Softball teams has comeback, wins vs. LaTach in a big way
Utah State Aggie junior catcher Shasta Tyteca shined Tuesday, as the Aggies swept in-state rival Weber State Wildcats in a doubleheader, 11-1 and 9-3. The Aggies improve to 20-26 overall and remain at 5-11 in Western Athletic Conference play. Weber State falls to 1-40 on the year in the program’s first year back since 1983. The Aggies have posted only their second 20-win season in the 2000s.
The Aggies dominated game one and senior pitcher Kate Greenough had another solid outing, securing a win. Greenough struck out two, walked run and allowed one earned run on three hits in five innings of work. The Wildcats scored first in the top of the first inning. Greenough looked uneasy, hitting Weber’s Abby Bowcutt and allowing an RBI double to Heather Jackson. Greenough settled down after the first inning and the Aggie bats really went to work in the bottom of the second. In all, 16 Aggie batters came to the plate in the bottom of the second. Seniors Nicole Tindall and Simone Hubbard started off the second with base hits. Wildcats pitcher BreAnn Jones issued two walks after that and then gave up an infield hit to senior shortstop Rachel Evans.
The Aggie onslaught continued as junior Megan McDonald hit a two RBI double, Shasta Tyteca followed with a two RBI triple and sophomore Kelley Kaneshiro hit an RBI single. Wildcat head coach Tina Johnson finally switched pitchers putting in freshman Angela Devries to face red-hot freshman Tina Ferguson. Ferguson recently has been deadly at the plate but was hit by the pitcher. Wildcat pitchers held Ferguson without a hit until her second to last at bat. Hubbard hit a three RBI double as well in the second, and Devries finally settled down, allowing only one more run when junior right fielder Xiao Xue Chang hit a sacrifice ground out to bring home the 11th run of the inning.
The Aggies got behind in game two, as senior pitcher Stacey Ellingsworth allowed lead-off homers to juniors Britinie Hardine and Audriana Chiquete. Aggie freshman Mandy Harmon replaced Ellingsworth and allowed only one run in three innings of work. Freshman Shelbi Tyteca pitched the final two innings of the game, striking out one batter and allowing one hit and no runs. The Aggies did their greatest offensive damage in the bottom of the third, racking up three runs. The Aggies conclude WAC play with a doubleheader against the New Mexico State Aggies Friday, April 30, and a single game against the same team on Saturday, May 1. The WAC tournament is scheduled for May 12-15 in Las Cruces, N.M.
– ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu