USU drops 3 of 5 at Arizona tourney
From high school softball to Division I softball: No sweat for USU freshman pitcher Lisa Spencer.
Backed by strong pitching from Spencer, who finished the tournament 2-1, the USU women’s softball team opened the 2001 season much like it did the 2000 season – with a 2-3 finish at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Tempe, Ariz.
“Lisa Spencer pitched tremendously well for us,” said USU head coach Pam McCreesh. “She very easily could be three and zero.”
The Aggies resume play this weekend when they travel to the San Diego State Tournament to face competition from Iowa State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Stanford, and New Mexico.
Texas Tech 6 USU 4
“We let the last one get away,” McCreesh said. “No team is going to win a ball game with six errors.”
Due to those costly errors, USU lost its final game of the tournament to Texas Tech, 6-4 Sunday morning.
Texas Tech opened the game scoring one run on a single and two Aggie errors. Utah State came back and scored four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-1 lead. The Red Raiders tied the game in the top of the fourth scoring three runs on three hits and two USU errors.
The two teams remained scoreless for the next two-and-a-half innings until Texas Tech broke out and scored two runs on four hits in the top of the seventh. The Aggies attempted a come-back but were shut out by Red Raider pitcher Amanda Renfro, who struck out two of the four USU batters she faced in the final inning.
“We didn’t capitalize on [Spencer’s pitching],” McCreesh said. “Our defensive play was great until [Sunday’s game].”
USU finally got its bats swinging in the game, recording nine hits in the seven innings of play. The Aggies’ nine hits matched the total number of hits USU produced in its four previous games of the Fiesta Bowl Tournament. Top
hitters for the Aggie team included sophomore Danielle Rodriguez and freshman Casey Smith – both went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Wisconsin 5, USU 0
Badger pitcher Andrea Kirchberg tied a school record with 15 strike-outs and finished with a no-hitter as the University of Wisconsin blanked the Aggies 5-0 Saturday afternoon.
With the score 0-0 in the top of the third inning, Badger left-fielder Lindy Barth doubled to right center, scoring Sheena Padovan.
It was all the Badgers needed.
Kristin Hommel was the losing pitcher (0-2 on the year), despite yielding only six hits in seven of eight innings off a strikeout ball.
USU 3, Georgia 1
Though it’s early in the season, the Aggies proved they are capable of closing out a game during crunch time as USU defeated the University of Georgia in eight innings on Saturday.
When a game goes to extra innings, a runner is placed on second base to speed up the game. In the top half of the eighth, Aggie freshman Casey Smith was placed on second. Second baseman Heather Curtis earned a walk, placing runners on first and second. Stephanie Vaserhely then lined into a double play, leaving Curtis on first base. After Curtis stole second, junior catcher Breanne Nickle belted a two-run homer to put the Aggies on top, 3-1.
Spencer was able to get three Bulldogs to ground out in the bottom half of the eighth to end the game.
With the victory, Spencer upped her record to 2-0 on the season, giving up only five hits and one run in eight innings.
No. 6 Arizona State 10, USU 0
Arizona State University and pitcher Kirsten Voak showed the Aggies why they’re the sixth-ranked team in the country.
Behind Voak’s perfect game and a balanced offensive attack, the Sun Devils trounced the Aggies 10-0 in five innings Friday in a game shortened by a 10-run mercy run.
The Sun Devils jumped on the Aggies early, scoring four runs in first and three runs in the second innings.
Kara Brun, who hit two doubles, and Missy Hixon paced the Sun Devils with two hits and two RBIs apiece. Designated hitter Erica Beach finished with two RBIs as well.
USU 6, Missouri 1
Pitching in her first collegiate start, Spencer limited the University of Missouri to seven hits – all singles – in the Aggies’ 6-1 opening game victory Friday afternoon.
Tied at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, USU scored three runs – two of them driven in on Curtis’ single to center field.
Curtis topped off a four-RBI night on her two-run double to left center in the seventh inning, scoring Aimee Johnson and Christina Conrad. Johnson finished the game with two hits, while Conrad coaxed the Tigers into walking her three times.