team.
After a scoreless fourth frame, sophomore Mandy Harmon replaced starting pitcher sophomore Shelbi Tyteca. Cassi Krieg’s first home run of the season started the seven-run inning for the Lady Techsters. Heather Doiron smacked a two-run double to right center to cut the lead to 10-6. Goza plated Doiron with a bloop single. After walk, Kipp blasted a three-run homer to center to tie the game.
Shelbi Tyteca returned to the circle for the Aggies to get the final out of the inning.
USU threatened in both the sixth and seventh innings as Kaneshiro led off the sixth with a double to left, but was stranded. In the seventh, McDonald singled to right and advanced to second, but the Aggies could not bring her in with the winning run, forcing the game into extra innings.
Tyteca kept the Lady Techsters at bay in the top of the eighth, setting up the dramatic finish.
Shelbi Tyteca earned the win, improving to 6-11 on the year, pitching seven and a third total innings on the day, spraying seven hits while yielding only three runs. After getting the win in both of Friday’s games, Meghan Krieg took the loss Saturday, falling to 10-22 after firing five and a third inning of relief.
USU will conclude the regular season against Utah Valley in a non-conference doubleheader on Monday, May 9, starting at 1 p.m. (MT). It is a make-up twinbill from April 6 that got postponed due to inclement weather.