USU drops 3 to NewMags
The USU softball team got the weather it wanted, but not the desired outcome. With a blue, sunny sky and temperatures in the 60s, the Aggies dropped both games of their doubleheader Saturday at Johnson Field to the New Mexico State Aggies. NMSU won the first game, 5-4, and then 14-1 in the second game, which ended after five innings because of the run rule. The two teams also played one game Friday, which NMSU won, 5-3. USU came into the weekend on a three-game winning streak, but now sits at 11-24 overall and 2-8 in the Western Athletic Conference.
NMSU 14, USU 1 The southern Aggies tallied three runs in the third and fourth innings, and then eight runs on six hits in the fifth. NMSU went up 14-0 when Ashley Maroda hit a grand slam over the left field fence. USU’s lone score came in the fifth from senior third baseman Amy Schaible’s infield home run to right field. It was Schaible’s fourth homer of the season and 18th of her USU career.
NMSU 5, USU 4 The Aggies held the lead twice in this game. Down 1-0 in the bottom of the third, USU freshman pinch runner Jessica Law was driven home by fellow freshman shortstop Kelley Kaneshiro’s sacrifice fly to left field. In the bottom of the fourth, the hosts grabbed their first lead as senior pinch runner Tara Evans scored off of junior second baseman Jeanine Hernandez’s single to left center. The NewMags tied the score in the fifth before USU’s Emily Reilly blasted a home run – her second of the year – to left center in the bottom half of the fifth, giving USU a 4-2 advantage. It wouldn’t last. Maroda came up big for her team in this game as well. In the sixth inning, Maroda scored on a Dani Fagan sacrifice fly to cut the lead to one. Then, in the seventh and final inning, USU gave up two more runs. USU junior pitcher Lindsey Benson pitched both of Saturday’s games. With both losses, her record falls to 10-17. She pitched 11 total innings with 10 strikeouts.
NMSU 5, USU 3 By the top of the fourth, the NewMags had a 4-0 lead. The home squad responded in the bottom of the fourth with three runs on four hits. Schaible reached base on a fielder’s choice. Hernandez doubled to left center with one out to bring in Law and Schiable. Reilly helped Hernandez cross home plate on a single to short. Sophomore left fielder Mikey Price and Kanehiro both popped out to center to end the rally. Benson pitched this game as well, striking out eight. Utah State travels to the University of Utah for a Tuesday doubleheader, scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
-samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu