USU finds out how sweep it is
Eight hours and a tripleheader later, the Utah State University softball team pulled off its first series sweep of the year and built a season-high four-game winning streak.
After Saturday’s doubleheader was postponed due to snow, the Aggies faced off against Big West Conference opponent California State University Northridge for three games Sunday at LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field.
“They were unusual circumstances but we played tough,” Aggie Head Coach Debbie Bilbao said.
In all three games, the Aggies fell behind but were able to come back and earn the victories.
“I think our team is used to being composed and finally putting it all together. The chemistry has really come together as of late,” Bilbao said. “We have some old kids on this team and they’re probably feeling older after today. They stuck with it and had great leadership and great energy all day.”
Catcher Breanne Smith said, “I think we’ve always been fighters this whole season. We’re fighters and we’re out here to win.”
Northridge went up, 1-0, in the first inning of the first game but was unable to score the remainder of the game.
The Aggies were able to knot the score in the fourth with a pair of doubles. First baseman Kelly Leos doubled to leadoff the inning, then with one out, shortstop Heather Curtis had a double of her own to drive Leos home.
The go-ahead run was scored by the Aggies in the fifth inning after center fielder Casey Smith hit a leadoff triple. With two outs, Leos hit a single past the Northridge shortstop to score Casey.
The Aggies held on to the lead and won the game, 2-1.
Pitcher Kristin Hommel earned the win for the Aggies while allowing only two hits. Hommel improved to 4-14 with the victory.
The second game of the day was tied by a home run and then won by a home run.
Again Northridge scored first, this time on an RBI double by designated player Summer Richardson, and held a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning.
In the sixth the Aggies got the leadoff batter, right fielder Marnie Andrews, on with a single, then advanced Andrews on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Marcie Neff.
Leos singled to left field to put runners on the corners with one out, and then a single by third baseman Stephanie Vasarhely scored Andrews. Vasarhely advanced to second when Leos was thrown out at third.
The Aggies took the lead, 2-1, when Curtis hit a single to right field allowing Vasarhely to score.
In the top of the seventh, Richardson was able to tie the game, 2-2, for the Matadors by hitting a towering blast over the right-center field fence.
The score remained tied until the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, Breanne took a pitch from Matador pitcher Jenny Wheeler and knocked it over the right field fence.
“It was about time,” Breanne said. “I was struggling at the plate today and putting a little too much pressure on myself. I needed it and our team needed it.”
The home run was Breanne’s fourth of the year and gave the Aggies the 3-2 victory.
Aggie pitcher Lindsay Janssen picked up the victory, her second of the year.
The third game of the day nearly didn’t happen due to the flight schedule of Northridge. The Matadors were able to delay their flight time three hours to fit in the game.
Northridge scored first in the third on a home run down the first baseline by center fielder Christen Bedwell. The Matadors added a second run in the fourth off an RBI double by second baseman Katie Kearns.
Trailing 2-0 in the fifth, Vasarhely scored Andrews, who reached after being hit by a pitch, with a double to left field, to make the game 2-1.
In the sixth, the Aggies were able to mount another rally after Curtis reached on an infield hit.
Breanne singled to left to advance Curtis to second, and then Curtis scored on a single by Casey to tie the game, 2-2. Breanne advanced to third and Casey to second on the play. Left fielder Aimee Johnson scored Breanne with a single and then Casey scored on a double steal.
In the seventh, the Aggie defense held and Utah State picked up the 4-2 victory with Hommel earning her second win of the day.
With the three wins, the Aggies improve to 8-37 overall, 4-11 in conference.
Utah State will be back on the road Tuesday for one game at the University of Utah. The game will be a make up for a game originally scheduled for March 20.
“Northridge is a pretty dang good ball club and we should feel confident going into Utah,” Bilbao said. “We can hit Utah’s pitchers.”
Leos said, “I think coming off four straight wins it helps. It helps all of us out, all of our confidence as a team.”