USU edges UVU at home
The Utah State softball team won 8-7 against the Utah Valley University on Tuesday at LaRee and LeGrand Johnson field.
UVU shortstop Jrystin Jachim started things off for the Wolverines with a three-run homer to put the Wolverines up 3-0 in the first inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Aggie left fielder Hailey Froton hit a two-run home run to score first baseman Christine Thomsen, cutting the lead 3-2, Wolverines after the bottom of the first.
“They were pulling out the hits and coming straight back after (the Wolverines) hit a three-run home run,” said Utah State head coach Carissa Millsap-Kalaba.
In the top of the third with bases loaded, Wolverine third baseman hit a two-RBI single to extend the lead to 5-2 in the middle of the third.
Aggie second baseman Allison Lenzora singled to second, to start things off for USU in the bottom of the third. Wolverine pitcher Megan Peay walked Aggie left fielder Froton to put runners on first and second. Aggie catcher Samantha Miller hit a sacrifice fly to score Lenzora, making it 5-3 after the third.
Millsap-Kalaba said Lenzora has done well for the team in the No. 2 slot.
“She’s got the most sacs in the WAC,” Millsap-Kalaba said. “(She’s also good at) moving the runners over and seeing what the situation calls for and getting it done. She’s been handling herself well.”
Aggie pitcher Mandy Harmon replaced Dani Chaplin in the fourth inning.
After drawing a walk, freshman Jessica Uresti eventually scored when UVU first baseman Amanda Perez dropped a single into right field.
The Aggies seemed to hit their stride in the bottom of the fourth. Cummings reached first base when the pitcher couldn’t put a glove on a ground ball up the middle. USU outfielder Kassandra Uchida hit a line drive to left field, which advanced Cummings to third base.
After Lenzora hit a line drive to left center, Cummings scored and Uchida advanced to second.
“I’m doing whatever I can for the team. I’m not a power hitter, so I just try to punch in the holes if there’s a runner on base,” Lenzora said. “I try to get in those gaps so they can score.
USU ended the inning with three more Aggie runs to tie the game at 6-6.
The fifth and sixth innings were scoreless for the Wolverines.
In the bottom of the sixth, Thomsen doubled to left center. Marquez hit a single to put Thomsen on third, and Marquez advanced on the throw to home. Third baseman Jolene Koons hit a two-RBI single in the next at-bat to give the Aggies the lead 8-6.
In the top of the seventh, Jachim homered over the center-field fence on a 3-1 pitch to pull within one.
With two outs, Harmon walked pinch hitters Amanda Robinson and Deianna Russell. Harmon hit Uresti with an errant pitch to load to bases.
Millsap-Kalaba said she wasn’t scared.
“Mandy does a very good job,” she said. “She composes herself well and handles a lot of tough situations.”
Harmon forced center fielder Marie Williams to pop up at the plate and close out the game 8-7.
Millsap-Kalaba said she thought the seventh inning was a good example of Harmon’s composure.
“You see her pull it out and does what she needs to get the job done,” she said.
With 15 hits, she said the team did amazing offensively.
“They did a good job,” Millsap-Kalaba said. “I thought they did really well keeping the ball out of the air and hitting good hard-line shots through the gaps.”
Lenzora said she wasn’t worried when Harmon hit Uresti.
I have so much confidence in her and the other eight behind me. They’re so strong,” Lenzora said. “It happens, OK, next pitch. It’s never intentional at all.”
With five more upcoming games this week, Lenzora said she is more excited than stressed.
“I’m very psyched to take on BYU,” Lenzora said. “You have more people going against you and that’s just more fire.”
– natashabodily@gmail.com